Supporting Children with Disabilities in Low- and Middle- Income Countries: Promoting Inclusive Practice within...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Special Education
• Global Health

Background:

• Inclusion research for young children with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is often narrowly defined.
• Existing frameworks may not adequately capture the complex socio-cultural factors influencing development in LMICs.
• A broader analytical unit is needed to understand inclusive practices for children with disabilities in diverse settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a bioecological model for inclusive early development for children with disabilities in LMICs.
• To broaden the unit of analysis in research on disability and early childhood development in LMIC contexts.
• To illustrate the application of this model using a case study from Malawi.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a bioecological systems perspective to conceptualize human development within cultural contexts.
• Developed a new bioecological model outlining proximal and distal factors influencing inclusive development.
• Applied the model as a conceptual framework to a research study in Malawi focusing on Community-Based Childcare Centres (CBCCs).

Main Results:

• The bioecological model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding factors affecting inclusive early development.
• The Malawi study demonstrated the model's relevance in examining the role of caregivers in promoting inclusive practices in CBCCs.
• Identified key influences of family, peers, and schooling within the specific cultural context of rural Malawi.

Conclusions:

• The proposed bioecological model offers a more holistic approach to studying inclusive early development for children with disabilities in LMICs.
• This framework has significant implications for educators, service providers, and researchers aiming to improve inclusive practices globally.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering the interconnectedness of individual, microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem factors in LMIC settings.