Barriers to the Accessibility of Childcare Services for Children With Disabilities Aged 0 to 5 Years: Perspectives of Parents and Childcare Staff
ABSTRACT According to Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children with disabilities are entitled to education, including access to high‐quality childcare services. Despite international and national commitments to inclusion, persistent obstacles continue to limit equitable access to childcare services for children with disabilities. This descriptive qualitative study examines barriers to the accessibility of childcare services for children with disabilities aged 0 to 5 years in Canada. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 mothers and 21 childcare staff members. According to participants, key barriers include organisational limitations, lack of training among educators which leads to poor support, negative attitudes toward disability and inclusion, material shortages, and challenges related to the physical environment. Addressing these barriers is essential to fostering inclusive childcare systems that ensure equitable access and support the development and participation of all children.
Authors
- Jason Gordon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9121-2871)
- Chantal Desmarais (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6313-2591)
- Josiane Lettre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8389-0835)
- Michel Goulet
- Debra A. Field (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5281-0265)
- Jill G. Zwicker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2986-6938)
- Bobbi Taylor
- Gabrielle Gagnon
- Marie Grandisson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5874-9039)
- Ernesto Morales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6488-5093)
- Gbètogo Maxime Kiki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4368-1817)
- A. Guillot
- Michelle A. Wan
- Marie‐Claude Belleau
- Francine Tellier
- Stéfanie Lamothe
- Keely Edgington
- Fidélia Longchamps
- Wenonah Campbell
- Marie‐Eve Lamontagne
- Michelle Phoenix
- W. Ben Mortenson
- Francine Julien‐Gauthier
- François Routhier
Institutions
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Library of Parliament (CA)
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CA)
- Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus (CA)
- Foundation for Spinal Cord Research (CA)
- Centres Intégré Universitaires de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CA)
- Université Laval (CA)
- McMaster University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Children & Society
- Published
- 2026-02-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.70029
- Primary Topic
- Family and Disability Support Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00