Children First: Bringing disabled children within the child welfare fold

Abstract

This paper attempts to steer a modest course through the complex challenges of bringing disabled children within the child welfare fold. Three case vignettes are provided, which examine the issues in their historical and social policy contexts. Selected examples are outlined of relevant comparative surveys, inspections and evaluations. The author concludes that, overall, the benefits of bringing disabled children within the child welfare fold have outweighed the disadvantages