Measuring child functioning: the Unicef/ Washington Group Module.

T Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989 included the first explicit provision relating to the rights of children with disabilities. It included a prohibition against discrimination on the grounds of disability (art. 2), and obligations to provide services for children with disabilities, in order to enable them to achieve the fullest possible social integration (art. 23).1 The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities further strengthened the rights of children with disabilities with a dedicated article on children (art. 7).2 This article outlined the obligation on States to ensure the realization of all rights for children with disabilities on an equal basis with other children, to promote their best interests, and to ensure their right to be heard and taken seriously. It incorporates, within its general principles (art. 3), respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and their right to preserve their identities, and introduces a general obligation (art. 4) to consult with children, through their representative organizations, when developing relevant legislation and policies. These Conventions focus on the challenges faced by children with disabilities and call for improvements in their access to services, and in their participation in all aspects of life. In order to achieve these goals, there is a need for improved data collection internationally. The current lack of accurate data impedes the developMeasuring child functioning: the Unicef/ Washington Group Module*