Cost of Raising Children with Disabilities in the Philippines

The objective of the “Cost of Raising Children with Disabilities in the Philippines” study is to quantify as much as possible the extra monetary costs faced by households with children with disabilities and define such extra costs in relation to achieved living standards compared with other households with children. When these extra costs are significant, policy responses should consider how to reduce the disadvantage faced by such children. Beyond out-of-pocket costs, the study explores situations where children’s rights remain unfulfilled, thus limiting their participation in society.

The focus of this study is on expenditure and the difference in costs compared with other families with children. To achieve this objective, the study sampled children with a disability ID card who were representative of this specific subgroup. The study also provided estimates on the number of children with disabilities in the Philippines with and without a disability ID card and their characteristics.

This study was undertaken under the guidance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and UNICEF with funding from UNICEF and the Australian Government. The study also benefited from comments and supervision from a Special Research Advisory Committee set up for this study and comprising, in alphabetical order, the Council for the Welfare of Children, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education, the National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), NORFIL Foundation, Inc., the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).