At SPOON, we know that fulfilling our mission to nourish ALL children will require global effort from communities, governments, and advocates. To help build this movement, SPOON works with policy makers, advocates, and caregivers to champion every child’s right to a strong start. This month, our team participated in two international events highlighting the importance of nutrition for children with disabilities and calling the global community to action.
Nutrition in a Digital World
SPOON contributed to the United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) 2020 publication and webinar series, Nutrition in a Digital World. SPOON staff members Dr. Zeina Makhoul, Carolyn Moore, and Tammy Teske contributed an article on Digital technology to promote inclusion and quality care for children with disabilities, and Dr. Makhoul presented the publication in the UNSCN’s webinar on December 3rd.
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Hear SPOON’s Dr. Zeina Makhoul presents in Episode 3 of this important series.
SPOON’s article covers the need for digital technologies, our experience using digital tools to improve nutrition for children with disabilities, and a call to action for the nutrition sector. Read the publication here.
While the global nutrition community is focusing its efforts to ‘leave no one behind’, children with disabilities still face inequitably high rates of malnutrition. Through our distance learning work and our mobile application, Count Me In, SPOON has seen how digital tools can. help improve nutrition and feeding services, build caregivers’ skills in nutrition and feeding, and connect children with care that meets their needs. SPOON’s experience shows that digital technology can help provide children with disabilities with essential nutrition and feeding interventions. However, digital tools alone cannot solve these issues. While digital tools can help to improve equity in nutrition, they must be paired with inclusive policies and systems.
Parent and Family Leadership for Children with Disabilities
SPOON co-hosted a side event on parent and family leadership in preventing institutionalization of children with disabilities at the 2020 United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD affirms that children with disabilities have the right to live in the community. However, millions of children with disabilities are institutionalized and separated from their families. Ending this practice will require efforts to support families, and following the leadership of parents and families.
Click image to hear Mishelle’s presentation
SPOON’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Mishelle Rudzinski, highlighted SPOON’s work to help parents implement safe feeding and nutrition practices at home, and link them with support services in their communities. She shared her perspective as a parent, service provider, and Co-Founder of SPOON. Across of these experiences, she said, she has seen consistently how “parents know best what their child needs.” The event also featured speakers from Keystone Human Services, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Vietnam, Shonaquip Social Enterprise, Inclusion International, Social Service International, and the International Disability Alliance.
Speakers from around the world shared their experiences supporting families to prevent institutionalization of children but also ensure that ALL children have the chance to thrive.
