A session led by SPOON at the 2026 Zero Project Conference highlighted practical solutions to transform nutrition systems to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Carolyn Moore, SPOON’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, opened the fireside chat by summarizing data on malnutrition among children with disabilities. Global studies estimate that children with disabilities are three times more likely to be malnourished, and SPOON’s research shows very high rates of malnutrition among children with disabilities. For example, 68% of children with disabilities in Zambia were stunted and 16% in Uganda were wasted.
Lorna Mary Namususwa, Nutrition Technical Officer, shared how SPOON is working to make nutrition systems more inclusive of children with disabilities. She highlighted the importance of partnerships, working within health systems, and building practical skills that health workers can apply in their day-to-day work with families. Lorna called on the nutrition sector to design programs that are inclusive from the start, with specific strategies to include children with disabilities. Watch the fireside chat to hear more from Lorna on how SPOON is making nutrition services in Uganda more inclusive of children with disabilities.
The Zero Project is an initiative that shares solutions towards a world with zero barriers. The 2026 Zero Project Conference focused on ICT, Accessibility, and Crisis Response. SPOON received a 2024 Zero Project award for our system-wide approach to fighting malnutrition among children with disabilities.