Supplementary Feeding Support for Children with Disabilities

OSNET provides Supplementary Feeding Support to children with disabilities who require additional nutritional support to promote healthy growth, development, and participation in learning and rehabilitation activities. Some children with disabilities may experience difficulties with feeding, swallowing, eating independently, or accessing adequate and nutritious food, which can increase their risk of poor nutrition and delayed development.

Through this programme, OSNET works with parents, caregivers, teachers, and relevant health and nutrition professionals to identify children who may require additional nutritional support. The programme promotes access to appropriate, safe, and nutritious foods based on the child’s individual needs.

The support aims to:

• Promote healthy growth and physical development.
• Reduce the risk of malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies.
• Support children’s energy, concentration, and participation in learning and rehabilitation.
• Provide parents and caregivers with knowledge about balanced diets and appropriate feeding practices.
• Support children who experience feeding difficulties or require assistance during meals.
• Identify children who need specialised assessment and refer them to qualified nutrition, health, or rehabilitation professionals.
• Strengthen families’ capacity to provide appropriate nutrition using locally available and affordable foods.

OSNET recognises that good nutrition is an important foundation for early development, learning, rehabilitation, and overall wellbeing. Therefore, supplementary feeding support complements OSNET’s early intervention, rehabilitation, parenting care, home visiting, and inclusive education programmes.

The programme is intended to provide additional support where a nutritional need has been identified, rather than replacing the child’s regular family meals or professional medical and nutrition care.