On 15 July 2026, the ADC Summit was officially launched at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, with the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Francis Folley, serving as Guest of Honour. The official opening was preceded by a tour of the exhibition pavilions, where SJOG showcased its early intervention and disability inclusion initiatives. SJOG staff, including CBM project staff, engaged stakeholders and shared experiences on interventions in health and rehabilitation, inclusive education, community-based support, and advocacy for the rights of children with disabilities. The Summit provided an important platform for cross-country learning through panel discussions involving experts from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

Key discussions focused on financing and sustainability of disability services, with panellists calling for increased domestic government financing and greater private-sector investment in early intervention and disability inclusion initiatives. Participants emphasised that sustained investment in early intervention can significantly improve the long-term outcomes of children with disabilities and their families. However, persistent challenges, including inadequate funding, limited human and material resources, insufficient access to assistive devices, and weak coordination among service providers, were highlighted as barriers requiring stronger partnerships, networking, and coordinated multi-sectoral approaches.

The Summit also emphasised the importance of homegrown, community-driven solutions that build on existing local resources, knowledge, and capacities. Participants highlighted caregiver empowerment as a critical strategy, recognising parents and guardians as active partners in early identification, home-based rehabilitation, child development, advocacy, and inclusion. The discussions further emphasised the need for caregiver psychoeducation, economic empowerment, and the establishment of caregiver support groups and expert mother networks. Traditional and community leaders, healthcare workers, social welfare officers, police, and education personnel were also identified as key stakeholders who should be empowered to contribute to the protection and inclusion of children with disabilities.

During the breakaway sessions, SJOG facilitated a presentation on the role of caregivers in supporting children with disabilities, with particular emphasis on the Portage Approach as a home-based early intervention and rehabilitation model. The session demonstrated how caregivers can be equipped with practical knowledge and skills to support children’s development and provide basic rehabilitation and stimulation within the home environment. Discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening community-based rehabilitation, reducing stigma and discrimination through psychoeducation, and meaningfully involving persons with disabilities and caregivers in programme design, implementation, decision-making, and evaluation, in line with the principle of “Nothing for us without us.”