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This research aimed to develop an evidence-based and community-defined model for multiple stakeholders such as community leaders, service providers, and policymakers to adaptively implement to improve the quality of life of these children and their families. To inform this model, results from three previous studies conducted by the authors were combined with the results from the current qualitative investigation. Overall over 100 key informants including parents, community leaders, and government and non-government officials aged from 18 to 63 years old participated in interview and focus group sessions. The results were then analysed thematically. The resultant model consists of 41 activities across 7 sectors, including health, education, and the economy, plus a central multi-sectoral component. Taken together, this comprehensive list of activities aims to support young children's development, increase family competencies, and strengthen social inclusion for families with children with disabilities. Young children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable population in the world. A range of evidence-informed activities exists to help young children with disabilities in low and middle-income countries with settings similar to that in Indonesia. We united these activities together with additional suggestions through a series of investigations to generate an evidence-informed and community-defined model for improving the quality of life of these children and their families. We hope that this article assists researchers and practitioners to adaptively implement such approaches to improve the lives of young children with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As an underdeveloped region of Indonesia, West Timor faces a significant challenge of childhood disability compounded by environmental risk factors such as poverty, discrimination and stigma, and limited access to basic services. However, very little is currently known about how this important social issue is viewed from the perspective of parents and local leaders, who play an influential role in local society. This research aimed to explore the views of these groups, towards childhood disability, within an environmental risk context. Method: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and photovoice with 23 parents and 15 local leaders such as a midwife, priest, headmaster and staff from international and local non-government organisations. Results: The results of the study suggest that local culture, including religion has a strong influence on the perceptions of disability and environmental risk factors, while available services are seen by parents as being inaccessible. Conclusions: Implications of the results are presented together with multi-sectoral recommendations for best supporting parents raising children with disabilities in rural areas in low-income jurisdictions such as West Timor. Grass-root healthcare providers, such as community health centres in Indonesia should work with community leaders to improve health literacy and awareness on disability Initiatives like inclusive village might eliminate barriers to services such as stigma and distance to health centres Decision-makers should aim to empower religious and cultural figures to provide social support for parents of children with disabilities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]