Discusses the family and community situation of children with mental retardation in Afghanistan in the context of an uncertain political situation. Written in 1997 when refugee villages were commonplace in Afghanistan, this paper examines the prospects for children with developmental delay, a category of disability for which the least efforts have been made to provide formal services. Moreover, modern-day Afghanistan lacks skilled practitioners trained in assisting children with mental retardation, and refugee aid agencies lack similar specialists as well. Life prospects for all disabled Afghan children, especially those with mental retardation, remain poor by Western standards. What will be done for these children will be accomplished by their families and neighbors, often without professional intervention or assistance. However, the ingenuity and cultural heritage of Afghan families should not be underestimated. For example, village healers actually may be quite experienced “barefoot psychologists” capable of dispensing practical advice to parents. In addition, where early childhood resources are available, they will give not only parents but also local teachers and health workers useful guidance to help developmentally delayed children.
