Children and adults with disabilities are often isolated from mainstream social, cultural, and political opportunities (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 263; HI & STC, 2011, p. v; Trani & Cannings, 2013, p. 58). Stigmatisation can lead to lack of registration of the birth of children with disabilities, which is a fundamental barrier to their participation in society and increases their invisibility and vulnerability to exploitation (UNICEF, 2013, p. 41). The World Report on Disability finds that people with disabilities often have unmet needs for support services, personal care, access to aids and equipment, participation in education, employment, and social activities, and modifications to the home or workplace (WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 40, 137). Lack of support prevents many people with disabilities from achieving a good quality of life and participating in social and economic life on an equal basis with others (WHO &World Bank, 2011, p. 137).
Provision of assistance and support
People’s need for assistance and support will depend on ‘environmental factors, the stage of life, the underlying health conditions, and the level of individual functioning’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 138). Formal services are inadequate (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 157). Due to the lack of investment in rehabilitation, only 5-15 per cent of people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries receive assistive devices (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 47). In addition, as children and adolescents grow, their assistive devices need to be replaced every year or two (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 7). They are often expensive, yet ill-fitting devices reduce the young people’s confidence and ability to participate (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 7; UNICEF, 2013, p.18).
People with disabilities often rely on informal care from family and friends, but this is sometimes unavailable, inadequate or insufficient (WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 139, 157; Burns et al., 2014, p. 39).
Barriers to assistance and support include: lack of awareness and funding; lack of adequate human resources; inappropriate policies and institutional frameworks; inadequate and unresponsive services; poor service coordination; and attitudes and abuse (WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 144-147).
Exclusion from society
People with disabilities often encounter negative attitudes held by government officials, policy makers, community members – and even family members – which results in their exclusion from society (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1499; Groce & Kett, 2014, pp. 10-11; Burns et al., 2014, pp. 39-41). Negative social attitudes can result in disabled people’s families keeping them hidden at home or sending them to institutions (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 5). Hundreds of thousands of children with disabilities continue to live in institutions, as do many adults with intellectual disabilities (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 12; UNICEF, 2013, pp. 46-47; Scior et al., 2015, p. 60). People with disabilities are sometimes denied the right to marry or have families of their own (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 10; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 75; Fembek et al., 2013, p. 69). In addition, a study in Afghanistan and Zambia shows a ‘significant relationship between disability, unemployment and being single’, which excludes people with disabilities, as marriage is often considered a ‘major step in the process of gaining a rightful place within society’ (Trani & Loeb, 2012, p. S33).
Impact on families
Family members can also face discrimination by association (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 15; Burns et al., 2014, pp. 43-44). This sometimes results in them developing a negative attitude towards their relative with disabilities (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 15; Burns et al., 2014, p. 39). Negative attitudes about disability especially disadvantage mothers, who are ‘blamed’ in some cultures for having a child with a disability (Inclusion Intl., 2006, p. 63). This, combined with mothers generally bearing the majority of the care giving responsibilities, often devalues and isolates them (Inclusion Intl., 2006, p. 63).
Political participation
People with disabilities have often been excluded from playing an active part in the political process in their own countries and wider international development processes (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1499; Balmas et al., 2015, p. 11). They face challenges in exercising their fundamental right as a citizen to vote in elections (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 8). Existing laws can confuse and discriminate against the political rights of people with disabilities (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 11; Balmas et al., 2015, p. 13; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 171). People with intellectual disabilities are often prevented from voting as they are perceived as having ‘limited capacity to vote’ (Balmas et al., 2015, p. 13). Polling stations are often located in inaccessible places and their staff do not have training to assist people with disabilities (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 171). People with disabilities also face difficulties in accessing information about voter registration and the candidates, and many are even prevented from registering as voters (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 171).
In addition, people with disabilities may be prevented from standing as candidates (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 12). For example, in Indonesia, candidates are required to be literate to stand for legislative election, but it is not clear whether the ability to read braille is acceptable as a test of literacy (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 12).
- Balmas, S., Fembek, M., Hauquier, V., Heindorf, I., Kainz, W., Pitzinger, C., … Vilela, J. (2015). Zero project report 2015 – Focus: Independent living and political participation. Klosterneuburg: Essl Foundation. See document online
- Groce, N., Kett, M., Lang, R., & Trani, J-F. (2011). Disability and Poverty: the need for a more nuanced understanding of implications for development policy and practice. Third World Quarterly, 32(8), 1493-1513. See document online
- WHO & the World Bank. (2011). World report on disability. Geneva: WHO. See document online
- Burns, D., Oswald, K., & the ‘we can also make change’ team. (2014). ‘We can also make change’: Piloting participatory research with persons with disabilities and older people in Bangladesh. Sightsavers, HelpAge International, ADD International, Alzheimer’s Disease International, & Institute of Development Studies. See document online
- Center for Election Access of Citizens with Disabilities (PPUA Penca). (2013). Accessible elections for persons with disabilities in five Southeast Asian countries. USAID & AGENDA. See document online
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- Groce, N., & Kett, M. (2014). Youth with disabilities (Working Paper Series: No. 23). London: Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre. See document online
- Groce, N., Kett, M., Lang, R., & Trani, J-F. (2011). Disability and Poverty: the need for a more nuanced understanding of implications for development policy and practice. Third World Quarterly, 32(8), 1493-1513. See document online
- Handicap International & Save the Children. (2011). Out from the Shadows: Sexual violence against children with disabilities. Handicap International & Save the Children. See document online
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- Morgon Banks, L., & Polack, S. (2014). The economic costs of exclusion and gains of inclusion of people with disabilities: Evidence from low and middle income countries. CBM, International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. See document online
- Ortoleva, S., & Lewis, H. (2012). Forgotten sisters – A report on violence against women with disabilities: an overview of its nature, scope, causes and consequences (Northeastern public law and theory faculty research papers series no. 104-2012). Northeastern University. See document online
- Scior, K., Hamid, A., Hastings, R., Werner, S., Belton, C., Laniyan, A., … Kett, M. (2015). Intellectual disabilities: Raising awareness and combating stigma: A global review. London: UCL. See document online
- Trani, J-F., & Cannings, T. I. (2013). Child poverty in an emergency and conflict context: A multidimensional profile and an identification of the poorest children in Western Darfur. World Development, 48, 48–70. See document online
- Trani, J-F., & Loeb, M. (2012). Poverty and disability: a vicious circle? Evidence from Afghanistan and Zambia. Journal of International Development, 24(S1), S19–S52. See document online
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