Disability and Poverty
Around one billion people or 15% of the world's population live with some form of disability. The prevalence of disability is higher in developing countries. One fifth of the estimated global total or between 110 million and 190 million people experience significant disabilities (World Report on Disability, 2011).
Persons with disabilities on average as a group, are more likely to experience adverse socio-economic outcomes such as less education, poorer health care, lower levels of employment and higher poverty rates than persons without disabilities (World Report on Disability, 2011).
Where does the association between poverty and disability come from? It is often stated that disability is "both a cause and consequence of poverty," also poverty and disability "reinforce each other, contributing to increase vulnerability and exclusion ( DFID, 2000)".
Disability accentuates poverty because the systematic institutional, environmental and attitudinal barriers that persons with disabilities encounter in their daily lives result in their entrenched social exclusion in society.
Poverty may increase the risk of disability through discrimination, stigma, social marginalization and isolation, inadequate access to education and health care services, insufficient employment opportunities and exclusion in the workplace, limited access to legal and political processes and increased cost of living with a disability.
Thus, global awareness on disability inclusion need to be continuously delivered so as to end the cycle of poverty and disability. The Inclusion of Persons with disabilities in all aspects of life would be guaranteed through the application of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which incorporates the following:
ARTICLE 5: says that, the State Parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds. In order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination, State Parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided.
ARTICLE 9: says that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, State Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure persons with disabilities access, on equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communication technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and rural areas. These measures, Include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to: (a) buildings, roads and other indoor and outdoor facilities, Including schools, housing, hospitals and workplaces, (b) information, communication and other services, including electronic services and emergency services, (c) ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities.
ARTICLE 13: says that, State Parties shall ensure effective access to legal justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, Including through the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodation in order to facilitate their effective role as direct and indirect participants, Including as witness in all legal proceedings, Including at investigative and other preliminary stages.
ARTICLE 24: says that, State Parties shall recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to education, State Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and long learning. Persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education and secondary education on the ground of disability. Persons with disabilities can access inclusive and quality education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live. Reasonable educational facilities and accommodations of individual's needs and requirements shall be provided.
ARTICLE 25: says that, State Parties shall recognize that person with disabilities have right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health services without discrimination on the basis of disability. State Parties shall (a) provide persons with disabilities the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as provided to other persons, (b) provide those health services and programmes needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities.
ARTICLE 26: says that, State Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures, Including through peer support, enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability, and full Inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To that end, State Parties shall organize, strengthen and extend comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services and programmes particularly in the areas of health, employment, education and social services to persons with disabilities.
ARTICLE 27: says that, State Parties shall recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to have opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. Also, State Parties shall prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market as well as Assisting in finding, obtaining and maintaining to employment, promote opportunities for self employment, entrepreneurship, vocational trade and business.
ARTICLE 28: says that, State Parties shall recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, Including adequate food, clothing and housing to the continuous improvement of living conditions.
ARTICLE 29: says that, State Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake to: (a) ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, Including the right and opportunity for Persons with disabilities to vote and be elected. (a) create an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the public administrative affairs without discrimination and equal basis with others. Persons with disabilities should have a voice in the decision making that affect their lives.
ARTICLE 31: says that, State Parties shall undertake to collect appropriate and accurate information, Including statistical and research data on persons with disabilities. The evidence-based data on persons with disabilities enable the policy makers to formulate policy, plan services and programmes which would effectively address the exclusion that persons with disabilities face.
In conclusion, disability Inclusion can be promoted and guaranteed by effective application of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the following areas:
1- Equality and Non-discrimination.
2- Accessibility.
3- Education.
4- Healthcare.
5- Habilitation and Rehabilitation.
6- Work and Employment.
7- Standard of Living & Social Protection.
8- Participation in Political and Public life.
9- Access to Legal Justices.
10- Statistics and data collection on PWDs.
Therefore, let's join the awareness delivery for disability inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities in general so as to end the cycle of poverty and disability.
