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Disability

Disability
Policy Brief January 2011

Including People with


Disabilities in U.S Foreign
Assistance Programs
Problem Recommendations & Actions
There are approximately Inclusion of people with disabilities must be a strategic priority within all U.S. foreign assis-
650 million people with tance programs. Using a rights-based approach, this strategy would seek to broaden the
disabilities in the world, equitable participation of all people with disabilities as beneficiaries and implementers at all
or 10 percent of the levels of the development process. Recognizing that people with disabilities are the most
global population, and qualified to advocate on issues affecting their lives, the experiences of people with dis-
of these an estimated abilities must be an integral part of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
80 percent live in strategies, programs and projects worldwide. Rather than addressing disability as a medical
developing countries. or charitable issue, disability should be addressed using a social model that focuses on the
Women and girls with role of society in gaining equality for all its citizens, including people with disabilities. This
disabilities are doubly rights-based approach focuses on equality for people with disabilities as similar to as equal-
disadvantaged and tend ity for other minority communities.
to be at greater risk of Specific steps should include the following.
economic vulnerability. • Ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Despite overwhelming • Develop a national strategy for a disability-inclusive development policy that commits
evidence that people the U.S. to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by extending the benefits of
with disabilities account development to all.
for a disproportionate • Ensure full implementation and enforcement of the USAID Disability Policy by:
number of the world’s »» Establishing a high-level office on disability inclusive development.
poor, their particular »» Appointing disability focal points for major development assistance agencies, sub-
needs and participation bureaus and country missions.
are largely absent »» Incorporating disability inclusion as part of evaluation criteria in all requests for pro-
from international posals and implementing partner agreements.
development and global »» Requiring each major development agency to budget for and monitor expenditures
poverty reduction for disability inclusion.
efforts. »» Funding programs that build the capacity of people with disabilities and their repre-
sentative organizations to participate in development.
»» Collecting data that is disaggregated by disability.

Results
www.InterAction.org Investing in people with disabilities is crucial for reducing global poverty,
fostering economic growth and improving quality of life for all communities.
1400 16th Street, NW
Reforming U.S. foreign aid to effectively address needs and priorities of people
Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036 with disabilities ensures more successful and sustainable development for all.
202-667-8227
Background tance programs by adopting the USAID Disability Policy. In
the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the policy
One in five of the world’s poorest people has a disability. addresses both discrimination against people with disabili-
Major environmental, societal and attitudinal barriers con- ties and the need to address their concerns in all areas of
tinue to prevent people with disabilities from enjoying their development work. As one of the first bilateral donor agen-
basic rights such as attending school, working, access to cies to develop such a policy and establish standards in
clean water, civil society and health services, and partici- the area of accessible construction, the U.S. has been a
pating fully in their communities. These barriers become global leader in inclusive development. For over a decade,
more challenging in developing countries where: the U.S. Government has launched numerous initiatives
• One out of five people living on less than a dollar a day designed to strengthen disability inclusion in foreign assis-
has a disability. tance programs, yet they are limited by a lack of a consis-
• Ninety percent of children with disabilities do not attend tent strategy to include people with disabilities at all levels
school. of the development process. In addition, greater financial
• Only 1 percent of disabled women in the global south resources must be allocated to foreign assistance initia-
are literate. tives for their long-term viability and impact.
• Eighty to ninety percent of people with disabilities of The U.S. must take the opportunity to build on the
working age are unemployed, compared to 50-70 per- momentum created by the recently signed UN Conven-
cent in industrialized countries. tion on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In
July 2009, the United States signed the CRPD, joining over
Models of disability 150 other countries. The CRPD, which entered into force
Perspectives on disability and development have shifted in 2008, formally recognizes disability as a human rights
dramatically over the past two decades. Disability is no issue and marks a huge milestone in the disability move-
longer seen as a medical or social welfare issue in which ment worldwide. The CRPD also represents a paradigm
people with disabilities are treated as objects of char- shift within the development community, as it identifies the
ity and segregated from society. The disability movement importance of disability inclusion across all development
dismantled this oppressive model and promoted a human programs, rather than as a stand-alone thematic issue. The
rights approach to disability. Reforms were introduced to CRPD is a major tool for the implementation of inclusive
provide equal opportunities to people with disabilities and development strategies by governments, the UN and play-
end segregation, institutionalization, and discrimination.1 ers at all levels of the development process.
This model functions by empowering people with disabili- Inclusive development is not a “one-size fits all” approach.
ties to participate actively in political, economic, social and It is based on respect for diversity and recognizes that all
cultural life in a way that is respectful and accommodating people are different and have different needs. Nations can-
of their differences, thus achieving equality. not achieve their full potential for economic development
or democracy without fully embracing the diversity of all
U.S. actions communities. As a global leader, the United States must
In 1997 the United States made a commitment to ensure exemplify this by supporting international development
people with disabilities are included in its foreign assis- that is inclusive of people with disabilities. Urgent action
is needed as this is one of the greatest humanitarian and
human rights challenges in the world today.2
1 Theresia Degener and Gerard Quinn. “A Survey of International, Com-
parative and Regional Disability Law Reform” Disability Rights Law and
Policy: International and National Perspectives (Papers Conceived and
Commissioned by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund 2 US National Council on Disability, Foreign Policy and Disability: Legisla-
(DREDF), eds. M.L. Breslin and S. Yee, pages 3-125 (Ardsley, NY: Trans- tive Strategies and Civil rights Protections to Ensure Inclusion of People
national Pub., 2002). with Disabilities (September 9, 2003).
Contributors to the Disability Policy Brief
Organization URL
Mobility International USA www.miusa.org

InterAction Disability Working Group Members


Organization URL
American Friends Service Committee www.afsc.org
CBM www.cbm.org
Center for Financial Inclusion www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org
Counterpart www.counterpart.org
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) www.dredf.org
Disability Rights International (formerly Mental Disability www.disabilityrightsintl.org
Rights International)
Handicap International www.handicap-international.us
Information Management and Mine Action Programs www.immap.org
International Medical Corps www.internationalmedicalcorps.org
Mercy Corps www.mercycorps.org
Mobility International USA www.miusa.org
Perkins School for the Blind www.perkins.org
Save the Children www.savethechildren.org
Trickle Up www.trickleup.org
United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) www.usicd.org

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