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Disability Inclusion

SDDirect provides research, guidance, and technical support on disability inclusion in all aspects of policy and programming.

We also mainstream disability inclusion throughout our work to promote the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda and the ‘nothing about us, without us’ call from the disability rights movement.

A visually impaired woman uses a screen reader

What is Disability Inclusion?

 

An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, have a disability. Despite this, people with disabilities have historically been overlooked in development and humanitarian policy and programming. Too often people with disabilities are denied their basic human rights, including access to education, employment and health services. The disability rights movement is advocating for change.

"…disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society, on an equal basis with others" - United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Barriers to disability inclusion

 

Barriers to disability inclusion graphic

 

Our work in this area

 

SDDirect has extensive experience providing guidance on disability inclusion across sectors. Through the Disability Inclusive Development Helpdesk, we support the generation of a rigorous evidence base on ‘what works’ to deliver results for people with disabilities. The Helpdesk also provides technical and training support to ensure that data and evidence is used to drive further action and investment in disability inclusion.

We promote disability inclusion through our broader work, including our work on gender-based violence, infrastructure, safeguarding, and women’s economic empowerment.

We take a rights-based approach to disability inclusion and apply a gender and intersectionality lens in everything we do. Working with organisations of persons with disability (OPDs) is central to our approach and essential to promote the approach advocated by the disability rights movement: “nothing about us without us”.  

We work to promote disability inclusion in our workplace and operations. SDDirect is a Disability Confident Employer, and we have an active Disability Inclusion Working Group that reports to our executive management team. 

“In my engagements with the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk – both in preparations for and delivery of products – I found the service to be of brilliant quality. It certainly provided a wide range of people with increased knowledge and understanding of the issues and was always able to consider how best to support colleagues in the FCDO, to put information and evidence into practice.”
Emma Žaja
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

If you would like to hear more about our work on Disability Inclusion, please reach out to Rebekah Martin, Head of Disability Inclusion portfolio, rebekah.martin@sddirect.org.uk.

Data on access to higher education for students with disabilities in Africa, South and South-East Asia and MENA regions

This report reviews available data on access to higher education for students with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It looks at how many students with disabilities are enrolled in higher education, how many are women, and what gaps exist in the data. The report finds that data is limited, often outdated, and not disaggregated by gender or type of disability.

Evidence review on deinstitutionalisation of children with disabilities

This report reviews global evidence on the deinstitutionalisation of children with disabilities. It explores which organisations are active in this area, the barriers to family-based care, and where reforms have been successfully implemented. The report highlights examples of inclusive care reforms, advocacy by organisations of persons with disabilities, and support from international agencies. It identifies what works, what challenges remain, and where further evidence is needed.

Opportunities for disability rights and inclusion advocacy in Latin America and the Caribbean

This report identifies international and regional events in Latin America and the Caribbean over the next two years where the UK FCDO can advocate for increased focus on disability rights in the region. Key details such as the event names, dates, locations, and thematic focuses, are presented. These opportunities are mapped against the key outcomes, intervention areas, and enablers for inclusion that are outlined in the FCDO's Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy.

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