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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.

Query 88 - Disability Inclusion in the work of International Financial Institutions

This paper compares disability inclusion policies of a selected number of International Finance Institutions (IFIs). It covers the strategic focus of IFIs on disability inclusion, considers how this relates to the FCDO’s Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy, and provides recommendations for fostering greater disability inclusion across the work of IFIs.

Evidence Digest, Issue 13 - Focus Issue: Information about people with disabilities and care

This evidence digest from the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk focuses on care, particularly the experiences of people with disabilities in accessing quality care. The guest blog introduction by Elisabeta Moldovan focuses on the experiences of people with disabilities in institutions in Romania, and the importance of a person-centred care model.

Evidence Digest, Issue 14 - Focus Issue: Information about people with disabilities and sexual and reproductive health and rights

Ahead of the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) being held 14-17th November 2022 in Thailand, the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk have prepared an additional evidence digest on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and disability inclusion covering recent evidence, guidance and learning from programmes. The guest blog introduction by Lois Auta-Udonkanta focuses on the barriers women with disabilities face to accessing family planning and her hopes for ICFP. Report and easy read version attached below.

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