World report on disability
People with disabilities have generally poorer health, lower education achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This is largely due to the lack of services available to them and the many obstacles they face in their everyday lives. The report provides the best available evidence about what works to overcome barriers to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment, and support services, and to create the environments which will enable people with disabilities to flourish. The report ends with a concrete set of recommended actions for governments and their partners.
This pioneering World report on disability will make a significant contribution to implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At the intersection of public health, human rights and development, the report is set to become a "must have" resource for policy-makers, service providers, professionals, and advocates for people with disabilities and their families.
WHO | World report on disability
The cross cutting recommendations of the report, based on the main findings, are as follows:
1: Enable access to all mainstream systems and services.
People with disabilities have ordinary needs, which can and should be met through mainstream
programmes and services. Mainstreaming is the process by which governments and other stakeholders address the barriers that exclude persons with disabilities from participating equally in any service intended
for the general public, such as education, health, employment, and social services.This requires
changes to laws, policies, institutions and environments. Mainstreaming not only fulfils the
human rights of persons with disabilities, it can also be more cost effective.
2: Invest in programmes and services for people with disabilities.
Some people with disabilities may require access to specific measures, such as rehabilitation, support
services, or vocational training, which can improve functioning and independence and foster participation in society.
3: Adopt a national disability strategy and plan of action.
All sectors and stakeholders should collaborate on a strategy to improve the
well-being of people with disabilities. This will help improve coordination between sectors and
services. Progress should be monitored closely.
4: Involve people with disabilities.
In formulating and implementing policies, laws and services, people with disabilities should be
consulted and actively involved. At an individual level, persons with disabilities are entitled to have
control over their lives and therefore need to be consulted on issues that concern them directly.
5: Improve human resource capacity.
Human resource capacity can be improved through effective education, training and recruitment.
For example training of health professionals, architects and designers should include relevant content on
disability and be based on human rights principles.
6: Provide adequate funding and improve affordability.
Adequate and sustainable funding of publicly provided services is needed to remove financial barriers to access and ensure that good quality services are provided.
7: Increase public awareness and understanding about disability.
Mutual respect and understanding contribute to an inclusive society. It is vital to improve public
understanding of disability, confront negative perceptions, and represent disability fairly.
8: Improve the availability and quality of data on disability.
Data need to be standardized and internationally comparable to benchmark and monitor progress on disability policies and on the implementation of the CRPD nationally and internationally.
At the national level, disability should be included in data collection. Dedicated
disability surveys can also be carried out to gain more comprehensive information.
9: Strengthen and support research on disability.
Research is essential for increasing public understanding about disability, informing disability policy and programmes, and efficiently allocating resources. More research is needed, not just about
the lives of people with disabilities, but also about social barriers, and how these can be overcome.
Fact sheet
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www.who.int
