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People With Disabilities Need Stronger Voice, Better Access, Urges ADB Workshop

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (7 October 2002) - People with disabilities need a stronger voice, more access to infrastructure and services, and the removal of barriers to their integration into society.

That was the main message of the Regional Workshop on Disability and Development, which concluded Friday at ADB's Manila Headquarters.

The three-day workshop brought together government and nongovernment representatives, UN agencies, and disabled people's organizations (DPOs) to find ways of meeting the needs of the most marginalized group in Asia and the Pacific.

The realities of disability in Asia are alarming, the workshop heard. Although an average of 1 in 10 persons in the world has a disability, totaling 600 million according to latest UN estimates, people with disabilities are sometimes "invisible," as they are under-reported in national censuses.

Further, less than 5% of children with disabilities attend school and girls have less access to education than boys.

In Asia, people with disabilities are denied basic opportunities to work and have a decent standard of living, to maintain their dignity and self-esteem and the respect of others.

And the problem is poised to get worse, as the number of people with disabilities is on the rise, due to poverty, civil conflicts, a lack of environmental management, hazardous work conditions, and the world's ageing population.

"It makes economic sense if societies tap the intellectual and physical potential of people with disabilities, given that they make up 10% of the population," said Brahm Prakash, Director of the ADB Poverty Reduction Unit.

"The short-term costs of education and integrating persons with disabilities will be surpassed by the long-term savings to families and societies."

To help improve the situation, the workshop issued recommendations in four thematic areas:

• Inclusion: National censuses and surveys need strengthening to properly report disabilities in national statistics. Disability issues should be incorporated into the activities of government departments and international organizations. Public awareness campaigns are needed to raise the profile of disability issues.
• Participation: People with disabilities must have more "voice." Dialogue should be strengthened between governments and DPOs, which should be adequately represented in decision-making. The advocacy role of DPOs is essential for mainstreaming disability issues in public policy.
• Access: Removing barriers is essential for people with disabilities. Governments and donors or agencies should mainstream the use of universal design guidelines to ensure barrier-free environments, whether physical or attitudinal. Also, access to interventions to prevent the causes of disabilities (such as pre-natal and natal maternal care, occupational health and safety, etc.) should be extended to all.
• Quality: The quality of projects and services for people with disabilities needs to be strengthened. This can be achieved by developing standards and laws to help prevent disabling conditions. Disability indicators need to be identified and applied in planning and carrying out disability-specific and mainstream programs.

"Supporting people with disabilities is a matter of quality of life and dignity. They deserve the same rights as any citizen in any country, as universally accepted under the UN Charter of Human Rights," said Isabel Ortiz, ADB Senior Economist. "Supporting persons with disabilities is a priority from an economic and a human point of view."

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