QUESTION
OF THE
MONTH

We need commitments on disability inclusion related to social policy, climate change, data collection and analysis. It would also be great if the 2025 summit could spend some time reflecting on how past summits’ commitments have been realized and if not, why not.

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Every single school should be accessible to every child.  Proper changing facilities, manual handling facilities, sensory rooms,  etc.  It’s were children with disabilities begin their education but also begin to establish their role in society.  No child should feel marginalised at school.

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Michelle,  Did you know that the World Bank made a commitment that all of their spending/loans for education would be fully inclusive by the end of the decade? I believe UNICEF is the same. We just need to get the same level of commitment from governments.

Something I’d like to see is separating out disability benefits from “inability to work.” “Inability to work” should not be the standard for receiving support. Support covering the extra costs of disability should be universal — and used to promote work and other forms of participation. Then, if the person is still poor they should receive anti-poverty benefits the same as a person living in poverty without a disability. This was put forth in the Joint Statement on Social Protection that was led by ILO and IDA, but, again, hopefully more governments will move in this direction.

Yet another interesting topic and thanks Dan for posing this question on the discussion forum.  The points made by colleagues to achieve disability inclusion in areas such as  social protection education , decent work,  data collection and inclusive climate action are critical but cannot happen without government ownership .

Though we have generated substantial evidence through research and some excellent tools have been developed to promote inclusive development, often governments in the developing countries do not effectively make use of them in developing policies or transforming policies, action plans and strategies for disability inclusive development.

In my opinion , the next summit should focus on developing an ‘disability inclusive governance’ model for developing countries to ensure there is sustained government ownership, commitment and allocation of resources for realization of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Evidence indicate that in Asia-Pacific region which is home to more than 700 million persons with disabilities, only 29 countries and territories participated voluntary survey to measure the level of advancement in terms of disability inclusive development that has taken place during the decade 2013-2022. Data points to the fact that only 55.2% of the governments have reported achievement in implementing disability inclusive laws, policies, strategies and programs.

Coming to the brass tacks of disability inclusion , it is the civil servants in the government who are expected to make use of the data that is generated, tools that are developed and implement the commitments of the global summit or for that matter any international / regional / national frameworks and human rights treaties .

We need more evidence through research as to what prevents or impedes civil service to deliver in terms of disability inclusion and how do we ensure disability inclusion being effectively addressed by the three organs of the government ( Legislature , Executive and Judiciary) which are the three pillars of governance and responsible to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities .  Hope the next summit will also succeed in making governments commit to what can be achieved realistically and how the development partners can support the governments in fulfilling those commitments.

I would love to see commitments to create more independent and integrated living options for people with disabilities. A crucial part of fair housing is ensuring people with disabilities have housing options that allow them to be independent and integrated, which can be supported through coordinated services and more accessible options. Governments should take the lead on this and as much as possible, ensure housing is integrated and not isolated.

1. Ww.