| Training Manual on Disability Statistics |
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| Learning Objectives: Chapter 10 |
| Disability Statistics: Key to Sound Policy Formation |
After reading this chapter, the reader should be able to:
- Describe policies that can be formed from disability data
- Have a basic understanding of the guidelines to policy formulation and plan of actions relating to disability
- Be aware of some examples of disability policies from various countries
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| 10.1 Policies that can be formed out of the given disability data |
Disability statistics are collected for the purpose of policy formulation, academic research, and the monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects. In earlier chapters, it was stressed that the choice of the domains and questions to be included in the questionnaire depends mostly on the needs of users. Moreover, in the cycle of the data collection activity shown in Diagrams 5.1 and 5.2, the first and the last stages are user consultation. Thus, the cycle is not complete if the provider of statistics does not face the users again to disseminate statistics.
Depending on the coverage or scope of data items collected, disability statistics could offer a wide range of beneficial information for policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation. Cross-tabulation of disability prevalence rate by socio-demographic characteristics of the population, for instance, could show differences across the different age groups, sex, educational attainment, occupation, and others. These differences could then be used in order to identify priority groups of people for policy and program development, especially in developing countries where resources are limited. Over time such information would indicate if the policy, program, or project implemented is successful or not as far as the targeted persons with disabilities are concerned.
Some of the specific information which could directly relate to the formulation of policies is listed below:
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Differences in rates of disability between males and females |
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Gender differences may indicate discrimination against a gender regarding service provision in some countries. Hence, a definitive policy regarding equal access to facilities may be indicated. |
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At the same time, it is possible in some countries that males would tend to have higher disability rate than that of females especially when the cause of disability is related to occupation. It is important, therefore, that causes of disability be known, apart from the presence of disability, to be able to formulate policies related to provision of safety measures in the workplace, insurance, and financial assistance to mitigate effects of accident-related injuries. |
| 2. |
Data on the cause of disability |
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Identification of the cause of disability may assist policymakers to make decisions about the type of preventive programs appropriate for their country. In the Asia-Pacific region, for instance, the underlying causes of disability are malnutrition, diseases, congenital factors, accidents and violence, inadequate hygiene, war and landmine explosions, lack of access to a health care system, exposure to chemical substances, stresses, and others (Takamine, 2003), most of which are preventable. Hence, in order to reduce the incidence of disability, strategies may be focused in these areas. |
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Differences in service utilization between the populations with and without disabilities |
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Policies may be formulated to increase access of population with disabilities in the different services and facilities, such as mandatory provision of ramps instead of stairs for those on wheelchairs. |
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Identification of physical and social barriers |
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Information on what types and causes of restrictions persons with disabilities are facing related to basic services is useful for determining the environmental and social barriers that most urgently need to be addressed. In countries where resources are limited, identification of the type of assistive device most needed is important for the best allocation of funds. |
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Access to and participation in education and employment |
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The data may provide information on how persons with disabilities are integrated with the educational system and the labour market. This is a critical issue related to disability policy. Discrimination against persons with disabilities, and unwillingness to bear the costs of creating a more accessible environment e.g. at schools or workstations are key obstacles to the improvement of the lives of persons with disabilities. Disability data may encourage governments to construct better facilities or provide tax incentives to schools or firms that accept persons with disabilities. |
| 6. |
Income by age and type of disability |
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Poverty is one of the causes of disability. This is because the poor are more exposed to dangerous working and living conditions, including lack of access to healthcare facilities, and poor nutrition, among others. In the Asia-Pacific region, close to 40 percent of the persons with disabilities are poor (Takamine, 2003). |
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On the other hand, disability can also be a cause of poverty. This is particularly true if the persons with disabilities, and their caretakers, do not have the capacity to generate income for the family. Moreover, there may also be financial constraints brought about by the expensive medical treatment or assistive devices needed by persons with disabilities. Data on income as well as other information regarding the economic status of the household may provide insight into how poverty can affect disability and vice-versa. |
There are yet a number of policies which may be formulated to improve the circumstances of persons with disabilities. Several of these policies have been internationally recognized and incorporated in the national policy programs of various countries. The next section discusses the guidelines and plans of action that direct the disability policies of some countries. |
| 10.2 Disability guidelines for policy formulation |
As described in Chapter 1, the utility of disability statistics in fulfilling a global commitment to promote and protect human rights of persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural, political and legal life cannot be overemphasized. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in its article 31 states that States parties should undertake to collect appropriate information, including statistical and research data, to enable them to formulate and implement policies to give effect to the Convention. CRPD covers the following areas:
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Article 6 - |
Women with disabilities |
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Article 7 - |
Children with disabilities |
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Article 8 - |
Awareness-raising |
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Article 9 - |
Accessibility |
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Article 10 - |
Right to life |
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Article 11 - |
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies |
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Article 12 - |
Equal recognition before the law |
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Article 13 - |
Access to justice |
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Article 14 - |
Liberty and security of person |
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Article 15 - |
Freedom of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment |
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Article 16 - |
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse |
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Article 17 - |
Protecting the integrity of the person |
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Article 18 - |
Liberty of movement and nationality |
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Article 19 - |
Living independently and being included in the community |
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Article 20 - |
Personal mobility |
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Article 21 - |
Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information |
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Article 22 - |
Respect for privacy |
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Article 23 - |
Respect for home and the family |
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Article 24 - |
Education |
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Article 25 - |
Health |
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Article 26 - |
Habilitation and rehabilitation |
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Article 27 - |
Work and employment |
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Article 28 - |
Adequate standard of living and social protection |
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Article 29 - |
Participation in political and public life |
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Article 30 - |
Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport |
In Asia and the Pacific, the Second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003 - 2012) promotes an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society and its regional policy guideline, the Biwako Millenium Framework for Action (BMF) provides the following seven priority areas:
- Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parent associations
- Women with disabilities
- Early detection, early intervention and education
- Training and employment, including self-employment
- Access to built environments and public transport
- Access to information and communications, including information, communications and assistive technologies
- Poverty alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes
Appendix 4 includes the different targets in this framework.
Biwako Plus Five, the supplement to the BMF emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, mutli-stakeholders efforts including the private sector, local government and participation of persons with diverse disabilities in decision-making processes concerning disability and in the implementation and evaluation of projects and policies.
Biwako Plus Five has a specific strategy," Improving the availability and quality of data and other information on disabilities for policy formulation and implementation. Appendix 5 describes the strategies.
Several countries have formulated their own policies on the basis of the above mentioned guidelines. For instance, the Philippines adopted a Magna-Carta for Disabled Persons which specifically states that:
.... Disabled persons are part of Philippine society, thus the State shall give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of disabled persons and their
integration into the mainstream of society. Toward this end, the State shall adopt policies ensuring them to compete favourably for available opportunities....7
India 's policy about persons with disabilities is embodied in Persons with Disabilities (Equality of Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995 which stressed the equality of opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The People's Republic of China with an estimated 20 million persons with disabilities living in poverty, has a disability policy formulated as follows:
... for the purpose of protecting the lawful rights and interests of, and developing undertakings for, disabled persons, and ensuring their equal and full participation in social life and their share of the material and cultural wealth of society 8
The national disability framework of Bangladesh is embodied in the "Bangladesh Persons with Disability Welfare Act"9. The Act lists the following priority areas:
| Disability prevention |
Rehabilitation and employment |
| Identification |
Transport and communication |
| Curative treatment |
Culture |
| Education |
Social Security |
| Health care |
Self-help organizations |
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7 Robert L. Metts, Ph.d, Disability Issues, Trends and Recommendations for the World Bank. (February, 2000). Source of basic document: Philippines, "Magna-Carta for Disabled Persons", Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 4 May 1992, Vol.88, No. 18, 2537-2556.
8 Ibid. Source of basic document: People's Republic of China, Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Disabled Persons, Chapter 1, General Provisions (China, 1990).
9 The Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory for the World Bank, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Disability in Bangladesh, A Situation Analysis, Final Report, (May 2004). |
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