Situation of disability in developing countries

The box below lists some of the major preventable causes of disabling impairments. Poverty is not only a cause, but also a major consequence of disability in developing countries. It is estimated that 95% of all persons with disabilities are living in poverty. Many of these people live in rural areas, where basic services are limited and often inaccessible to persons with disabilities and their families. As a result, most persons with disabilities do not have access to services and lack the opportunities to earn a level of income to facilitate independent living. In the remainder of this study session, you will consider what you can do to tackle this problem.