Working With Disabled People

There are about 650 million disabled people in the world. That’s about 10% of the planet’s population.

It is estimated that 80% of all people with disabilities live in developing countries where it is often believed that disability is a curse. Disabled people are routinely denied their basic rights to education, free movement, health care, political and voting rights, and employment.

The most important event in global disability rights ever…

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in May 2008. By December 2008, forty-one countries around the world had ratified it and are now legally-bound. The Convention re-affirms existing human rights in a way that brings the concerns, entitlements and responsibilities of disabled people to the fore.

Read the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Mainstreaming disability

At International Service, our approach to working with disabled people is underpinned by what is known as the 'social model' of disability.
This model is based on the principle that the way in which society functions creates barriers, prejudices and exclusions that define who is and who is not disabled. Whilst some people may have physical, intellectual or psychological impairments or differences, these do not have to result in disability unless society fails to include and accommodate them.

We seek to 'mainstream' disability into the work with our development partners. Mainstreaming is about enabling people with disabilities to participate in all levels of society without facing barriers, and to live with dignity.
 
We actively involve and work with disabled people in order to make their rights, concerns and experiences a central part of the planning, implementation and evaluation of policies, legislation and development programmes.

The ultimate goal is to achieve disability equality.