Global Issues
Disability inclusion for those living in poverty
Lam sits with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) staff where the I-SHINE program is run. This program supported his completion of an IT training course. Photo: Caritas Australia
Global Disability Facts
1 billion
people live with a disability while also experiencing poverty
80%
of people with disabilities live in developing countries
Fir Kumari using a sewing machine to make clothes. Photo: Caritas Nepal
Poverty and disability
The World Bank estimates that 20% of the world’s poorest people are living with some kind of disability.
Around 80% of people living with a disability are based in countries where communities often lack the governance, infrastructure, and facilities to support them. People with disabilities live without many basic services that others find easier to access, such as health care and education.
The reduced access to education or skill-building opportunities makes it difficult for people living with disabilities to find employment and to build a stable livelihood. The lack of suitable health care makes them more vulnerable to disease which, in turn, adds to the occurrence of health issues in developing countries.
Along with the physical stress that they experience, people with disabilities often experience emotional stress from social stigma and discrimination, inhibited from engaging in communal activities with limited support to develop their independence.
Driving disability inclusion where it's needed most
Genuine, long-lasting development necessitates an environment where all people have a chance to grow – especially those living with disability. A community’s ability to thrive is directly reflected in the way it cares for its most vulnerable members.
We are working with communities in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Australia to create awareness and build more inclusive societies that proactively support and empower people with disabilities.
Thu lives in the Quang Tri province in central Vietnam. Photo: Phan Tan Lam/Caritas Australia
Lam is working as a freelance Graphic Designer from his home in Quang Nam, Vietnam. Photo: Caritas Australia
What we are doing to support people with disability
Our programs are helping to drive disability inclusion by building awareness among communities and providing essential life skills training to people living with disability.
Lam, a young man from rural Vietnam with a passion for graphic design, faced limited career prospects due to his disability. With support from the I-SHINE program, he pursued IT training and now runs a successful freelance graphic design business.
“Right now, I'm most proud of being less dependent on my parents. They can finally relax knowing I've found a fulfilling career that I'm truly passionate about."
