Accessibility and Inclusion of People with Disabilities in U. S. Foreign Assistance Programs

This book's aim is to advance understanding and to promote accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in foreign assistance programs funded by the United States. This book reviews U.S. federal disability laws, the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Disability Policy, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and discusses their application to U.S. foreign assistance programs. Over one billion people, 15 percent of the world's population, have a disability. The number continues to grow as a result of aging populations, poverty, armed conflict, and AIDs. Post-conflict and developing countries have a significant proportion of people with disabilities. Although people with disabilities make up a large segment of the population in many countries, they continue to face horrific forms of discrimination and segregation throughout the world. This book examines the work of USAID, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and provides recommendations that will strengthen the operation of these agencies by ensuring U.S. Government funding is used in a manner that is accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities.