Reducing Inequality for Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

Disability and development are about power, access, solidarity, advocacy, inequality, rights, voice, and support. It is about accessing accessibility. It is important to understand the politics of language—how we conceptualize persons with disabilities. Disability is heterogeneous in nature. Each person has disabling parts and “normal” parts. As human beings, representations are critical to understanding and experiencing the world. Representation helps one to know what is awful, reprehensive, acceptable, possible, desirable, etc. Sometimes our lives are represented in ways that do not match how we experience the world. Other times, representations articulate our lives and experiences in ways we may be unable to express. Representations structure reality. Hence, they can be a critical component in bringing about rights. It is crucial to look at the needs and challenges at the ground level in a different context. Understanding why survival is considered sufficient and not full participation is important. Policies need to resonate culturally. Otherwise, they tend to be confined to particular classes and groups in societies with access to technology, information, and the English language. What matters is the visibility of disability.