What is it about?
This chapter examines the complex socioeconomic barriers that people with disabilities encounter across Asia and Africa, focusing on issues related to poverty, unemployment, limited access to education, inadequate health care, and social exclusion. It analyzes how structural inequalities, discrimination, and policy gaps exacerbate marginalization, while also exploring the intersections between disability, gender, rural-urban divides, and economic development. Drawing on case studies and regional data, the chapter highlights both shared challenges and unique context-specific struggles, offering insights into how inclusive policies and targeted interventions can help reduce disparities and promote the social and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.
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Why is it important?
People with disabilities in Asia and Africa face persistent and systemic socioeconomic challenges that limit their opportunities, deepen cycles of poverty, and hinder full participation in society. Without addressing these barriers through evidence-based, inclusive policies and programs, efforts to achieve equity, development, and disability rights in these regions will remain incomplete. This chapter is important because it sheds light on the root causes and impacts of socioeconomic exclusion, providing essential guidance for designing interventions and policies that promote the dignity, independence, and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities in Asia and Africa.
Perspectives
The chapter highlights how poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to services perpetuate socioeconomic exclusion of people with disabilities in Asia and Africa. It emphasizes the need for inclusive development policies that address structural inequalities and promote economic empowerment. The work encourages region-specific, evidence-based interventions to advance social justice and reduce disability-related disparities.
Dr.Ramakrishnan Veerabathiran
Chettinad Health City
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Socioeconomic Challenges Faced by People with Disabilities in Asia and Africa, January 2025, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-96-6076-6_3.
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