USAID promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities across all USAID-funded work. In addition, the Disability Program Fund helps to catalyze USAID disability-inclusive programming worldwide by providing funds directly to Missions, encouraging them to include disability across all sectors of their work. Projects work to reduce barriers that limit the participation of persons with disabilities in their societies, communities, and families.
Since 2005, USAID’s Disability Program Fund has supported more than 150 programs and activities in 65 countries, working with various organizations and implementing partners. In many instances, these organizations are Disabled People's Organizations (DPO)—civil society organizations run by and for persons with disabilities. Programming areas include democracy, human rights, and governance; economic growth and trade; and education; among others. Through its Disability Program Fund and broader inclusive development efforts, USAID is working with the disability community around the world to ensure that persons with disabilities are empowered to fully exercise their human rights on an equal basis with others.
Program Highlights
- Art for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities increases inclusion and improves the quality of life of children and young persons with disabilities in Belarus through launching awareness-raising campaigns, strengthening a network of local disabled people’s organizations, and developing social enterprises and community-based services. The project promotes the rights of persons with disabilities and their inclusion in society through artistic and other events. Activities also aim to engage new grassroots DPOs in networking and exchanging experiences and lessons learned.
- Learn more about USAID/Belarus’s programs for vulnerable groups.
- Watch how Art for Inclusion provides opportunities for children and young people with disabilities in Belarus.
- All Children Reading Cambodia improves early grade learning skills of children, including children with disabilities in grades one to three. Outcomes include meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the learning process with improved performance, writing, and mathematics.
- Learn how intensive coaching improves early grade reading in Cambodia.
- Expanding Employment and Income-Generation Opportunities for Persons With Disabilities provides persons with disabilities with new climate-adaptive technologies and financing that will help them generate income and participate in the economy. The program works to integrate persons with disabilities into programs and initiatives to improve food security in the region.
- Learn how persons with disabilities in South Africa are taught to farm using an accessible aquaponic system, which is easy to operate and maintain. They can both produce food for themselves and sell to the local businesses and the local community.
Relevant Policies
- USAID Disability Policy Paper [PDF, 36KB]
- USAID Policy on Standards for Accessibility for the Disabled in USAID Financed Construction [PDF 22KB]
- Promoting Nondiscrimination and Inclusive Development in USAID-funded Programs: A Mandatory Reference for ADS Chapter 200 [PDF 126KB]
- Suggested Approaches for Integrating Inclusive Development Across the Program Cycle and in Mission Operations Additional Help for ADS 201 [PDF 361KB]
E-Learning
- Disability Inclusive Development 102 Toolkit: Mainstreaming Disability Across the Program Cycle and Beyond
- Disability Inclusive Development 101 E-Learning Course
- USAID University: Disability Inclusive Development 101 (USAID staff only)
- USAID University: Disability Inclusive Development 102 (USAID staff only)
Technical Resources
- Guide on How to Integrate Disability into Gender Assessments and Analyses (October 2010) [PDF, 192KB]
- Towards Gender Equality in Europe and Eurasia (May 2012) [PDF, 1.6MB].
- Women with Disabilities in the Europe & Eurasia Region (August 2012) [PDF, 950KB].
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Equal Access: How to Include Persons with Disabilities in Elections and Political Processes
- Family Care for Children with Disabilities: Practical Guidance for Frontline Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries