Poverty-Disability cycle

When combined, Poverty and Disability forms a vicious cycle.  

 
Individuals with disabilities in third world countries are more likely to become disabled as a result of poor living conditions, health endangering employment, malnutrition, poor access to health care and education opportunities. This disability and the social stigma associated with it, worsen poverty through increasing an individual’s isolation from society and causing economic strain (Coleridge, 2993, as cited in Lorenzo & Duncan, 2006, p. 75). 

Chronic disability refers to those who are intergenerationally poor and also experience multi-dimensional poverty (income, education, social capital etc.).

Life-cycle of a Disabled person in Poverty:

The following is an abstract from a research paper on ‘Chronic Poverty and Disability’ produced by RebeccaYeo;

Disabled people experience discrimination from birth, or from the moment of becoming disabled, onwards. The birth of a disabled child is often considered a tragedy. The child needs more care and may not be considered to have the potential to support him or herself, let alone the older generation, in the future. In communities that are already living in chronic poverty, disabled children may be excluded even further. Where there are limited resources it may be seen as economically irresponsible to give an equal share of resources to a disabled child who is perceived as unlikely to be able to provide for the family in the future.

“Early lack of investment in disabled children is not just a reflection of ignorance. In situations of poverty this is a desperate but rational decision” (Ashton, 1999).

Disabled children often get last access to food and other basic resources. When

disabled children get ill they are often not given treatment but left to the "hand of God". They are less likely to be sent to school (even if physically possible), for fear that: they will not cope; or that their disclosure will stigmatise the family and affect the marriage prospects of siblings; or that they are not a worthwhile investment and others should get priority.

The International Disability and Development Consortium estimate that 98% of

disabled children in developing countries are denied any formal education (IDDC, 1999). Those children who do get education often get inferior treatment, have low expectations of themselves and from others and do not get the support they need in order to participate equally. Disabled children often have fewer demands placed on them, and therefore may learn less than non-disabled siblings even in an informal setting. Right from the start they are excluded from many of the day-to-day interactions that non-disabled children take for granted.

Many disabled children become street children. In some cases, impairments are

intentionally created for begging purposes. Despite the high proportion of disabled

children living on the street they are frequently excluded from programmes working with street children, as disability is seen as a specialist issue.

For all these reasons, as well as the direct result of impairment, many disabled children do not survive, particularly those born in poorer communities. Of those children that do survive, they are at a huge disadvantage as they grow-up having been excluded from formal and informal education. This has an impact not only on qualifications and experience but also on levels of confidence and self-esteem. Later in life, disabled people have restricted employment opportunities, due to discrimination, lack of education, experience and confidence.

If, during childhood, disabled children are not included in the community, then as they grow up, their non-disabled peers may not be aware of their existence, let alone their value and rights as equal citizens. In addition to this a disabled person often faces high costs directly resulting from the impairment. In a survey in India it was found that the direct cost of treatment and equipment for a disabled person varied from the equivalent of 3 days to 2 years income (Harriss-White cited in Elwan, 1999). Excluded from mainstream social, economic and political opportunities throughout their lives, disabled people frequently fall further and further into chronic poverty and have little opportunity to come out of this cycle (Yeo, 2001).

References:

Yeo, R. (2001). Chronic poverty and disability. Somerset: Action on Disability and Development

Lorenzo, T., & Duncan, M. (2006). Practice and service learning in occupational therapy: Enhancing potential in context. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

 Youtube Clips:

This video (above) outlines how the charity Advantage Africa is helping to create new opportunities for disabled children and adults in Kenya to overcome poverty and stigma.

Above: Linda Mwaina of cbm (aid organisation) talks of the issues being faced by people with disabilities affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa