SDDirect provides research, guidance, and technical support on disability inclusion in all aspects of policy and programming.
We also mainstream disability inclusion throughout our work to promote the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda and the ‘nothing about us, without us’ call from the disability rights movement.
An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, have a disability. Despite this, people with disabilities have historically been overlooked in development and humanitarian policy and programming. Too often people with disabilities are denied their basic human rights, including access to education, employment and health services. The disability rights movement is advocating for change.
"…disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society, on an equal basis with others" - United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
SDDirect has extensive experience providing guidance on disability inclusion across sectors. Through the Disability Inclusive Development Helpdesk, we support the generation of a rigorous evidence base on ‘what works’ to deliver results for people with disabilities. The Helpdesk also provides technical and training support to ensure that data and evidence is used to drive further action and investment in disability inclusion.
We promote disability inclusion through our broader work, including our work on gender-based violence, infrastructure, safeguarding, and women’s economic empowerment.
We take a rights-based approach to disability inclusion and apply a gender and intersectionality lens in everything we do. Working with organisations of persons with disability (OPDs) is central to our approach and essential to promote the approach advocated by the disability rights movement: “nothing about us without us”.
We work to promote disability inclusion in our workplace and operations. SDDirect is a Disability Confident Employer, and we have an active Disability Inclusion Working Group that reports to our executive management team.
If you would like to hear more about our work on Disability Inclusion, please reach out to Rebekah Martin, Head of Disability Inclusion portfolio, rebekah.martin@sddirect.org.uk.
Audio version of our blog post 'Why people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19', written by Jessie Meaney-Davis, former Senior Technical Specialist at SDDirect. Find the link to the written version below.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency affecting millions of people around the world.
People with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 not only because it can exacerbate underlying medical conditions, but because of attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers to their participation in and benefit from the pandemic response.
This query first provides an introduction to disability inclusion and models of disability. It then summarises the available evidence on disability inclusion and open societies and human rights, before considering evidence on disability inclusion in key sectors.
Presentation on Disability inclusive programming.
This query is a Review of the Health Systems Strengthening and Leaving No One Behind strategies for the ASCEND Programme.
Q&A following training to the UK Prosperity Fund department
This report aims to complement a 2018 situational analysis undertaken by the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), by drawing on the practical ‘know-how’ and expertise of practitioners working on disability rights in Nigeria, to provide rich insights and help contextualise information available online. Interviewees included representatives from Nigerian DPOs, INGOs and advocates for disability rights in Nigeria.
People with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. They must be included meaningfully in the response and recovery.
This evidence digest considers the likely impacts and risks of COVID-19 for people with disabilities in humanitarian contexts, and mitigation measures.
