World report on disability goes live

The World Bank and the World Health Organization have just released the first ever report on the extent of disability worldwide which finds that a billion people worldwide are living with a disability. Ten key facts on the report are summarised and illustrated in a useful pocket guide in the Guardian newspaper and by the WHO here. According to the report:

‘Many people with disabilities do not have equal access to health care, education, and employment opportunities, do not receive the disability-related services that they require, and experience exclusion from everyday life activities.’

The report not only collates data on the burden of disabliity but also, in just under 350 pages, hopes to garner countries around the world to take action to breakdown the inequity and discrimination associated with disability. Several recommendations are made including: investing in specific programmes and services for people with disabilities; adopting a national strategy and action plan; involving people with disabilities in policy and planning decisions and raising public awareness and understanding.