POVERTY, DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY

Authors

  • Neeta Gathiram School of Social Work and Community Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15270/42-3-297

Abstract

Hendriks (1999:111) highlights the point that all studies during the past decade indicate, namelythat person’s with disabilities and their families are disproportionately represented amongst thepoorest of poor. With the change of perception of persons with disabilities, it is now realised thatenvironmental factors and the context in which such persons live are crucial in the success of theirbecoming productive members of society. As a result of this understanding, the socio-economicempowerment of persons with disabilities within a developmental framework is being advocated.The author will highlight the need for synergy between mainstream development and thosedevelopments specifically for persons with disabilities, given the South African context. In SouthAfrica the majority of the population lives in poverty and in underdeveloped communities withfew resources and opportunities. It is argued that it would be difficult to meet the needs of thedisabled in these circumstances. In such situations most disability issues are important to alldevelopment: equality, empowerment, human rights, poverty and marginalisation (Lee cited inYeo, 2001:8). In the light of this, the author stresses the need for, and the benefit of, integratingdisability issues into all development programmes at community level. The integration ofdisability issues into all development programmes is a cost-effective approach in dealing withpoverty and disability in resource-poor settings. Challenges in implementing this approach will bediscussed.

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Published

2014-07-02

How to Cite

Gathiram, N. (2014). POVERTY, DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 42(3). https://doi.org/10.15270/42-3-297

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