POVERTY, DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/42-3-297Abstract
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 the
poorest of poor. With the change of perception of persons with disabilities, it is now realised that
environmental factors and the context in which such persons live are crucial in the success of their
becoming productive members of society. As a result of this understanding, the socio-economic
empowerment of persons with disabilities within a developmental framework is being advocated.
The author will highlight the need for synergy between mainstream development and those
developments specifically for persons with disabilities, given the South African context. In South
Africa the majority of the population lives in poverty and in underdeveloped communities with
few resources and opportunities. It is argued that it would be difficult to meet the needs of the
disabled in these circumstances. In such situations most disability issues are important to all
development: equality, empowerment, human rights, poverty and marginalisation (Lee cited in
Yeo, 2001:8). In the light of this, the author stresses the need for, and the benefit of, integrating
disability issues into all development programmes at community level. The integration of
disability issues into all development programmes is a cost-effective approach in dealing with
poverty and disability in resource-poor settings. Challenges in implementing this approach will be
discussed.
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