The issue of disability exists in every society. Persons with disability are marginalized
from Society, and are crippled mentally, socially as well as economically. In Sri Lanka the
civil war which went on for over three decades has left an adverse impact on the
disabled and added more people to the group of disabled, making it an important factor
in Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the country
According to the World Report on Disability published by the WHO in 2011, about 15%
of the world's population lives with some form of disability. Of these disabled 2-4%
experience significant difficulties in functioning. The global disability prevalence is
higher than previous WHO estimates, published in 1970s which was estimated to be
around 10%.
This global estimate for disability is on the rise due to population ageing and the rapid
spread of chronic diseases, accidents and wars, as well as improvements in the
methodologies used in measuring disability
Persons with Disabilities are diverse and heterogeneous.
Stereo typed views of disability emphasize on the wheelchair users, and a few classic
groups like the blind and deaf.
However disability encompasses a child born with a congenital defect to a person who
has lost a limb in a landmine or a woman who is unable walk due to severe arthritis or a
mentally ill person
The word disability is misleading. While disability correlates with disadvantage, all
disabled are not equally disadvantaged. Wealth and status help overcome activity
limitations and participation restrictions.
All persons including disabled have some ability. There is also a tendency to call the
disabled as “Differently able” in order to emphasize the inherent capacity they posses.
In rehabilitation activities the words such as “Differently able” “Physically challenged”
are mostly used.
The United Nations convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities, which came
into force in May 2008 and the International treaty which followed, reinforced our
understanding of disability as a human rights and development priority.
Globally, people with disabilities have a poorer health status, lower education levels,
less income with higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This is mainly
because of the barriers faced by the disabled in accessing education, health services,
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employment and transport. For several decades we, including parents of the disabled
have taken for granted that disabled have to be deprived of access to all these.
Persons with disability become marginalized from society and are crippled physically,
mentally, socially and economically.