Building an Inclusive Development Community. A Manual on Including People with Disabilities in International Development Programs. 2003 Edition

摘要

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) joined InterAction in 1998 and has been an important catalyst within the coalition in the promotion of its mission and in educating member NGOs to extend their commitment to diversity and equity to include people with disabilities. In this short period, MIUSA urged and guided the drafting and passage of the disability amendments to InterActions PVO Standards in December 20001. In addition, MIUSA developed a survey of member readiness to meet these standards, and under its current grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, is helping to provide technical assistance to NGOs on including people with disabilities in international development programs. There are four hundred million people with disabilities living in developing countries today. All too often they live in poverty and isolation. If development is to truly address the needs of the poor and marginalized, the inclusion of people with disabilities is crucial. People with disabilities form a marginalized group that is disproportionately present in the poorest populations. They must be brought into the development mainstream if we are to meet our program goals and bring all excluded people into society. The commitment of InterAction members to diversity is firm and unequivocal. However, they are at a watershed and need the resources, technical assistance and access to the networks that will help them to expand and diversify the pool of candidates available to them and to ensure that people with disabilities are included in service program delivery. The work of MIUSA will be invaluable to the coalition as each member moves ahead in meeting the commitment they have made.