On 3 December, the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disability – a day to highlight the contributions of people with disabilities, while also recognising the barriers they face around the world. The theme of 2024 is ‘amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities of an inclusive and sustainable future’.

In order to improve financial inclusion for people with disabilities, it’s important to promote participation, representation and inclusion at all levels, to help them shape the conditions of their own lives and lead their own development. 

Some fast facts on disability:

• An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us
• Unfortunately, people with a disability in developing countries often lack financial access, with up to 80% facing infrastructure, discrimination, and literacy barriers. This exclusion is pronounced in South Asia and Indonesia, where 80-90% and 70% of people with disabilities, respectively, are excluded from formal financial services
• Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by people with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself.

_{While estimates vary, people with disabilities make up between 4 and 8 percent of the Indian population.}

Establishing health camps to remove barriers for people with disabilities

Opportunity International Australia is working with local partners like Uplift Mutuals to improve affordable healthcare access for low-income populations in India. In late 2023, Uplift's tailored Health Camps were established to address obstacles faced by individuals with disabilities and ensure they’re protected in case of future shocks.

By partnering with Uttam Social Foundation, primarily consisting of visually impaired individuals, Uplift partnered with four organisations supporting people with disabilities across the Mumbai Metropolitan Area, and successfully enrolled 200 individuals in its reciprocal health insurance program. The first health camp occurred on 6 December 2023, at Sangopita Care & Welfare Centre for Special Need Persons, with 51 people benefiting from the program.

_{Health Camps are helping people with disabilities access services they may otherwise face barriers with.}

Ensuring disability inclusion through capacity-building and leadership

One of our other local microfinance partners in India, PAHAL, displays a strong commitment to disability inclusion through their work with marginalised groups in India, particularly women and people with disabilities.

With a tailored disability inclusion policy, PAHAL is able to ensure their work in financial inclusion reaches people with disabilities through small loans and financial services, ensuring they have the right solutions to lead their own development.

PAHAL also displays a strong commitment to disability inclusion in their staff and operations, employing three individuals with disabilities in executive operations roles and within their supply chain by partnering with a company that solely employs individuals with disabilities for loan documentation verification.

_{Malkappa, a loan client with a disability, meets with members of the Opportunity team.}

Solid partnerships to achieve better disability representation

Everyone benefits from disability equity. In improving inclusion, poverty, isolation and disadvantage are reduced and the potential for global economic growth is so much stronger.

For sustainable development to be achieved, the global community must deliver on our commitment to leave no one behind, including people with disabilities - with the ultimate goal of contributing to various United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically good health and wellbeing, gender equality, and reduced inequalities.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade just released its new disability strategy – Australia’s International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy: Advancing equity to transform lives.

The strategy strengthens the government’s support for the rights of people with disability, and outlines how Australia and partner organisations will meet the demands of a changing world, integrating disability equity across our international engagement on foreign policy, international development, humanitarian assistance and climate action.

The document was shaped by people with disabilities and marks a shift in focus from simply inclusion to equity and rights, championing outcomes that remove barriers for individuals with a disabilities so that they can fully and equitably participate in and contribute to society.

Read more about Opportunity’s work in disability inclusion:

• Strong bond helps couple run successful business
• Deepening our work in disability inclusion
• Self-help groups supporting people with disabilities