Publication: Disability and Social Safety Nets in Developing Countries
Date
2005-01
ISSN
Published
2005-01
Author(s)
Mitra, Sophie
Abstract
The two-way relationship between poverty
and disability fosters: disability increases the risk of
poverty and the conditions of poverty increase the risk of
disability, yet little attention has been given as to
whether social safety nets reach persons with disabilities.
Social safety nets have a role to play with regard to
disability in terms of poverty alleviation, poverty
reduction, and development and prevention. The note
addresses the way to reach persons with disabilities - to
target safety nets based on disability. This approach would
benefit persons with such severe disabilities that they
cannot participate in the opportunities generated by growth,
inclusive employment and/or education policies. These
programs might take a number of forms such as: social
insurance schemes, publicly funded transfers (sometimes
provided as part of a family allowance), in-kind targeting
(assistance devices for example) or livelihood programs.
However, a more feasible solution may be to ensure that
mainstream social safety nets are "disability
inclusive". How can mainstream social safety nets be
designed, implemented, and evaluated so that persons with
disabilities are not excluded? The note describes this
process: identification of the physical, social, and
communication barriers that prevent the inclusion of persons
with disabilities is critical. For instance, do the
attitudes of social safety net staff prevent or discourage
access to benefits for persons with disabilities?
Citation
“Mitra, Sophie. 2005. Disability and Social Safety Nets in Developing Countries. Social Safety Nets Primer Notes; No. 21. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/8fa6014f-6b85-5bff-a529-691b563b21a6 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”