Global Disability Context and Wheelchair Mobility

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Introduction

Over a billion people in the world today are estimated to live with some form of disability, which corresponds to about 15% of the world's population. These people generally have poorer health, lower education achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty. This is largely due to the barriers they face in their everyday lives, rather than their disability. Between 110 million (2.2%) and 190 million (3.8%) people 15 years and older have significant difficulties in functioning. Furthermore, the rates of disability are increasing in part due to ageing populations and an increase in chronic health conditions. Disability is extremely diverse. While some health conditions associated with disability result in poor health and extensive health care needs, others do not. However all people with disabilities have the same general health care needs as everyone else, and therefore need access to mainstream health care services.

International Classification

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) defines disability as an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Disability is the interaction between individuals with a health condition (e.g. Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Spinal Cord Injury) and Personal and Environmental Factors (e.g. negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social supports).

Rights to a Wheelchair

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (UNCRPD) entered into force on 3 May 2008.

There are human rights that apply to everybody. The UNCRPD focuses on ensuring that everybody recognises that these rights also apply to people with disabilities. There are 50 different articles in the Convention.

One of the articles, article 20, is about "personal mobility" which says: " States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility with greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities".

Wheelchair Service Personnel can help to implement Article 20 of the UNCRPD by:

• providing an appropriate wheelchair for wheelchair users who visit their service;
• assisting wheelchair users in learning how to get in and out of wheelchair y themselves;
• supporting wheelchair users in learning how to propel themselves;
• encouraging family members to support wheelchair user's to be as independent as they can be.

There are other human rights that people with mobility impairments can enjoy more easily if they have an appropriate wheelchair. These are:

• living independently and being included in the community (Article 19) ;
• right to education (Article 24);
• right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health (Article 25);
• right to work and employment (Article 27);
• right to participate in political and public life (Article 29);
• right to participate in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport (Article 30).

Summary

Disability is not only a public health issue, but also a human rights and development issue. WHO’s efforts to support Member States to address disability are guided by the overarching principles and approaches reflected in the WHO Global Disability Action Plan 2014-2021, the World Report on Disability, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). While many countries have started taking action to improve the lives of people with disabilities, much remains to be done. The evidence in the World Report on Disability suggests that many of the barriers people with disabilities face are avoidable and that disadvantages associated with disability can be overcome. The report calls on governments to review and revise existing legislation and policies for consistency with the United NationaConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and to develop national disability strategies and action plans.

References