1. Including Disabled People Dr Natasha Hirst and Dr Alun Hughes
Research
Dr Natasha Hirst and Dr Alun Hughes
1st October 2019

2. Background
“Without the world’s one billion persons with disabilities - 15% of the world population - being included as both agents and beneficiaries of development, these Goals will never be achieved. Yet, persons with disabilities are still invisible and often left behind”
(UN Disability and Development Report 2018)

3. Methodology Method No. approached Responses W-A survey – f2f 16
16 (100%)
W-A survey - Twitter
>56
15 (<27%)
W-A interviews 43
11 (26%)
39 organisations
DP survey - Twitter
>65
36 (<55%)
DP interviews 11
8 (73%)
DPO interviews 12
4 (33%)
48 disabled people

4. Findings – disabled people
14% of survey respondents were engaged with the Wales-Africa sector
The top three reasons cited for not being active in the sector were:
not knowing what opportunities are available
never having considered involvement
other priorities for their time and energy

5. Findings – disabled people
DP interviewed were active volunteers interested in disability equality
‘Nothing about us without us’ = important to involve African disabled people
DPOs in Wales: low capacity and funding, focus on local priorities

6. Findings – disabled people
Potential for involvement

7. Wales – Africa findings
Across Wales
Mainly small organisations
Links with 24 specific African countries plus some with regions
Education, health and livelihoods key areas of interest

8. Wales – Africa findings
75% have disabled people using services in Africa
58% have disabled people volunteering in Wales
23% of Wales-Africa organisations have disabled people on their main board
83% looking to involve more DP in future
66-83% have DP using services in Africa
43-72% have DP volunteering in Wales – drill down suggests 1-2 DP amongst tend of volunteers – potentially representative
23% have DP on main board – as above
ONS 2011: DP make up 23% of Welsh population

9. Wales – Africa findings
Real and perceived barriers
Capacity – organisations, volunteer pool
Awareness – again capacity
Offices and meeting venues may be inaccessible to some DP
Lack the understanding of specific impairments or conditions, skills or funds to involve DP in work
Awareness issue due to lack of resources to reach out to anyone and / or lack of knowledge of how to reach out to DP

10. Wales – Africa findings
What do DP have to offer that is distinctive?
Nothing but all people have something valuable to offer
Involvement increases their sense of self worth
Challenges perceptions of team members in Wales and Africa
Creation of role models for disabled beneficiaries, challenging self-perceptions and wider community perceptions
Lived experience raises awareness within the development organisation of issues faced by DP - helps inform priorities for DP in Africa.

11. Less than half involve DP in design or delivery of their initiatives
Wales – Africa findings
Less than half involve DP in design or delivery of their initiatives

12. Conclusions and recommendations
Value of including disabled people
Role models
Lived experience

13. Conclusions and recommendations
Factors impeding or supporting disabled people’s inclusion
Awareness
Capacity
Welcome and on-going understanding
Meaningful activity
Involve DP in Africa
Understanding – cultural & impairments
Data