1. Aims of the study Title Eligibility criteria and access procedures to disability benefits (indemnities and support services), therefore to public resources, are at the core of disability policies. Developing disability assessment mechanisms, in line with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and allowing equal access to services and benefits, compliant themselves to the CRPD is a complex process, facing which a majority of stakeholders feel in dire need of support, particularly in low-income countries. A study supported by FIRAH* was carried out in 2011-2012 by a research team of disability studies scientists, occupational therapist and disability policies analysts from Belgium, France, Romania and the US. The aims of the study were:FIRAH - to identify the main issues countries face in designing or reforming their disability policy in light of the CRPD; -to develop a guiding tool usable by all stakeholders (public authorities, disabled persons and their representative organisations and professionals) (1) to collect information on existing disability assessment mechanisms and benefits allocation procedures in high-, middle- or low- income countries; (2) to analyze to which extent these assessment and eligibility mechanisms are effective leverages for participation and social justice consistent with CRPD requirements. * http://www.firah.org/index.php Disability assessment mechanisms: Challenges for social policies today in light of the UN CRPD Abstract A study carried out in 2011-2012 on eligibility criteria and access procedures to disability benefits in high-, middle and low-income countries resulted in (1) a literature review on disability definitions, legislations and surveys in 36 Asian and 30 european countries, (2) the development of a guidance tool to describe disability assessment mechanisms and to analyze their compliance with CRPD requirements. 12 – 18 October 2013 Beijing, China Poster Number WHO/CTS to insert Authors: C.Arnould (Belgium), C.Barral (France), E.Bouffioulx (Belgium), P.Castelein (Belgium), D.Chiriacescu (Romania), A.Cote (US) Conclusion Results Methodology -A literature review focused (1) on disability definitions, legislations and components of disability (impairment, activity, participation) included in assessment procedures in 36 countries of Asia and Pacific Ocean region and 30 European countries; (2) on disability definitions in disability surveys or censuses that included disability questions in 192 countries. The literature review is presented in 2 forms: text and templates. - Development of ICF- and CRPD-based guidance templates, discussed in focus groups with disabled persons and their representative organisations in 7 countries (India, Nepal, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Tunisia and Uganda), and final versions tested in India and the Philippines. Development of 4 guidance templates intended as a progressive training for stakeholders (1) to collect countries’ appropriate information on disability identification and assessment mechanisms, (2) to analyze them in regard with CRPD requirements. Guidance template #1:Processes of disability assessment and eligibility for the status of disabled person (disability card type). It comprises 22 opened questions divided into 6 sections (1.Legal frame; 2.Access to assessment process; 3.Assessment procedure; 4.Decision process; 5.Centralization and processing of information; 6.Implementation of assessment process). In order to train the user to refer to the CRPD and to lead him to examine whether the answer to a question complies with the CRPD, each question is linked to one or several articles of the CRPD turned into questions. Ex. Has your country a legal definition of disability? If Yes, which is it? Associated CRPD question: Do you consider that your country’s definition reflects that in CRPD Art.1: “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” Other ex.: What type of assessment is used to establish a person is disabled? - Assessment of impairments as defined in ICF? (Body Functions 1 st level listed) - Assessment of activity limitations as defined in ICF (i.e. capacity) - Assessment of participation restrictions as defined in ICF (i.e.performance in environment) (A&P domains 1 st level listed) - Assessment of environmental factors as defined in ICF? (Environmental domains listed) Associated CRPD articles (12, 15, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30). Example of question linked to CRPD art.20: Does the assessment procedure take into account the needs of the person in terms of mobility and the necessary supports? Guidance template #2: Sectorial assessment of social participation. This template focuses on assessment mechanisms for the allocation of specific types of benefit intended to improve a given domain of social participation (such as access to employment, to education, to housing...). As in template #1, a series of questions referring to the CRDP allows the user to identify adjustments and recommendations to be made. Guidance template #3: Assessment by benefit meant to identify (1) the concerned population, (2) existing benefits and (3) to describe the steps of the assessment process. Guidance template #4: Estimated impact of benefit on participation of disabled persons, optional; for users interested in analyzing further the impact of allocated benefits on the participation of a given group of persons, the quality of the whole process of assessment and amendments to be recommended. This methodological tool has proved efficient to sensitize stakeholders to the change of paradigm promoted by CRPD and to the reforms of national policies necessary for a full and effective participation and inclusion of disabled persons. The tool is usable by national disability stakeholders (whether disabled persons and their organisations, public authorities or professionals) in high-, middle- and low-income countries. It raised major interest in middle- and low-income countries who either do not have formal disability policies or need to reform their policy according to the CRPD. But it needs to be circulated and used! The final report is available in French. A 10p. summary and the guidance templates are available in French and English. Catherine.barral@ehesp.fr Reference: Mécanismes d’évaluation du handicap : quels enjeux pour l’élaboration des politiques sociales aujourd’hui, à la lumière de la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits des personnes handicapées ? Rapport final. Nov.2012, 232 p.