LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
As indicated by the United Nations, there has been a change in perspective over the last two decades: a person with a disability has gone from being considered “someone needing assistance” to “a person with rights who aspires to live a normal life in his or her community.”
In spite of the fact that this panorama appears to be encouraging, there is still a direct relationship between disability and social exclusion in any country. Over 600 million people worldwide (around 10% of the population) suffer some kind of physical or mental limitation. The main problem, however, is that they play an "invisible" role in society. Their public participation is limited, which incites the stereotype of their supposed “inability”. This reality also fosters a lack of respect towards dependant people and their equal rights in the same conditions as the rest.
In Spain, the Order of 22 February 2001 regulates the subsidies given to NGOs in this country that help social integration programmes for disabled people. However, according to the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs, only 3.8% of the population with a disability belong to one of these groups.
On an international level, the United Nations holds conventions such as the one that brought together over 400 delegates from governments and non-governmental organisations early this year. Despite the fact that countries often allege a lack of funds to carry out accessibility projects, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, claims that "attitudes often create the strongest barriers to the enjoyment of rights by persons with disabilities”, which, in turn, she classed as “collective obligation.”
In any case, whatever the integration initiative or policy may be, it must be aimed at achieving personal autonomy and protecting the dignity of people with a disability. The objective is to promote equality values in all contexts, not achieve specific rights. After all, disability is just another part of social diversity.