People with disability are among the poorest and most marginalised in developing countries. One estimate is that there are one billion people with disability worldwide, including 20% of the world’s poorest. The challenge of making development disability-inclusive has traditionally received little attention, but that is now changing. AusAID has been playing a leadership role with its Development for All strategy (2009-2014).
Members of AusAID’s Disability-Inclusive Development Reference Group will be reflecting on their own personal stories, on reforms and programs they have been involved in, and on what is needed to obtain a fair go for people with disability in developing countries.

Is disability-inclusive development just the latest aid fad? Can poor countries afford to look after their citizens with disability? What can donors do? What have they achieved? This esteemed panel addressed these questions and many more in what turned out to be a very rich and insightful discussion from the leaders in this important field of development and human rights.

Speakers:

• Monthian Buntan, Thai Senator and member of UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Setareki S. Macanawai, CEO of the Pacific Disability Forum
• Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Coordinator, Office for Disability and Inclusive Development, USAID
• Stephen Howes Director, Development Policy Centre, ANU

A transcript of the event is available at the Devpolicy events page: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/devpolicy/events

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