Guest Editorial Perspectives on Disability, Poverty and Development in the Asian Region

This study addresses the vital link between disability, poverty and development in developing Asian countries. The social model of disability defines "disability" as the consequence of institutional and social discrimination, as well as exclusion of persons with impairments. It is possible that a comprehensive social model of disability can provide a new framework for explaining the complexity of disability, poverty and development, exposing disability as a cross-cutting developmental issue. Furthermore, adopting such a model will shift policy focus towards improving the social-economic conditions that currently restrict disabled people from full participation in life. However, it is still a valid fact that in developing countries, poverty is not only a dependent variable of social processes and social barriers, but also a root cause of many forms of impairment and disability. Thus, best practice is most likely to be ensured through an integrated approach, using best practice of both social and developmental terms. This study aims at identifying priority areas for immediate action. Also, the empirical part of this study reviews and analyses the collective opinions and perceptions of those who took part in the questionnaire survey and focus group discussions, regarding disability rights, twintrack approach and priority areas, and targets for action by development agencies. INTRODUCTION Increasing the linkage between disability and poverty is gaining global recognition. The United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, USAID, DFID, JICA and other Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal 4 Vol. 18 No. 1 2007 bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, have recently turned their attention towards disability mainstreaming and empowerment of persons with disabilities, adopting a so-called "twin track approach" --an approach similar to the one advocated by the gender wing of some developmental agencies. This twin-track approach could be an effective tool to provide an enabling environment for disabled people to achieve greater livelihood security, equality, full participation in community life, and more independence and self-determination. PERSPECTIVES ON DISABILITY: WHY DISABILITY IS A DEVELOPMENT ISSUE The mutual relationship between poverty and disability in the context of developing countries is shown in Figure 1. This demonstrates that the vicious cycle of underdevelopment starts as a result of economic poverty, leading to malnutrition and disease, which in turn will lead to impairment and disability, contributing to a low level of human development and low productivity in the community (1). As a result, there will be a need for huge investment in medical care and rehabilitation at the expense of prevention and early intervention, and often such investment does not materialise due to lack of funding. With this model, poverty alleviation and sustainable, equitable economic development may be considered a pre-requisite for prevention of impairment (2). Figure 1: Disabled People and Economic Needs in the Developing World