This session discussed how people with disabilities in poor countries can get help. Speakers talked about partnerships with organisations in these countries. Through these partnerships they can support people with disabilities.

This session’s focus was on how the inclusion of people with disabilities in developing countries can be promoted.  Jazz Shaban (UK) spoke about the work of World Vision, a large international relief and development organisation which works in 98 countries throughout the world.

She told us about the lessons for inclusion of people with disabilities learned from the evaluation of 4 very different projects in Angola, Senegal, Armenia and Cambodia:

•    the importance of challenging staff and community attitudes towards disability
•    that 'old habits die hard' in viewing people as 'medical or charity cases'
•    to beware of the power of medical professionals keeping the focus on rehabilitation or health, not inclusion
•    consultation with people with disabilities is critical, and must include a diverse range of disability and social
     conditions
•    we should practice what we preach in relation to inclusion
•    it is important to budget for inclusion at the design stage
•    'livelihoods' work should be approached with caution: organisations who are good at advocacy may not have the
     right skills for the management and accountability of this type of work.

These lessons provide some useful guidance for future development work, so that 'together we will beat inclusion'.

Ingar Düring (Germany) spoke about GTZ's (German Association for Technical Cooperation) work on inclusive development at a strategic and political level, using social protection as the entry point into key government programmes:

•    Developing the capacity of disabled people's organisations in Vietnam, Cambodia and Tanzania so that they can
     input into Poverty Reduction Strategies at key points
•    Political dialogue in Chile to reform the social protection system and promote a model for inclusive pre-school
     education
•    Cooperation and alliances with others through the Global Partnership for Disability and Development
•    Advocacy and lobbying to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities is on the agenda with key policy makers
     in Germany
•    Ensuring that GTZ's own offices are accessible to people with disabilities
•    Participation in sector initiatives.

Diane Richler (Canada) told us about Inclusion International's partnership with the government of Panama in the “Living Without Barriers” project.  This was made possible through lobbying and preparation work with politicians in Panama, and was supported by President Torrigos, who is the father of a disabled child.  When he came into office in 2004 he created a highly influential organisation named SENADIS to focus on inclusion, giving the director status as a cabinet minister.

SENADIS and Inclusion International formed an agreement in 2007, involving all the relevant ministries, as well as the key universities and the legal system, in Panama.  This was the first time the government had done this, and it presented a number of challenges.

However, the benefits have included: continuing health subsidies for people with disabilities and their families; a lasting infrastructure for inclusion; increased participation of people with disabilities and their families in the community.

The lesson to be learned form this is the importance of 'cultivating' people who are likely to be in powerful positions, and of being prepared to make the most of opportunities to work with them when they arise.