What is disability?
Disability is an evolving concept, which results from the interaction between impairments and barriers, that hinders one's full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Disability is more than just a medical condition or impairment, it also encompasses the barriers created by society, such as negative attitudes, inaccessible environments and communication methods, and discriminatory policies. The focus of disability inclusion is on removing these barriers to enable full participation in society.
The resources in this section provide further detail on the evolving and current understanding of disability.
CBM Global (2017) Disability Inclusive Development Toolkit
This toolkit provides a comprehensive introduction to disability inclusion.
CBM International (2022) What Is Disability
This resource provides a summary of what 'disability' is, and how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) frames disability.