Disability and Inclusion
Disability is one of the key areas of work for EPaRDA, as disability is one of life’s most affecting phenomena in pastoral communities. To address the issue of disability, EPaRDA has performed various activities supported the establishment of a six-woreda based association of People With Disability (PWDs), with a membership of hundreds of PWDs. The association is making meaningful contributions to promoting the rights and inclusion of PWDs and also promoting a system of accountability for duty-bearer institutions. PWDs are already benefiting from opportunities created—resource allocations, job creation, skill training, and improved services in the in the health and education sectors. Woreda government offices are capacitated with knowledge, awareness, materials, and logistics to work for PWD inclusion. The wide-spread wrong perceptions and approaches toward PWDs that dominated the communities in the area are gradually changing following the campaign programs and the demonstrated active engagement of PWDs.