The image shows the “Make the Right Real in Malaysia” logo of The OKU Rights Matter website and an image of two smiling brothers, the older with his right hand over the right shoulder of the younger one with spinal muscular atrophy and using a wheelchair.

Disability and Inclusion Matters

The content emphasizes the importance of disability inclusion and rights, stressing that disability is a natural part of human diversity.

Disability and Inclusion Matters

Why Disability Matters to Everyone

Globally, persons with disabilities represent 15 percent (or 1 billion) of the world’s population.

Disability is a natural part of human diversity which should be valued and respected. Diversity is beautiful and enriching, and so is disability.

The social construct perspective of disability explains that:

  • Barriers to access and participation are created by the mainstream society.
  • Persons with disabilities are disabled by the environment we live in – which is designed by and for non-disabled people – and not by the features of a person’s physical, sensory, cognitive and psychological functioning.

The rights perspective of disability views that:

  • Persons with disabilities have equal rights as our non-disabled peers to access information, healthcare, education, employment, independent and interdependent living, as well as to participate in and contribute to society.
  • It is everyone’s responsibility to enable meaningful participation by supporting the rights, needs and aspirations of persons with disabilities.

“Nothing Without Us”

The principle emphasises the importance of including persons with disabilities in all decision-making processes from the very beginning, and in all aspects of society because persons with disabilities are members of society. We are your neighbours, your colleagues, your friends, your family members.

Initially, from the 1990s, disability activists called for “Nothing about Us without Us.” Today, the understanding has evolved: the intersectionality of disability with many parameters, all aspects of society and the development process is clear. Hence, “Nothing without Us.”

Defining Disability

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognises that:

“disability is an evolving concept and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others” (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 1).

“Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others” (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 4).

Defining Inclusion

Inclusion means ensuring that everyone in society, with or without visible or defined disabilities, has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of each person’s abilities and aspirations in every setting.

Inclusion is not about the person with disability fitting in and meeting society’s norms.

Inclusion is about valuing and accepting each person including the disability, and the diversity that each person brings to the household, community and society.

Inclusion is about adapting systems and removing barriers to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to basic human needs and participate meaningfully in society on an equal basis with others.

Inclusion is treating with dignity and respect all persons with disabilities.

Inclusion is respecting the right of a person with a disability to make her/his own decisions.

Resources

Global Disability Summit 2025 report on disability inclusion

System-Wide Evaluation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, published 22 September 2025

Disability Inclusion Makes Good Business Sense

Disability at a Glance 2023: Catalysts of Change: Disability Inclusion in Business in Asia and the Pacific by UN ESCAP
The report delves into the megatrends and current landscape of disability-inclusive business practices, showcasing numerous successful examples from both within the region and beyond. It also provides a conceptual framework and practical recommendations on the way forward to build an ecosystem to remove barriers so that persons with disabilities may participate actively in the economy as leaders, employees, suppliers, distributors, consumers and entrepreneurs.
Businesses, finance institutions, CSOs, Governments, development agencies — all can play a crucial role in building the enabling ecosystem.
[Source: Cai Cai, Chief, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion at the United Nations ESCAP]