IDB Report Highlights Inclusion Policies for People with Disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean

A new report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) examines inclusion policies for people with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean, analyzing existing gaps and presenting evidence-based disability inclusion policies in the education, health, employment and social protection sectors.

The study "Seeds to Inclusion: What We Know and What We Don't Know about Disability Policy" describes the situation of people with disabilities based on an analysis of recent household surveys, reviews the regional landscape of public policies on the issue, and evaluates the evidence of inclusion policies.

"This report offers a rigorous review of the evidence on the effectiveness of disability inclusion policies and programs in Latin America and the Caribbean and around the world, providing a solid basis for decision-making on programs to be expanded or piloted in the region," said Eric Parrado, chief economist and general manager of the IDB's Research Department.

Disability in the Region

Household surveys show that one in seven people has a disability, a proportion that increases with age. Considering the regional population's accelerated aging, the number of people with disabilities is expected to increase to 150 million by 2050.

On the other hand, most children with disabilities in the region attend and complete elementary school. However, gaps persist, particularly at higher levels, and inclusive education remains elusive in most countries.

While most children with disabilities in the region attend and complete primary school, gaps persist, particularly at the higher levels. Effective implementation of inclusive education remains a regional challenge.

In terms of health, people with disabilities have greater medical needs. Although access to health insurance does not differ greatly between people with and without disabilities, according to household surveys, the former spend a larger share of their budget on health expenses and face accessibility barriers.

In the workplace, most working-age adults with disabilities are employed (56.4%-68.0%). However, they are more likely to hold informal jobs and make 88 cents for every dollar earned by their peers without disabilities with the same experience and education.

Similarly, households with members with disabilities are 5.7 percentage points more likely to be in the lowest two income quintiles than households with no members with disabilities.

What the evidence says

The publication highlights successful policies being implemented in the region, such as vocational training to promote employment and interventions that support inclusion in education, including resource classrooms and grants to fund assistive devices.

It also mentions effective policies implemented in other regions of the world but not in Latin America and the Caribbean. Causal evidence from other regions suggests that policies such as the presence of co-teachers or assistants can facilitate the learning of students with and without disabilities in inclusive classrooms. These practices stand out as possible pilots in the region.

The report also identifies important knowledge gaps that hinder formulation of effective policies. Numerous interventions with sound theories of change are commonly implemented in the region, but lack rigorous evidence on their impact. These interventions range from skills upgrading and training programs for employers in labor markets, to personal assistance programs and accessibility interventions in health and social protection. While these policies are considered promising, more robust evidence is needed to guide policymakers.

Research Priorities Survey

The report also includes the results of an accessible online survey conducted with the help of organizations of people with disabilities in the region. The survey inquired what should the priorities of research on inclusion policies be.

Most respondents indicated that the focus should be on research in the education sector, in particular on inclusion of children with and without disabilities in regular schools.