6. Disability is part of being human. Everybody is likely to experience difficulties in functioning at some point in their lives, particularly when growing older. How much disability a person experiences daily life varies greatly and is dependent upon how their impairment or health condition interacts with barriers in society. Disability is a global public health issue because it affects an estimated fifteen percent of the world's population,[1] with increasing prevalence due to a rise in chronic health conditions and with populations' aging. Disability is a human rights issue with people with disability being subject to multiple violations of their rights, including acts of violence, abuse, prejudice and disrespect because of their disability, which intersects with other forms of discrimination based on age and gender, among other factors. People with disability also face barriers, stigmatization, and discrimination when accessing health and health-related services and strategies. Disability is a development priority because of its higher prevalence in lower-income countries and because disability and poverty reinforce and perpetuate one another.
[1] World Health Organization & The World Bank, World Report on Disability, Geneva: World Health Organization, 2011, available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-disability
