SDDirect provides research, guidance, and technical support on disability inclusion in all aspects of policy and programming.
We also mainstream disability inclusion throughout our work to promote the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda and the ‘nothing about us, without us’ call from the disability rights movement.
An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, have a disability. Despite this, people with disabilities have historically been overlooked in development and humanitarian policy and programming. Too often people with disabilities are denied their basic human rights, including access to education, employment and health services. The disability rights movement is advocating for change.
"…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" - United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
SDDirect has extensive experience providing guidance on disability inclusion across sectors. Through the Disability Inclusive Development Helpdesk, we support the generation of a rigorous evidence base on ‘what works’ to deliver results for people with disabilities. The Helpdesk also provides technical and training support to ensure that data and evidence is used to drive further action and investment in disability inclusion.
We promote disability inclusion through our broader work, including our work on gender-based violence, infrastructure, safeguarding, and women’s economic empowerment.
We take a rights-based approach to disability inclusion and apply a gender and intersectionality lens in everything we do. Working with organisations of persons with disability (OPDs) is central to our approach and essential to promote the approach advocated by the disability rights movement: “nothing about us without us”.
We work to promote disability inclusion in our workplace and operations. SDDirect is a Disability Confident Employer, and we have an active Disability Inclusion Working Group that reports to our executive management team.
If you would like to hear more about our work on Disability Inclusion, please reach out to Rebekah Martin, Head of Disability Inclusion portfolio, rebekah.martin@sddirect.org.uk.
The aim of this query is to develop a concise and evidence-based Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Factsheet for Eswatini that highlights key statistics, challenges, and barriers faced by marginalised groups, using an intersectional lens.
The main purpose of this query was to collect good practice examples from Business Cases and Annual Reviews showing how equity can be incorporated into VfM analysis across a range of contexts in which FCDO works.
This GEDSI analysis examines how prioritising gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) can support poverty reduction, trade and economic development, peace and stability, and climate resilience in Jamaica. It reviews key GEDSI trends and identifies ‘low-cost’ opportunities and entry-points for GEDSI engagement in the country. The analysis is based on a review of published resources, including learning reports, evidence reviews, policy documents, and other analyses.
This query provides an introductory overview of the role and use of AI in Disability Inclusion work globally. It first looks at what evidence, research, and examples exist on the use of AI to support disability inclusion across different sectors, focusing particularly on the fields of education, health, employment, and humanitarian response. It then considers the opportunities created by AI for the inclusion of people with disabilities, before looking at the risks and challenges posed by AI.
This guidance note outlines disability-inclusive safeguarding practices for humanitarian and development programming to ensure the protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
This report provides an evidence-based overview of the economic and business case for disability inclusion, highlighting the benefits to inclusive practices and how barriers can be overcome. It responds to growing demand for concrete data, compelling arguments, and practical strategies that demonstrate why disability inclusion is a powerful catalyst for inclusive economic growth, resilience and innovation.
This evidence review, informed by desk review and consultations with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and disability inclusion experts, outlines effective funding mechanisms for and approaches to working directly with OPDs in humanitarian crises.
This report examines disability inclusion and rights in Jordan, highlighting the national context, recent progress and remaining gaps, evidence across key sectors, and the main stakeholders involved.
This query maps the current donors and funders globally that have a focus on disability inclusion. These include bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector actors, philanthropic donors, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. It provides an overview of what these donors are currently funding in relation to disability inclusion, what they are thematically and geographically focused on, and what they are generally funding.
This study focuses on the impact of climate change on women and people living with a disability in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states in northern Nigeria. The study took a mixed methods approach involving a comprehensive literature review, key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with national and state level stakeholders and local participants, including women and people with disabilities and their representative organisations.
