HIV / AIDS and disability: the long way from exclusion to inclusion. Observations from Southern Africa.

In general people with disabilities in Southern Africa are marginalized sidelined and among the poorest of the poor. Even though many governments have policies in place to promote their equal participation in society the reality is often bleak. Stigmatization of people with disabilities results in negative attitudes from society at large parents and teachers. Because of such attitudes the majority of children with a disability do not attend school or if they do do not continue on for secondary and tertiary education. Most people with disabilities therefore have a very low educational level and subsequent problems competing on the labour market. Many of them are self-employed but are living below the poverty line. Others are living on the street and depend on money earned from begging. Even countries that have an Employment Equity Act like Namibia have problems recruiting people with disabilities into the labour force because most of them are insufficiently skilled. This leads to a high level of poverty and creates a vicious circle. The lack of education in combination with disability-specific issues such as hearing or visual impairments means that many people with disabilities have less access to information and services in general. They also have difficulties organizing themselves to lobby and advocate for their rights. (excerpt)