
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2024: Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment by Advocating for Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Oct 18, 2024
5 min read
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This year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to confront the structural inequalities that perpetuate poverty in our societies. The United Nations theme this year, “Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment: Acting Together for Just, Peaceful, and Inclusive Societies,” pushes us to examine a pervasive form of social and institutional maltreatment: the intersection of poverty and disability. At the heart of this theme is the call for justice and inclusion—principles that are long overdue for individuals with disabilities who are disproportionately impacted by poverty.
The Overlooked Face of Poverty: Persons with Disabilities
Around the world, persons with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty than their non-disabled counterparts.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1 billion people globally require at least one form of assistive technology, such as wheelchairs, white canes, or hearing aids. Shockingly, 90% of those individuals lack access to the technologies they need, especially in low-and middle-income countries where resources are limited and infrastructure is inadequate.
Additionally, 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, where poverty exacerbates the challenges they face in obtaining education, employment, and healthcare, - UNDP - Disability and Development
For example, in some parts of Africa, and other developing countries, only 5-15% of those in need of mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, can access them.
WHO - Global Report on Assistive Technology
For those of us advocating for disability rights, this statistic isn’t just a number. It reflects the lived experience of millions of individuals who, due to systemic and institutional maltreatment, lack access to education, employment, healthcare, and assistive technologies. These are the very services that could help them break free from poverty. Yet, too often, they are excluded from conversations and policies aimed at poverty reduction, creating a perpetual cycle of disadvantage.

Disability is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. In communities where access to healthcare is limited, preventable disabilities occur due to lack of early medical intervention. Poverty exacerbates the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, creating barriers to resources like accessible transportation, education, and employment. The failure to recognize and address these links perpetuates both poverty and inequality.
Institutional Maltreatment: Barriers to Equality
To understand the full impact of poverty on persons with disabilities, we must acknowledge the institutional structures that keep them marginalized. Institutional maltreatment refers to the discrimination entrenched within social systems—systems that are meant to serve but instead harm the most vulnerable. For individuals with disabilities, this maltreatment manifests in several ways:

1. Education: Many children with disabilities lack access to quality education due to inaccessible schools and untrained teachers, especially in low-income areas, limiting their future opportunities.
2. Employment: People with disabilities face high unemployment rates and often work in low-wage jobs below their qualifications, hindered by social stigma, inaccessible workplaces, and inadequate policies.
3. Healthcare: Access to adequate healthcare is a major challenge for people with disabilities, especially in low-resource settings, leading to worsened health conditions and increased dependency.
4. Assistive Technology: Mobility devices and other essential aids are often unaffordable or of poor quality in developing countries, making it difficult for people with disabilities to live independently.
Acting Together for an Inclusive Future
As we reflect on this year's theme, it becomes clear that we cannot talk about eradicating poverty without addressing the needs of people with disabilities. The exclusion of this group from society's main functions-education, employment, healthcare-perpetuates institutional maltreatment. Providing assistive technology is critical for enabling participation in society and reducing poverty among individuals with disabilities. The Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT), published by WHO and UNICEF, emphasizes this necessity, highlighting how access to these technologies can empower individuals to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
Inclusion is the first step toward eradicating poverty. But inclusion requires action, not just words. Here’s how we can act together to create more just, peaceful, and inclusive societies:
1. Policy Reform: Governments must ensure equal access to education, employment, and healthcare for persons with disabilities through inclusive policies and funding, supported by international aid in developing countries.
2. Economic Empowerment: Providing access to microfinance, entrepreneurship, and skills training is essential for economic independence and breaking the cycle of poverty for persons with disabilities.
3. Accessible Technologies: Assistive technologies like wheelchairs and hearing aids must be affordable and accessible, as they are vital for the full participation of persons with disabilities in society.
4. Public Awareness: Campaigns to challenge negative perceptions of disability are crucial for promoting understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.
5. Collaboration: Governments, civil society, international organizations, and businesses must work together to ensure disability inclusion in poverty reduction efforts.
Empowering Lives: How Participant Assistive Products is Breaking the Cycle of Disability and Poverty
In many parts of the world, a lack of access to assistive technology means that individuals with disabilities are often trapped in a cycle of poverty, dependent on others and excluded from society. But at Participant Assistive Products, every wheelchair we create is designed with a purpose: to restore dignity, independence, and opportunity to the lives of those who have been systematically overlooked.
Each wheelchair is not just a product but a lifeline for a child trying to get to school, a person seeking to enter the workforce, or a mother striving to provide for her family. For these individuals, the ability to move freely means access to education, employment, and a sense of worth—opportunities that many take for granted.

What makes Participant Assistive Products unique is our commitment to affordability. We understand that mobility should not be a privilege limited to wealthy nations but a right for every individual. By partnering with global organizations, we ensure that even the most vulnerable populations can access the life-changing technology they deserve.
Through this approach, We are not just delivering products; We are transforming lives, fostering economic independence, and advocating for social inclusion. Our work embodies the belief that everyone deserves a chance to live a life free from barriers, stigma, and poverty.
Participant Assistive Products is a reminder that creating inclusive societies starts with empowering the most marginalized among us—one wheelchair, one person, one opportunity at a time.
A Call to Action
Today, as we mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us remember that poverty does not affect everyone equally. Persons with disabilities face unique challenges, but they also possess immense strength, talent, and potential. By creating inclusive societies where they can thrive, we are taking meaningful steps toward eradicating poverty for all.
The fight against poverty is a fight for justice, equality, and human dignity. Together, let us act—not just for today, but for a future where no one is left behind. Let’s end social and institutional maltreatment and build a world that offers equal opportunities for every person, regardless of ability.
As we advocate for change, let us carry this year’s theme in our hearts: acting together for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. Because when we fight for the rights of persons with disabilities, we are creating a future that benefits us all.