MAINSTREAMING DISABILITY ISSUES IN PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

BY
ADEBUKOLA S. ADEBAYO (Ph.D)
PAPER PRESENTED AT A ONE DAY POLICY DIALOGUE
ON PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
ORGANIZED BY LAGOS CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP (LACSOP)
6TH AUGUST, 2013
AT DIPLOMAT HOTELS, SHONIBARE ESTATE, MARYLAND, LAGOS STATE.
Introduction:

Following the projections of the Lagos State Government of a population of about 20 million, it
will be safe to imply that there are over two million PWDs in Lagos state. This is in line with the
estimates reached by the 2006 National Population Census. It also align with the United Nations and
World Bank researches which reveal that persons with disabilities (PWDs) constitute not less than 10%
of the world’s population. This trend cuts across other geopolitical levels – continents, continental subregions,
countries, states and provinces and local communities. However, in low and middle income
countries, the privailance rate of disability is put at nearly 20% of the population due to worsening state
of socio-economic and political conditions.
United Nations as well as International and Local Civil Society Organizations asserts that
People With Disabilities (PWDs) constitute a significant proportion of the poorest of the poor
and face inequalities in access to education, health care, employment, asset accumulation and
opportunities for social and community participation. More than 80% of People With Disabilities
live in low and middle income parts of the society. Among these group, 30% are street Youths
and 20% are children (with disabilities) who do not attend school but prefer alms begging.
Women and Girls With Disabilities are particularly more vulnerable to abuse and are victims of
violence, rape or sexual abuse.

The World Bank also affirms that people with disabilities make up around 20% of the poorest of the
poor living in absolute poverty. In the words of Paul Wolfowwitz, former President of World Bank,
“People with disabilities are people with extra talents. Yet, they are often too forgotten. When people
with disabilities are denied opportunities, they are more likely to fall into poverty and people living in
conditions of poverty are more likely to develop disabilities. As long as societies exclude those with
disabilities, they will not reach their full potential and the poor in particular will be denied opportunities
that they deserve”.

In addition, Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD) stated that the world’s poorest
population comprised mainly of vulnerable and marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities
(PWDs) and this has threatened the effectiveness and success of development and poverty-reduction
efforts. Conversely, existing inequalities can also exacerbate individual’s vulnerability.
Individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected in disaster, emergency and conflict situations due to lack of accessibility in major areas of life and exclusion of disability issues in planning and preparedness.
People with Disabilities have been conspicuously excluded from the processes of formulating and implementing strategies and policies aimed at creating public awareness and positive orientation and attitudes on the realities and challenges of disability and the need to evolve and sustain environmentally friendly behaviour.
It is widely acknowledged that Policy makers, Civil Society Organizations, the Organized Private sector and the society at large lack necessary awareness, interest and understanding on the ‘Plight and Prospects of PWDs’. Disability issues are wrongly and broadly treated as purely medical and charity matters, while there are obvious lack of necessary “expertise/capacity/specialization”. As a result, the needs of PWDs continues to be labelled as ‘Special needs’, and this is severely detriment to efforts for promoting INCLUSIVE PRACTICES. Even when disability is main streamed in state policies and planning, there is a severe lack of implementation and “know-how” to translate policy into effective practice.
A government and/or corporate business organization which spends a significant portion of its earnings on providing perpetual charity-based services will have next to nothing to finance sustainable development. This is why programmes and policies of government and the private sector should aim at exiting more persons irrespective of their social status from perpetual dependence and poverty and make them contributors to the continuous production of public good which may be viewed in the form of taxes, services, job creation, etc.
The market model of disability implies that 10 to 20 percent is too significant for any government or private sector to ignore. PWDs are potential consumers of products and services, payers of taxes and above all, they are voters who could determine who comes into government. Accordingly, any government and/or business or service provider should be interested in reaching out to this population because of the multiplyer effects. For instance ever PWD has a family which could be influenced towards a particular product, service or government.
However, beyond the gains of public incomes generated through taxes, profits emanating from the delivery of products and services, or votes gained from persuaded voters, we all know that governments and corporate businesses also bear social responsibilities to their consumers/customers and the general public . This practice is often done through self/independent or collaborative/partnership projects and programmes known as “Public Private Sector Partnership PPP” which is expected to be spearheaded by the private sector with government providing supervisory and regulatory support. This is where the notion of "Development Partnership" comes in.
The main streaming of disability issues or what we call ""Social Inclusion"" in the private sector development partnership implies that government and the private sector ensures that all sections of the
population: men, women, children, the elderly, and PWDs are equal beneficiaries of not only their products and services, but also various programmes and projects implemented through their various corporate social initiative/responsibilities. It also implies that the government collaborates or partners with the private sector in not only the implementation of the Special People's Law, but the planning and implementation of all policies and programmes which require private sector participation and partnership

LAGOS STATE SPECIAL PEOPLE'S LAW AND PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Lagos State Special People’s Law which was enacted in 2011 acknowledges the roles that government, the private sector and civil Society organizations have to play in its implementation especially towards the facilitation of an inclusive society where equal socio-economic opportunities are created for everyone including persons with disabilities. Various sections of the Law makes the following prescriptions:
1. ensuring equal access to: products and services, media adverts/commercials, product information, customer care, etc.
2. Providing safe and accessible work place/environment by complying with disability-friendly/accessible infrastructural/building codes and regulations.
3. ensuring physical accessibility by providing realms, inclusive toilets, proper door/office labelling in large prints and Braille, properly built drainages, obstacle-free corridors, etc.
4. Operating inclusive work processes which can effectively accommodate persons with disabilities through the provision of relevant assertive technologies for employees with disabilities.
5. providing disability-friendly/accessible workplace safety gadgets like audio-enabled elevators/lifts fitted with proper accessibility features, fire alarms, accessible safety exits, etc.
6. guaranteeing equal employment opportunities for qualified PWDs. The law prescribes that at least 1% of an organization's work force should be reserved for PWDs.
7. Discouraging all forms of corporate/organizational and personal discrimination and abuse of PWDs within and out of the workplace. For instance, Corporate businesses should ensure that their corporate and/or product branding materials and adverts do ot promote discriminatory and derogatory messages against persons with disabilities. Rather, such materials should be used to promote inclusive behaviours and practices.
STRATEGIES FOR MAINSTREAMING INCLUSIVITY:
1. Developing and implementing a Corporate Inclusive Policy
2. Private business organizations should develop training programmes for management and other staff cadres on inclusive employment processes and work environments.
3. Commercial and/or Micro finance banks should not discriminate against PWDs who seek loans to finance private business initiatives. Such financial institutions should set up special financial counselling units to support PWDs who are into businesses to reduce their risks. Manufacturers and other private businesses should also not discriminate when granting sales/purchase discounts, after sales services, etc.
4. Private businesses should review their products and services to make them accessible to PWDs. Providers of Such services as telecoms, banking, insurance, hotel, transport, etc should train their customer personnel and centres to develop appropriate attitude towards PWDs.
5. Private business organizations should review and redirect their Corporate Social Initiatives/Responsibilities (CSIs & CSRs) policies towards serving the purpose of social empowerment for PWDs rather than mere tools for promoting sympathy and charity.
6. Private sector should be freely disposed to CSO initiatives geared towards facilitating social inclusion of PWDs.
WHAT GOVERNMENT MUST DO:
1. The government should encourage Private sector employers to comply with the provisions of the Special People's Law which stipulates the reservation of at least 1% of work force for qualified PWDs
2. Relevant agencies of the government including Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) should embark on regular organizational audits of private business organizations to assess their level of compliance with policies on inclusive work environment.
3. Government should institute special insensitive to encourage private business organizations which employ qualified PWDs, provide inclusive work environment and processes, and implement inclusive corporate policies. Such insensitive may include tax cuts or other forms of rebates.
4. The government and the private sector should make their economic empowerment programmes or CSRI/R ore inclusive and accessible to PWDs.

BENEFITS OF INCLUSIVITY

1. Researches have shown that when qualified PWDs are offered gainful employment, and provided enabling work environment and processes, they tend to remain on their jobs for longer times, remain committed and demonstrate high level of intellectual and skill dexterity.
2. When PWDs are gainfully employed or sufficiently empowered, they contribute immensely to job and general wealth creation thereby reducing poverty.
3. When economic empowerment programmes and projects of government and the private sector improves and increases the purchasing power of the people (including PWDs), manufacturers and service providers increase their sales. Productivity increases and the overall economy grows and develops.
4. Youths and adults with disabilities are largely peaceful and law abiding citizens who are not likely to promote violence and/or evade taxes. Accordingly, when more citizens, including PWDs maintain peace and order, and pay tax, the business sector enjoys enabling and productive environment, while more infrastructure are provided which in turn enhances the performances of private businesses which also impacts positively on the overall economy.
5. When more PWDs are empowered and productive, more resources are redirected from charity-based policies, programmes, projects (or CSI/R) and become freed and available to government and the private sector to support real and sustainable development in such areas as provision of infrastructure, development of education, provision of health services, job creation, provision of housing, agricultural development, etc.