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Here are some of the key ideas you need to understand in order to support greater political participation by the disabled community.
Use your mouse or keyboard to expand each of the headings below.
Power is the ability to make informed choices and the freedom to take action.
Decisions are made by people with power. In every society there are some people who are more powerful than others. This may be resultofa number of factors, including age, gender, ethnicity, political affiliation or economic situation.
Understanding who has the power to make decisions and why they have this power is an important first step in political participation.
The barriers to political participation faced by people with disabilities are similar to the barriers mentioned elsewhere in this course. They include:
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Without information and knowledge, meaningful participation in politics can be difficult. |
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There is a limited network to support and encourage political participation. |
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People with disabilities may have limited confidence or motivation to participate. |
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Majority groups may have prejudices, fears and discomfort towards people with disabilities. As a result, they may not support their participation. |
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The inability to access required legal documents (e.g., birth certificates, ID cards) can prevent people with disabilities from being accepted as citizens. |
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Lack of accessibility (e.g. inaccessible voting booths) can make it difficult for people with disabilities to participate. |
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In many countries or communities there are few examples of people with disabilities in high-profile political positions. |
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In many countries, people with disabilities are not permitted to vote. |
The needs of people with disabilities are rarely at the top of the political agenda, especially in places where resources are limited. As a result, there are very few inclusive mainstream programmes and disability-specific services.
Where disability is addressed in policies, implementation is often poor. As a result, there are still many barriers in society for people with disabilities.
A government typically has three branches:
The legislative branch (parliament/assembly)
The executive branch (government and civil service), and
The judicial branch (the courts)
It is important to have a practical understanding of how government works. This should include:
Knowledge about political structures and processes
Knowing how power flows through the different levels of government
Understanding which governmental entities are most likely to be receptive and able to influence change, and
Understanding how to influence government representatives
All of these can be useful for advocacy to build alliances and influence change.
Legislative bodies that pass laws usually exist at each level. In many cases, the legislative branch is elected by local people. At the most local level, this may be the village council, followed by the district or regional assembly, and then the national assembly or parliament.
To ensure that all groups have political representation, many countries reserve a percentage of seats (“quotas”) on elected bodies or government jobs for members of marginalized groups, such as women, ethinic minorities or people withh disabilities.
This is often called “affirmative action” or “positive discrimination”.
