AFRICA According to the WHO ( World Health Organization)  almost 80 million people in Africa are disabled. Wars, diseases, malnutrition and accidents are the leading cause. Many of them do not have opportunities for education and work especially in poor underdeveloped countries. Who also estimates that only about 10% of disabled people in Africa can read and 80% of disabled in Africa are unemployed. Unfortunately, communities that are poor are the hardest hit. People cannot afford medicine or assistive devices. Also, people living in poverty are more likely to be disabled because of ac of prenatal care and vaccines, wars and accidents. Unfortunately, many African societies still do not see disabled as equal and there is often discrimination. Many international organizations are working to prevent disabilities and to educate people to treat those with disabilities better. BACK TO EQUALITY

EUROPE In many European countries there are laws to protect people with disabilities. These laws give them rights to employment and education. They also make public places more accessible. European Union has agreed with the United Nations Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities and set up many programs that provide money and help to countries. They also require their members to follow the laws for people with disabilities. This has helped many countries improve how they treat disabled.  However, there are still problems. Many problems happen in central and Eastern Europe. According to a report by the Disability Rights Advocates in 2001 many central and eastern European countries still have very negative opinions about people with disabilities This keeps people with disabilities from obtaining good jobs and getting equal education.  Often students with disabilities attend special schools and are not with their peers. Many of these countries have struggling economies and are recovering from wars , so hopefully as they enter European Union and their economics become stronger, people with disabilities will get better rights and opportunities they deserve. BACK TO EQUALITY

ASIA In Asia many disabled people still face discrimination and lack of opportunities. For example in India more than 70% of disabled people do not have jobs, according to Disabled People International. Many countries in Asia have laws to protect disabled people from discrimination, but these laws are not always followed. For example, in Philippines there is a law that helps students with disabilities get education. But, according to Disabled People International, still more than 20% of disabled students never get a chance to go to school. China and Japan also have laws to make it a more fair place for disabled people. These laws have helped make public places like train stations and schools more accessible for people who need wheelchairs.  Hopefully, other countries in the region will follow the example in the future. BACK TO EQUALITY

AUSTRALIA In Australia the law says that people with disabilities have same civil rights as everyone else. This law is called Disability Discrimination Law and it was passed in 1992. There are also lots of services for people with disabilities. For example, Australia has a  Disability Employment Network that helps people with disabilities train for and find jobs. It also helps employer make workplace better for workers who are disabled. Australia also has laws that give students with disabilities equal rights to education. This was also part of the Act in 1992. It tells all schools that they have to make sure that students with disabilities have access to equal education. BACK TO EQUALITY

NORTH AMERICA Canada and United States have many laws that protect rights of people with disability at work and school. Both school systems have IEPs which plan education for student with disabilities. They both also have laws that government places and employers have to make buildings and public transportation accessible for wheelchairs and other devices. Mexico also has laws that protect disabled people. In their schools, students  with disabilities can attend and have special education teachers. All three countries are trying inclusion as much as possible. Inclusion means that students with disabilities go to school together with other students whenever that can be possible. BACK TO EQUALITY

SOUTH AMERICA In South America rights of people with disabilities is different in different countries. For example, in El Salvador there is no special laws that protect people with disabilities at all. There is also very little access for wheelchairs in public places. For example, in the report by the International Disabilities Rights Monitor, researchers  wrote that people with disabilities in El Salvador have a right to vote, but they cannot vote because there is not wheelchair access to places where there is voting. In the same report, researchers found that Nicaragua has laws that protect people with disabilities but they are not always followed. They also found that many public places, like post offices, were not accessible to wheelchairs.  Argentina also has laws that protect rights of people with disabilities. They give them right to access public transportation and employment. In the future, hopefully all South American countries will pass and follow laws that give people with disabilities equal rights. BACK TO EQUALITY

CREDITS: "Law related to disability." 31 oct 2007. HSE. 20 Nov 2007 <http://www.hse.gov.uk/disability/law.htm>. Lederer, Edith. "Disabled in Asia Face Exclusion, Report Says." 11AUG 2005. Disabled Peoples' International. 22 Mar 2008 <http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/details?page=336>. "Access to education around the world." NEA. 23 Feb 2007. <http://www.nea.org/international/worldaccess.html>  Americans with Disabilites Act. 22 Mar 2008  <http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm>.  "Disability Rights Home Page." Human Rights&Equal Opportunity Commission/. 22 Mar 2008 <http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/>. "Physical Disabilities." History.com. The History Channel. 11 Nov 2007. <http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=20889>. "Special Education - HISTORY." Auuuu.com. 10 Jan 2008.  <http://www.auuuu.com/specialeducation/history.html>. "UNSEI." ED.gov. 17 Jan 2008. <http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/international/edlite-index.html>. "Welcome To World Education Foundation For The Disabled ." Welcome To World Education Foundation For The Disabled. 12 Nov 2007.<http://www.worlddisabled.org/>.