>From the web page http://www.info.usaid.gov/about/disabpol.htm

                                             USAID/General Notice
                    POLICY PAPER             PPC
                                             09/12/97


     This policy paper articulates the U.S. Agency for
International Development's (USAID) commitment to pursue advocacy
for, outreach to, and inclusion of people with physical and
cognitive disabilities, to the maximum extent feasible, in the
design and implementation of USAID programming, and provides
guidance for making that commitment operational.  It is the
product of a comprehensive consultative process between USAID and
its partners, and responds to issues identified in that process. 
Note that this policy applies to the use of Agency program funds
only and complements USAID's personnel and staffing disability
policies.  The paper provides the basis from which a policy
directive will be developed. 

     This policy paper does not represent a new initiative. 
Instead it describes the importance of considering concerns of
the disabled within ongoing and future programs.  Implementation
of the policy will be within existing staff and financial
resource levels as determined by each operating unit, and no
additional financial reporting will be  necessary.    

     The paper outlines the fundamental principles on which the
USAID disability policy is based, including: (1) need for a
comprehensive and consistent approach to considering people with
disabilities, being sure to include women and children, within
USAID and in USAID assisted activities; (2) outreach to and early
consultation with persons with disabilities and the community of
organizations concerned about them as part of ongoing
participatory processes; (3) intent to work as development
partners with US and foreign PVOs and NGOs committed to persons
with disabilities and to facilitate relationships among these
entities; and (4) encouragement of U.S. interagency collaboration
and networking among donors and other diverse entities concerned
about persons with disabilities with a view to increasing impact
and sustaining these efforts.


POINT OF CONTACT: PPC, HIRAM LAREW, (202) 647-7065.U.S. Agency for
 International
Development



Policy Guidance




                                                     











USAID DISABILITY
 POLICY PAPER 


                                









Bureau for Policy and Program Coordination
U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, D.C. 20523
September 12, 1997
                USAID POLICY PAPER ON DISABILITY


I.  USAID DISABILITY POLICY

     The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is
committed to the inclusion of people who have physical and
cognitive disabilities and those who advocate and offer services
on behalf of people with disabilities.  This commitment extends
from the design and implementation of USAID programming to
advocacy for and outreach to people with disabilities.  USAID's
policy on disability is as follows: To avoid discrimination
against people with disabilities in programs which USAID funds
and to stimulate an engagement of host country counterparts,
governments, implementing organizations and other donors in
promoting a climate of nondiscrimination against  and equal
opportunity for people with disabilities.  The USAID policy on
disability is to promote the inclusion of people with
disabilities both within USAID programs and in host countries
where USAID has programs.

     For purposes of this policy, a disability is defined as a
physical or cognitive impairment that affects a major life
function, consistent with the definition of the Rehabilitation
Act.

     USAID commitment to disability issues is not new.  A 1996
report ("Activities Addressing the Needs of Person with
Disabilities," USAID document PN-ABY-746)  described the many and
varied Agency-sponsored activities in provisioning of
prosthetics, treatment and prevention of blindness and special
education, providing medical training of individuals who assist
persons with disabilities, building advocacy and management
capabilities of local organizations that represent the disabled,
and the like.  This policy is designed to build upon current
activities and to enhance the effectiveness of the Agency's
commitment.
   
     The policy applies to Agency program funds only, and
complements existing USAID disability policies which relate to
staffing and personnel procedures.  One of the best means of
raising awareness in programs is to actively pursue those
personnel procedures so that Agency staffing patterns reflect the
intention of Agency programs.  

     The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is
generally not applicable to USAID's overseas programs.  While the
ADA applies to U.S. citizens (including USAID employees)
overseas, it does not apply to non-U.S. citizens, who are the
primary beneficiaries of USAID programs.  The USAID disability
policy is thus in part an effort to extend the spirit of the ADA
in areas beyond the jurisdiction of U.S. law. 

II.  POLICY OBJECTIVES

     The objectives of the USAID policy on disability are:  (a)
to enhance the attainment of United States foreign assistance
program goals by promoting the participation and equalization of
opportunities of individuals with disabilities in USAID policy,
country and sector strategies, activity designs and
implementation; (b) to increase awareness of issues of people
with disabilities both within USAID programs and in host
countries; (c) to engage other U.S. government agencies, host
country counterparts, governments, implementing organizations and
other donors in fostering a climate of nondiscrimination against
people with disabilities; and (d) to support international
advocacy for people with disabilities.

III.  POLICY FRAMEWORK

     A substantial segment (often ten per cent or more) of any
population has impairments.  Those individuals are often limited
in participating in society by obstacles in the physical or
social environment.  It is widely recognized that the response to
this problem must be a balanced combination of prevention,
rehabilitation and measures for the equalization of
opportunities.  Individuals with disabilities and their
caregivers often are taken out of the workforce.  The reasons are
many: discrimination, lack of educational, vocational
rehabilitation or training opportunities, etc.  These factors
place further economic burden on poor countries where USAID has
sustainable development programs.  People with disabilities have
the same needs as others for nutrition,  family planning, health
care, training and employment.  Many mainstream programs, with
minor modification at the design stage, help address these needs. 
For example, education programs can be developed which promote
inclusion of children with physical or cognitive disabilities to
the maximum extent feasible.  Economic growth activities, such as
small business loans lending, can be developed to assure that
people with disabilities have equal access to credit. 
Infrastructure projects can be designed, with acceptable marginal
cost, to assure barrier-free access.  

     In providing humanitarian assistance in post-conflict
situations and disaster assistance, early strategically aimed
programs both help address the immediate needs of people with
disabilities and also provide a foundation on which these
individuals more effectively make a positive contribution to the
economic development of their country.  The disabling injuries
caused by landmines provide yet another compelling reason for
such programs.     
     
     USAID promotes advocacy as an integral part of its democracy
and governance objective.  As a world leader in the civil rights
movement for people with disabilities, the U.S. has seen a
strengthening of many local organizations which have formed to
support independent living and other disability initiatives as a
critical need.  In many countries, individuals with disabilities
have been `warehoused' in abysmal conditions with total
disrespect for their rights.  Those rights must be respected.  As
young democracies decide where they will concentrate scarce
resources, people with disabilities and those interested in the
issues of people with disabilities must be among the voices that
are heard.  

     Recently, in certain developing countries, indigenous
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in the concerns
of people with disabilities have emerged.  USAID's general policy
with regard to partnership with private voluntary organizations
(PVOs) encourages the use of U.S. PVOs to help strengthen
indigenous NGOs ("USAID-U.S. PVO Partnership," April 12, 1995;
Handbook 1, Policy Papers); inclusion of NGOs interested in
issues of persons with disabilities should be considered for this
kind of support.

     USAID also recognizes the appropriate role of host country
governments in creating the enabling environment for disability
advocacy and services.  Host governments not only create the
regulatory environment, but they also assure quality standards
and, for donor programs, provide the basis for sustaining these
efforts.1
     
IV.  OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

     A.  CONSULTATION 

     Each USAID Bureau, Mission and Center of the Global Bureau
must determine the best ways to consult with the disabled and
with those who advocate on behalf of, or provide services for
individuals with disabilities.  

     Each USAID Bureau, Mission and Center of the Global Bureau
must also determine best ways for consulting with appropriate
host government officials to assure that issues are reviewed with
respect to the enabling environment, regulatory concerns, quality
assurance standards and maintenance of donor-financed disability
activities. USAID will also look to organizations and individuals
with in-depth local experience to assist in designing and
implementing participatory mechanisms to ensure that USAID
strategic objectives and activities incorporate, to the extent
feasible, the priorities and values of people with disabilities
and groups pursuing these issues and interests in the host
country.

     B.  AREAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS

     The concerns of people with physical and cognitive
disabilities should be considered in the variety of USAID
programs for the poorest elements of society including but not
limited to programs for children and women, especially early
childhood interventions, child survival programs and curriculum
development for special education within basic education
programs; mass communication and printed materials; development
of basic infrastructure (e.g., roads, water and sanitation,
public transportation, telecommunications); development of small
scale industries or workshops; introduction of new machinery;
development of products the use of which requires specific
skills; urban or rural community development; development of
health care facilities or systems; development of formal and
non-formal education, training, career development and job
placement services; family planning and health education
programs;  design and construction activities; and activities
related to democracy and good governance, human rights
initiatives, and income generation.  Where appropriate, USAID may
also encourage relevant policy dialogue with host governments.  

     C.  SUPPORTING U.S. PVO AND INDIGENOUS NGO RELATIONSHIPS

     Indigenous NGOs, as part of the host society, can serve as a
voice for the interests and perspectives of the community of
individuals with disabilities or groups interested in their
issues.  USAID will look to an increasing role for indigenous
NGOs to carry out service delivery and to advocate on behalf of
the interests of people with disabilities.  USAID will actively
encourage the formation of effective partnership relations
between U.S. PVOs and indigenous NGOs interested in issues of
concern to people with disabilities.

     D.  TRAINING AND ENHANCED AWARENESS 

     USAID employees and contractors will be trained in issues of
relevance to people with disabilities so that, as appropriate,
USAID programs reflect those issues.  Grantees and contractors
will be encouraged to provide relevant training to their staff.





Footnote 

1.  The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent
federal agency which was established to promote policies,
programs, practices and procedures that guarantee equal
opportunity for all individuals with disabilities and to empower
individuals with disabilities to achieve economic
self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and
integration into all aspects of society, and to provide an annual
report to the President and the Congress.  The NCD issued a
report on August 1, 1996, entitled, "Foreign Policy and
Disability" which asked whether the United States maintains a
coherent disability policy within its foreign policy and found in
the negative.  In fact, the report concluded that "those
responsible for creating and implementing U.S. overseas policies
and programs generally lack awareness of disability issues,
cannot articulate our national policies with respect to people
with disabilities, do not incorporate the interests of people
with disabilities into U.S. foreign policy objectives, and do not
see the importance of U.S. disability advances and achievements
for people with disabilities in other countries."  The NCD
recommended:

    creating a comprehensive foreign policy on disability to
advocate for people with disabilities through activities on
international levels;
    extending U.S. disability law by legislation or executive
order to include unambiguously the international operations of
the U.S. government;
    employing domestic standards of nondiscrimination in
U.S.-sponsored international activities;
    training U.S. foreign affairs agencies and their contractors
to plan for programmatic accessibility; and,
    establishing the principle that no U.S. international
activity should have a lower standard of inclusion than its
domestic correlate.



Bureau for Policy and Program Coordination (PPC)
U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, D.C. 20523
September 12, 1997

POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS NOTICE IS PPC, HIRAM LAREW, (202)
647-7065.

USAID Disability Plan of Action
"Mandatory Reference"
August, 1997


     This Plan of Action is designed to direct the implementation
of USAID's Disability Policy.   It does so by outlining ways to
promote the inclusion of services with and for persons with
disabilities in programs throughout the Agency.  The Plan of
Action is applicable to Agency program activities only, and is
consistent with chapters in Series 200 of the Agency's Automated
Directive System that deal with personnel and staffing issues
(http://www.usaid.gov/M/HR/ads1/htm).  The Plan of Action does
not require additional personnel, financial reporting, or other
elaborate reporting systems.  It is designed to be used within
existing level of resources, and to complement reengineering
guidelines.  


1.   In order to finalize the establishment of Agency policy on
persons with disabilities, the following process will be pursued:

         The draft policy shall be reviewed by field missions,
development partners, and other donors. (Action: Policy and
Program Coordination Bureau (PPC), completed) 

         The policy shall be revised and submitted for the
approval of the Administrator. (Action: PPC, summer '97)


2.   In order to encourage interagency donor collaboration on the
issues of inclusion of disability issues in international
programming, USAID will participate actively in relevant
interagency and inter-donor meetings.

         USAID participated in the first interagency donor
meeting on disabilities held at the World Bank.  Also in
attendance were representatives from the United Nations' Office
of Disabled Persons, the World Health Organization (WHO), the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations'
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the
Inter-American Development Bank, the Danish International
Development Assistance organization (DANIDA), the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development's Center for Educational
Research and Innovation, the African Development Foundation, the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Academy for
Educational Development and several international disabilities
NGOs.  (Action: Global Bureau, completed)

         USAID will participate in quarterly meetings of this
interagency working group, and will chair the second interagency
meeting. USAID will contribute to setting the mission statement,
objectives and activities of this group. (Action: Global Bureau,
pending appointment of the Team Coordinator; see 4 below)

         USAID will explore the development of an international
working group with other federal agencies that have programs
serving persons with disabilities, e.g. Department of State, U.S.
Information Agency, the National Council on Disability,
Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce, Department of
Education, Department of Health and Human Services including the
National Institutes of Health, the President's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, Social Security Administration, Department of
Justice, Department of Transportation, the Access Board, etc.
(Action: Team Coordinator, Oct 1, '97)

3.   In order to ensure Agency-wide coordination and
responsiveness, and to assist and facilitate consideration of
disability issues in field and Washington planning, an Agency
Team for Disability Programming (ATDP) will be established. 
Membership will be by invitation of the Administrator, and may
include external representatives.   No budgetary resources will
be required.

         The ATDP will meet quarterly under the leadership of
PPC.  (Action: The Administrator and USAID/PPC, beginning Sept
30, '97)

         The ATDP will consult annually with various
international disabilities organizations, the PVO community
through USAID's Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign
Assistance (ACVFA), the higher education community through the
Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in
Development (ALO), and with other organizations and donors
through the quarterly interagency donor collaboration meetings
(mentioned above). (Action: Team Coordinator, '97)

         The ATDP will foster Agency awareness (e.g. Agency
newsletters, USAID Focus, USAID/PPC's Center for Development
Information and Evaluation (CDIE) publications, ExoNet, Agency
home page, etc.) regarding the importance of including persons
with disabilities in USAID programs; promote Agency commitment
and responsiveness; and ensure bureau, mission and center review
processes occur. (see number 5 below). (Action: ATDP, CDIE, and
Public Affairs Bureau, continuous) 

         The ATDP will review [or develop] activity reports,
identify "lessons learned", and assess the Agency's training
program (see point 6 below). A summary annual [or periodic]
review will be presented to the Administrator.  (Action: ATDP,
quarterly)

         The ATDP may establish short-term special working
groups, when needed. (Action: ATDP, as needed) 

         The ATDP may consider and recommend the establishment
of special Agency-wide activities focused on policy and services
for persons with disabilities. (Action: ATDP, as needed)

         The ATDP will provide senior staff with an annual
briefing on all disability-related activities. (Action: ATDP,
each January)

         An Annual Disabilities Recognition Award will be
established to recognize USAID staff and/or partners who have
promoted integration of disabilities awareness and activities
into USAID programs.  The ATDP will make information about the
Award widely available, identify potential recipients, and
provide the Administrator with recommendations for candidates.
(Action: ATDP, each June 30)


4.   In order to ensure that a central team leader and contact
point for activities regarding persons with disabilities exists
within the Agency, the Administrator will designate a Disability
Team Coordinator.  

         This Team Coordinator will provide support to the ATDP
upon request, provide technical assistance to all bureaus,
missions and centers as they assess their programs for
opportunities to include persons with disabilities, maintain the
flow of information on disabilities activities, respond to
external enquiries, represent USAID at conferences and meetings
on disability or ensure proper representation for technical
matters, alert NGOs, institutions of higher education and other
organizations about "windows of opportunity" in USAID programs,
attend and brief participants at regional bureau conferences and
other large-scale Agency meetings, and liaise with disabilities
organizations, ACVFA, ALO and key U.S. PVO/NGOs involved with
disabilities programming.(Action: USAID Administrator,  Oct 1,
'97)

     
5.   In order to address appropriately and fully the inclusion of
persons with disabilities in Agency programs, the Agency will
track progress by compiling an annual [or periodic] summary
report.  

     USAID/Washington will periodically compile a report that
assesses the extent and quality of USAID disability activities,
and identifies lessons learned, new models, opportunities and
challenges for future programming.  Relevant field programs may
be visited.  The first summary report will be sent to the
Administrator with, as needed, recommendations for ensuring
Agency momentum and progress on disabilities issues.  (Action:
ATDP, first report to be completed July 1998.)   

6.   In order to promote inclusion and build commitment and
capacity to address issues regarding persons with disabilities,
the Agency will conduct staff development activities.

         Appropriate training materials for Agency staff
members, contractors and other partners will be designed or
adapted, field tested and produced, including items such as: a
video with practical examples of programs that work; handouts for
reflection and action; discussion frameworks for group
activities; and suggestions regarding policy implementation.
(Action: Team Coordinator and Training Office, for use beginning
March 30, 1998)

         Preliminary staff training will be provided within new
employee orientation, diversity training, other relevant on-going
staff training sessions and special technical training, as
feasible.  Operating units will be encouraged to engage in
follow-on self-training through the use of the training
materials. (Action: Training Office and operating units,
beginning as soon as feasible)

         A letter with abbreviated training materials will be
distributed to all Agency contractors, grantees and cooperative
agreement partners to encourage them to engage in staff training
regarding programming for persons with disabilities.  Such
organizations will also be encouraged to share their relevant
training materials with USAID for review and possible use in our
training activities. (Action: Training and Procurement Offices,
beginning October 1, 1997)

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End of Document

