Poverty and Disability

Disabilities can be expensive, not only for the person with a disability, but also for family members and care-givers. An electric wheelchair, for example, can cost anywhere from under USD $2000 to USD $30,000 or more, depending on the features required. The wheelchair must also be maintained and repaired. Beyond the equipment cost, a person who needs an electric wheelchair likely also needs the daily assistance of other people, both at home and in the workplace. The cost of simply living and doing daily tasks can be significantly higher for a person with a disability.

The yearly cost of the support systems (assistive technologies plus human helpers) varies dramatically depending on the type of disability, and can range from almost no cost on the low end to staggeringly high costs on the other extreme. These are the non-negotiable costs of life. Sadly, many people with disabilities who need these support systems cannot afford them, so their disability is compounded by financial constraints that prevent them from receiving technologies and services that could dramatically improve their quality of life.

The result is that a large proportion of people with disabilities, and their families, live in or near proverty. This is especially true in poorer countries, where people with disabilities are often among the poorest of the poor, and the most vulnerable of populations.