Romanian disabled orphans were treated as animals under the Ceaucescu regime. Disabled orphans in China are faring no better according to recent reports. In Nigeria, Muslims are training disabled people how to beg as a means of supporting themselves. Euthanasia of disabled people is a medically accepted practice in Holland. In more civil circumstances, disabled people face other obstacles.
Discrimination is routine in employment and housing.
Disabled people often elicit fear in non disabled people. One study even reported that there is a fear that whatever condition the person has is contagious, even when the conditions are brought on by such things as accidents. Our staff found such a fear to be ingrained in the culture of Ghana when a blind team member was not allowed to enter the presence of one of the chiefs they visited. Physically disabled adults sometimes feel that they are treated as children. Store clerks and service personnel are often found patronizing or else ignoring the disabled adult altogether, opting to talk with the family member or friend instead.