United Nations Development Programme.
Disability is a prime cause and consequence of poverty, yet so often the causes are preventable.
It is a serious factor in underdevelopment, with implications for the conservation of human life, the environment and resources. However, as the burden of disability is lightened, the economic prospects for individuals, their communities and nations improve. The challenge is not only to reduce poverty, but also to eradicate the inequalities that perpetuate it. We believe that access to knowledge and technology that can prevent disability is a fundamental human right and priority.