Like all other civil society organisations, DPOs have the right to participate in the national PRS process. The context and approach vary considerably from country to country, as do the stage reached and state of progress of the national PRS. However, in general all stages of the process offer entry points for the civil society, of which the most significant are:

1. Formulation: A Participatory Poverty Analysis (PPA) usually advances the formulation stage, allowing DPOs to contribute their opinions and experiences with poverty. After the formulation process has started, DPOs may then review the PRSP drafts, comment on them, propose some new important issues, contact the persons in charge of PRSP formulation, and participate in PRS workshops, conferences, etc.
2. Implementation: During the implementation of the PRS, the contribution of DPOs includes providing advice, sensitisation, project execution, etc.
3. Monitoring and evaluation: Sometimes the responsible institutions and structures offer the civil society and DPOs the opportunity to participate, observe and evaluate the quality and quantity of activities.

The PRSP process is based on a long-term perspective: after entering at one point, DPOs need patience and endurance to participate regularly and continuously. Single interventions may have an effect in the short term, but they will never result in long-lasting changes. However, a long-term approach demands minimum capacity on the part of the DPO concerned. In order to obtain a realistic picture about a given organisation’s capacity, the carrying out of an organisational self-assessment may represent a helpful start. This provides the basis for any future planning on the part of the DPO, and offers the opportunity to identify and overcome existing difficulties, thereby contributing to the unity of the national disability movement. The PRS is a countrywide strategy and involves many different stakeholders; for this reason, networking and alliances are essential ways of becoming stronger. Only through close cooperation with other organisations is it possible to achieve unity; this also ensures that essential issues are given more prominence. Furthermore, the systematic use of lobbying and advocacy tools and techniques is essential in order to find the right and most successful approach for each country.