4.3.4 Results
The impact this position paper actually had is very difficult to evaluate. The recently published official version of the PRSP still includes most of the parts about disability which had been criticised by the position paper. No significant change in terminology is apparent: the document still uses terms such as “the disabled” and “the handicapped”, although at least the term “crippled” was eliminated. Throughout the paper it is obvious that there is still no comprehensive understanding of the differing concepts of disability, as the term is still mainly used to denote the physically disabled, especially war victims. In the PRSP people with disabilities are summarised, along with other groups, as a “vulnerable group”: However, this is not helpful, as specific exclusion mechanisms are neither recognised nor addressed. The chapter entitled “The Vulnerable” does however reveal a slightly better understanding: it shows how people with disabilities face difficulties in a number of ways, such as limited access to resources, employment, health and rehabilitation services, discrimination and abuse. Nevertheless, the political actions suggested in relation to disability are still very selective and do not establish it as a cross-cutting issue. Other parts of the official paper where disability is addressed in some form are: Education, Improving the Live Quality of the Vulnerable, Human Development, Health and Nutrition Services, and Child First Policies.
