Briefing Paper

Equitable Access to Water for People with Disabilities

Disability is a multi-faceted challenge to people’s development. It is both the cause and effect of
developmental issues: people with disabilities are more likely than able people to be poor and
those who are poor are more likely to be disabled. Integrating the needs of people with disabilities in
accessing water and sanitation services is a significant development challenge. This paper assesses the barriers – physical and financial – that prevent people with a disability from easily accessing water, and outlines how CRIDF can work to eliminate or reduce these barriers. The paper summarises the findings of recent studies examining the difficulties people with disabilities face in accessing water and sanitation services.