Abstract:
People with disabilities make up about 20 percent of the population in developing nations (Yuen, 2003). Even though this is a substantial propol1ion of the overall population, people with disabilities have been routinely omitted from the development process. Much of this can likely be attributed to the stigmatization and marginalization of people with disabilities in many nations (Feinstein and D'Errico, 2010). The present analysis argues that it is in the interest of human rights for people with disabilities to be included in development programs and that this inclusion benefits not only people with disabilities but also the community as a whole. In order to facilitate meaningful, culturally responsive, and empowering inclusion there is a need for the creation of a development approach which embodies these values. Adaptive sports are presented as one potential approach.
Keywords: disability, culture and development adaptive sports, human rights
