The World Report on Disability and People With Intellectual Disabilities

The World Report on Disability was requested by the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO). Because disability is broader than health, WHO partnered with the World Bank. The World Report was published in 2011 and provides a comprehensive scientific analysis on the global situation of people with disability that can support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. Progress since the global launch of the Report in June 2011 has shown areas of awareness raising, policy development, funding, research, and technical support. Yet gaps exist, and there is a need to better inform policy and practice with particular reference to intellectual disability. The World Report on Disability makes nine recommendations: enable access to mainstream policies, systems, and services; invest in specific programs and services for people with disabilities; adopt a national disability strategy and plan of action; involve people with disabilities; improve human resource capacity; provide adequate funding and improve affordability; increase public awareness and understanding of disability; improve disability data collection; and strengthen and support research on disability. The World Report on Disability has increased awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with disability, and is serving to focus government attention on policies and programs that will support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, 2006. Particularly in the world's poorest countries, people with intellectual disabilities are disproportionately disadvantaged. The World Report is an important tool to build a global commitment to the promotion of inclusion for all persons with disabilities, and especially those with intellectual disability.