Who are persons with disabilities?

For the purpose of these guidelines, persons with disabilities include persons who have long-term sensory, physical, psychosocial,intellectual or other impairments that, in interaction with various barriers, prevent them from participating in, or havingaccess to, humanitarian programmes, services or protection.21

A human rights-based approach to disability places persons with disabilities at the centre and reduces barriers and risksthat they face. It requires humanitarian actors to recognize the capacity of persons with disabilities to contribute to thehumanitarian response.

Persons with disabilities are a diverse group. They have different impairments and diverse identities (as women, indigenouspersons, children, etc.). Due to the intersectionality of these factors, persons with disabilities may face multiple formsof discrimination. To avoid leaving persons with disabilities behind, an understanding of these differences must inform theapproach adopted in humanitarian action from the outset.