The Inclusion of Persons With Disabilities in U.S. Foreign Policy

Abstract

Persons with disabilities living in developing countries look to the United States—the world’s largest contributor to Official Development Assistance (ODA) by volume—as a steadfast supporter of inclusion. This case study examined disability inclusion within the current policies and practices of four federal agencies responsible for either funding or executing U.S. foreign assistance activities. The agencies of interest were the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps (PC), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Core areas of investigation were (a) agency disability policies and guidance, (b) the inclusion of persons with disabilities in foreign assistance programs, (c) the employment of persons with disabilities within federal agencies, and (d) physical accessibility of federal agencies. Key findings show that while some progress has been made in regard to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in U.S. foreign aid, a persistent lack of formal accountability measures impedes the inclusion of persons with disabilities diffusing responsibility and results within and across agencies.