Disability Life in Sri Lanka

A few people have asked me for some context of people with disabilities in Sri Lanka.   The picture here was taken during our research trip last summer.  Unfortunately, the only people with disabilities that we saw out in the community were very poor and relied on handouts from the public.  Except for a handful of exceptions that we heard of, the disabled individuals in Sri Lanka who are not begging in the streets are either in long term care facilities, or at home without access to their communities.  People with disabilities here are socially isolated and dependent on their families for their care.  THIS is what we hope to change.  It will take a long time, but Global Abilities is committed to helping disabled individuals to get better access to their communities, to become economically self-sufficient, and to become active, engaged citizens in society.