Ms. Ahmed spoke about access to family planning services. Hospitals and other health facilities should be physically accessible to those with disabilities—for example, by building ramps. Additionally, facilities must have Braille translation and sign language interpreters. Finally, coordination with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and service providers is important, to sort out misconceptions regarding family planning, which are common in many communities.
Ms. Bauer discussed the role of accessible education in promoting inclusion. One of the biggest priorities for Kupenda for the Children is to ensure that children with disabilities are able to access education, as only 10% of children around the world with disabilities are able to do so. Even if a school has inclusive SRH programs, it will not matter if a child is locked at home and unable to access those services. In fact, one of the biggest challenges that Kupenda for the Children has seen in its work in Kenya is getting children to go to school. In Kenya, it is reported that 2-3% of people have a disability, but this is likely not a true estimate since, in comparison, 24% of people in the United States report living with a disability. Worldwide, it is estimated that 15-20% of people are living with a disability; however, that number is simply an estimate. As stated by Ramchandra Gaihre, the data gap is an issue given that many people do not openly discuss disabilities, especially in the context of family planning. Recently, UNFPA has taken the initiative to start collecting this kind of data, a positive step.
Ms. Sharafi spoke about the importance of an enabling legislative environment, quality services, and changing perceptions to promote inclusivity. She helped develop guidelines with Women Enabled International for considerations to take when developing services. Additionally, family planning programs and the monitoring of services need to be robust, and that it is important to consider the mindsets, perceptions, and misconceptions that even health care providers have with regard to young people with disabilities. To address stigma surrounding young people with disabilities accessing SRH services, there are guidelines and information available, such as the AAAQ framework (availability, acceptability, accessibility, and quality). However, investment from government and policy makers is crucial.