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Zambia
Country Director: Susan Siyunyi
Programme start: 1995
Population: 11m
% living on less than US$1 a day: 64%
Adult life expectancy at birth: 40 years
A major turning point that brought together a fragmented and ineffective disability movement came when disabled people realised that if they were to have any impact in making a better life for disabled people in Zambia, they had to unite and speak with one voice. Following this realisation, in 2001 disabled people participated for the first time in an election monitoring project during the Presidential Elections.
More recently, following lobbying from disabled people's organisations, representatives from hospitals, police, social welfare, immigration, United Nations, the Presidents office and the media enrolled in an eight week sign language course.
In elections planned for 2006 disabled people want to have a bigger impact. With support from ADD disabled people are working with the Electoral Commission to ensure blind people are able to vote fairly through developing a tactile guide for ballot papers, and providing access to polling stations. Disabled people's issues are being addressed in political party manifestos and disabled people’s organisations are working hard to raise awareness among disabled people and the community as a whole that disabled people have the right to vote.
Disacare
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