Purpose

This report evaluates and documents the work done since 2006 to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and what remains to be done. It identifies the types of approaches used, their strengths and limitations, and presents recommendations, priorities, and directions for the future.

Overview

Organisations, particularly those in the WASH sectors, are increasingly aware of the need for inclusive WASH, and appear to want to put it into practice in their programmes. In recent years, several programmes have successfully included the needs of people with disabilities in their WASH projects, at least in terms of clean water and sanitation, although not so much in terms of hygiene promotion.

The most important barrier to inclusive WASH seems to be the lack of communication and partnership between the WASH and the disability sector, at the institutional, organisational and individual levels. There is a lack of technical knowledge on WASH on the part of the disability sector, and on disability on the part of the WASH sector.  The cost of installing accessible WASH facilities is another barrier.

Usage: Learning from experience

Audiences: National Society leadership; Gender and Diversity Practitioners

Reference: Keo, C.,  Bouhours, T.,  and Bouhours, B. (2014). Accessible Wash in Cambodia. Australian Red Cross, Water Aid. Pp.3-42. Available from:http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:rcb4ouCDbwwJ:www.wateraid.org/~/media/Publications/Accessible-WASH-in-Cambodia.pdf%3Fla%3Den+&cd=1&hl=it&ct=clnk&gl=th [Accessed: 22nd July 2016].