Data for Equity: Spotlight on WASH Access for Persons with Disabilities
Summary
December 3, 2024 marks the 22nd annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD). Seen as a day of celebration, learning, and action, IDPWD prompts us to reflect on the ways we can continue to build a more equitable and accessible world for those with disabilities.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are front of mind when it comes to the roadblocks to a disability-inclusive future. Many people with disabilities have to structure their lives on when they will have access to an accessible toilet, and are less likely to live in a household with adequate hygiene and sanitation facilities.
How can we ensure WASH services are inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities? The collection and use of disability-disaggregated data can help to shine a light on needs and provide a roadmap for how to implement more equitable WASH services.
Disability-disaggregated data means that when we collect data about WASH services, we include questions that can identify people with disabilities. This helps data users understand potential trends and gaps in access for people with disabilities that may not have been otherwise visible and can inform future WASH programming to be more inclusive for all. Ensuring people with disabilities are included and counted in data is critically important—but it can also be quite complicated. Learn more in this article produced by USAID’s WSSH D&A Activity.