Center for Inclusive Policy

Meenakshi Balasubramanian, CIP Senior Research Associate, sits in her wheelchair.A text overlay shows her quote: “This day informs the community that a group of people are marginalised, invisible, and experience discrimination on a daily basis. It reminds us of the gap between what needs to be done and what is happening to reduce inequality.”

During the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, our team reflected on what this day represents. Here is one of those voices.

Thank you, Meenakshi, for your commitment at @inclusivepolicy.bsky.social to building the inclusive society we all deserve, with data lighting the way.

New CIP Instagram account: @centerforinclusivepolicy

To wrap up this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re excited to share that we’ve officially launched our Instagram account: www.instagram.com/centerforinc...

We’ll be sharing our disability data, evidence, and key insights: all in one place. Follow us and stay connected!

Evidence is our roadmap. Action is our responsibility. This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we call for: better data, stronger financing, and policies that enable participation, autonomy, and equality for all.

EVIDENCE IS OUR ROADMAP.

Learn more: inclusive-policy.org/reports-and-...

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Disability creates significant extra costs for households. Once extra costs of living are considered, the measured poverty rate for people with disabilities increases. For example, in the US once accounting for extra costs the poverty rate for persons with disabilities rises from 24% to 35%. In Ghana, from 38.5 %to 52.9%.

Source | Methodological Guidelines on Assessing Household Disability: Related Costs and Their Implication for Participation (The World Bank, with the support of @inclusivepolicy.bsky.social): bit.ly/48xn3dI

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In five of these countries, 40% or more report either • receiving less support than they need, or • needing support but receiving none at all. Why it matters: Without adequate support, autonomy and participation remain out of reach.

Source | The Care Economy and Disability Inclusion in Low and Middle-Income Countries (The World Bank, with the support of @inclusivepolicy.bsky.social): bit.ly/4po3xYE

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More than 20% of persons with disabilities report unmet care and support needs, across the nine countries analyzed.

Source | The Care Economy and Disability Inclusion in Low and Middle-Income Countries (The World Bank, with the support of @inclusivepolicy.bsky.social): bit.ly/4po3xYE

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Poverty multiplies exclusion: among the poorest households, children with disabilities are 4× more likely to be out of school. Why it matters: Education is the foundation for participation, and millions are still left behind.

Source: Global Disability Inclusion Report (Co-edited by @inclusivepolicy.bsky.social with @unicef.org & @lshtm.bsky.social): bit.ly/48f9m4m

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Massive inequalities persist in education. Children with disabilities are 47% more likely to be out of school (In 34 low- and middle-income countries analyzed.) This isn’t a gap, it’s a systemic barrier to a full and independent life.

Source: Global Disability Inclusion Report (Co-edited by @inclusivepolicy.bsky.social with @unicef.org & @lshtm.bsky.social): bit.ly/48f9m4m

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This year, CIP and our partners generated new evidence to understand where progress is happening, and where urgent action is still needed.

For the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re highlighting some of the MOST POWERFUL INSIGHTS from our recent reports and contributions.

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YouTube video by Center for Inclusive Policy International Day of Persons with Disabilities: What does this day mean to you?

International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
A day to pause, reflect, and recommit.

At CIP, we work to ensure public policies truly include persons with disabilities. So we asked our team what this occasion means to them.

Your turn... What does it mean to you?

Module on Child Functioning – Teacher Version: A Comparative Evaluation - UNICEF DATA Historically, different definitions, methodologies and tools have been used to identify children with disabilities in population-level data collections, resulting in…

We’re proud to share new work we contributed to, published by @unicef.org with the WG.

CIP supported the validation and review of “Module on Child Functioning – Teacher Version”.

Why it matters: it shows whether teachers can reliably report on children’s functional status.

Graphic announcing a new article titled Estimating the magnitude and scope of disability-related direct costs: a systematised review, with a link to inclusive-policy.org. Below, a laptop displays the cover of The European Journal of Health Economics. Decorative icons of a globe and folder appear around the graphic.

NEW ARTICLE ALERT!

We’re pleased to contribute to this systematised review on estimating disability-related extra costs, published in The European Journal of Health Economics.

It has been a long time coming, and we’re excited for how useful it will be.

Here: link.springer.com/content/pdf/...

CIP’s 10th Anniversary: Reflections and Next Steps | Center for Inclusive Policy Reflections on ten years of inclusive policy work, with the full recap, recording, and transcript available.

We marked our 10th anniversary with a conversation that brought together diverse voices to reflect on ten years of inclusive policy work and explore what comes next.

🎤 Dan Mont, @nifhla.bsky.social, @tomshakespeare.bsky.social, Lesley Carson, Gopal Mitra, Meenakshi Balasubramanian & Alimata Karimu.

New Report! Inclusive Social Protection for Persons with Disabilities in Indonesia: A Rapid Review of Evidence.

NEW PUBLICATION!

A rapid review of inclusive social protection for persons with disabilities in Indonesia. Explore key evidence, gaps, and recommendations.

Joint report with CBM Global Disability Inclusion.

Read it in English: bit.ly/49zVnr3
Or in Indonesian: bit.ly/4o2vIdR

A quote graphic featuring Maria Ní Fhlatharta, Deputy Director at the Center for Inclusive Policy (CIP). The quote reads: “A false narrative has been established, as if persons with disabilities were passive recipients of care. All human beings require care and support at some point in their lives. No one is an island.”

We were glad to take part in the Hernán Santa Cruz 2025 Dialogue Series on the Human Rights Economy, organized by OHCHR.

Maria Ní Fhlatharta joined the session on Care and Support Systems to discuss how these systems can advance gender equality and disability inclusion.

Watch here: bit.ly/47TsPGi

YouTube video by Center for Inclusive Policy TOM SHAKESPEARE and DANIEL MONT in Conversation: Advancing DISABILITY RIGHTS Through RESEARCH

In this special fireside chat marking the Center for Inclusive Policy’s 10th anniversary, @tomshakespeare.bsky.social and Daniel Mont revisit CIP’s origins, its mission to bridge disability movements and policymakers, and the lessons learned from a decade of linking research, data, and advocacy.

Cover of a new report titled “Advisory Opinion No. 31 of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Key Q&A on the Right to Care and Persons with Disabilities,” co-published by CIP and partner organizations.

The @corteidh.bsky.social issued Advisory Opinion No. 31: a historic recognition of care as a human right.

We joined the Disability Rights Fund webinar to reflect on what it says and what’s missing for persons with disabilities.

See our new Q&A report: www.disabilityrightsfund.org/2025/10/20/c...

Graphic promoting a podcast by the Center for Inclusive Policy titled “What can governments do to address the disability squeeze?”. The design includes the CIP logo at the top and an audio wave icon. Below the title, there are photos of two speakers: on the left, Zack Morris, Associate Professor at Stony Brook University, and on the right, Dan Mont, CEO of the Center for Inclusive Policy. A light blue banner at the bottom reads “The Disability Squeeze – Episode 4.”

“Social protection should support participation. You don’t get it because you can’t work, you get it so you can.”

Daniel Mont (CIP) in The Disability Squeeze by @zacharyamorris.bsky.social explores the real costs of disability and how inclusive policies can help.

Here: bit.ly/3X52r7j

Podcast flyer titled “Shedding light on overlooked issues in care research”, coordinated by the Center for Inclusive Policy (CIP) for the Alianza Global por los Cuidados's 2025 "Voices of Care" podcast series, launched for the International Day of Care and Support. The image shows the logos of both organizations at the top corners and the International Day of Care and Support logo at the center. Below, the title is accompanied by portraits of three speakers: Monica Pinilla-Roncacio from the Center for Inclusive Policy, Jessica Backman-Levy from the Iris Group, and María Sagrario Floro, Professor Emerita of Economics at American University. A blue banner at the bottom reads “Voices of Care – NEW EPISODE.”

Shedding light on overlooked issues in care research

We joined the #VoicesOfCare podcast series by the Global Alliance for Care for the International Day of Care and Support.

Experts explore how care intersects with disability, health, and macroeconomics.

Tune in: open.spotify.com/episode/5Jom...

Maria Ni Fhlatharta, Deputy Director at the Center for Inclusive Policy, and Maria Pereira, Senior Research Associate, stand smiling while holding CIP’s policy briefs. Behind them are a CIP banner and the Mexican flag in a display case.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CARE AND SUPPORT!

We highlight how deeply the care and disability agendas overlap: women and girls provide most unpaid care, support needs often remain unmet, and people with disabilities are caregivers too. Care is never a standalone issue.

Read our brief: bit.ly/42Yr5Ks

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: CIP 10th Anniversary: Building Inclusive Futures. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: CIP 10th Anniversary: Building Inclusive Futures. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

We’re turning 10!

Join the Center for Inclusive Policy’s anniversary event to reflect on our shared journey and explore the remaining challenges to advancing inclusive policies.

Nov 4, 9 am EST, 2 pm GMT, 5 pm EAT
Register here: bit.ly/4qb4tAa

We look forward to seeing you!

Portrait of Wilson Kamau Nyawira, 2025–2026 CIP Fellow. On the left side, a quote in black text reads: “This is a unique opportunity to grow as a researcher, learn from outstanding mentors, and build lasting professional connections that will continue to inspire and guide me beyond the program.”

Say hello to Wilson Kamau, one of our 2025–2026 CIP Fellows.

From Kenya, he’s studying how enumerator practices affect disability data collection in national censuses.

His goal is to strengthen data systems so that statistics truly represent the diversity of persons with disabilities.

Portrait of Umesh Balal Magar, 2025–2026 CIP. On the left, a quote in black text reads: “What excites me most is the chance to transform analysis into action, working directly with communities to identify the gaps in our climate frameworks and build a truly inclusive, resilient future for Nepal.”

This is Umesh, one of our 2025–2026 CIP Fellows.

From Nepal, he’s analyzing disability inclusion in climate change frameworks to develop actionable policy recommendations.

A climate justice advocate, Umesh works to ensure environmental action and disability inclusion move forward together.

Portrait of Ana Sikhashvili, 2025–2026 CIP Fellow, standing at a microphone and speaking. On the left, a quote in black text reads: “My time as a student taught me that true education isn't just about accessible lectures. It's about life, networks, and independence. I'm excited to research how Georgia's independent living systems are the missing link to a truly inclusive higher education experience for all disabled students.”

Meet Ana, one of our 2025–2026 CIP Fellows.

From Georgia, she’s exploring how independent living systems shape access to higher education for students with disabilities.

Her research will lead to policy recommendations to foster a more coordinated support structure for students with disabilities.

Graphic featuring a quote by Monica Pinilla Roncancio, Senior Associate at the Center for Inclusive Policy. The text reads: “People with disabilities must be at the center of the creation of support systems, and these systems must be articulated with other systems.”

Building inclusive societies means ensuring that persons with disabilities are visible across all systems, from care to education and employment.

We joined a dialogue organized by Documenta to discuss how inclusive support systems can promote autonomy and community life.

Quote graphic from the Center for Inclusive Policy featuring María Pereira, Senior Associate at CIP. The text reads: ‘Because persons with disabilities both give and receive care, it is incredibly important to consider disability inclusion within care policies.’

We’re proud to have contributed to a new World Bank report on how care and disability intersect, and why linking them is key for rights and inclusion.

CIP joined the launch to share findings.

Read "The Care Economy and Disability Inclusion in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”: bit.ly/3WLr5d4

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: CIP 10th Anniversary: Building Inclusive Futures. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: CIP 10th Anniversary: Building Inclusive Futures. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

We’re turning 10!

Join the Center for Inclusive Policy’s anniversary event to reflect on our shared journey and explore the remaining challenges to advancing inclusive policies.

Nov 4, 9 am EST, 2 pm GMT, 5 pm EAT
Register here: bit.ly/4qb4tAa

We look forward to seeing you!

We’re excited to share the third issue of our quarterly series, Disability Policy Insights on Budget Analysis!

Whether you’re a policymaker, development professional, researcher, or advocate, this issue provides the tools to track and influence real change.

inclusive-policy.org/disability-p...

We’re excited to share the third issue of our quarterly series, Disability Policy Insights on Budget Analysis!

Whether you’re a policymaker, development professional, researcher, or advocate, this issue provides the tools to track and influence real change.

inclusive-policy.org/disability-p...

Our CEO Daniel Mont was tasked with some crafting at a family event - and we love what he came up with so much that we are requesting he make more! Image description T-shirt with a colourful drawing reading CIP - Toward an Inclusive World with a picture of a globe.

Our CEO Daniel Mont was tasked with some crafting at a family event - and we love what he came up with so much that we are requesting he make more!

Image description T-shirt with a colourful drawing reading CIP - Toward an Inclusive World with a picture of a globe.