The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10% of any population are disabled (Thomas, 2005a). In addition, approximately 85% of the world's children with disabilities under 15 live in developing countries. It is further thought that with disability, or impairment, being both a cause and consequence of poverty, the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without a specific disability focus (DFID, 2000). People with disabilities have health, nutritional, educational and gender needs too, yet the goals related to these issues currently ignore the often unique needs of people with disabilities within these goals.
