Creating user-friendly water and sanitation services for the disabled : the experience of WaterAid Nepal and its partners

Abstract
Traditional attempts to increase coverage of basic services such as water and sanitation have marginalised or excluded the needs of disabled people. This is despite the fact that some 10% of the Nepali population, including one in six poor people, can be considered to have some kind of impairment.

This paper reviews the social, technical, financial and policy barriers to meeting the needs of disabled people. It considers the consequences of this neglect on health, dignity and economic and social exclusion, and especially the impact on women. The experiences of WaterAid Nepal and its partners in supporting differently-able people without access to water and sanitation are set out and solutions to overcome the barriers are put forward. The document concludes by recommending improved coordination and collaboration in the sector to increase focus on and improve delivery of water and sanitation services to disabled people.

Cite as: Pradhan, A. and Jones, O. (2008). Creating user-friendly water and sanitation services for the disabled : the experience of WaterAid Nepal and its partners. In: Beyond construction : use by all : a collection of case studies from sanitation and hygiene promotion practitioners in South Asia. London, UK, WaterAid and Delft, The Netherlands, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: http://www.irc.nl/page/40450

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