This document outlines a strategy to promote accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in Belarus. It notes that over 500,000 people with disabilities face barriers in everyday life and are not fully integrated into society due to a lack of accessibility. The target audience is identified as politicians and other decision makers who can influence laws and policies. The challenge is framed as an economic one, arguing that a lack of inclusion costs the country opportunities and potential workers. The proposed strategy is to advocate for investments in accessibility and people with disabilities by emphasizing the economic benefits, like how every $1 spent on inclusion in the US returns $25 to the federal budget. A combination of direct meetings, informational events, and lobbying are suggested to reach the target audience
1. THE BACKGROUND
More than 500 000 person with disabilities in Belarus
are facing with the lots of boarders in everyday life.
Actually they are not full-integrated into society life
because of many reasons but the first
and the most urgent is
NO ACCESSIBILITY
2. TARGET AUDIENCE
Politicians.
People, who make opinions. People, who make decisions.
Why?
Because they influence law-making,
and the framework (e.g. incentives for businesses):
To improve educational system accessibility
To encourage architectural accessibility provision
To give incentives to improve the employment accessibility
All other Belarusians –
the voters of first ones
3. CHALLENGE
At the same time it is not just the problem
of people disabilities – all the society loose opportunities
They are not included in many processes and the country
loose them as workers.
State policy in long-term perspective also loose more.
500 000 is just about 5 % of total population of Belarus.
But if take into consideration those fact that really
working population is 4 599 000 it means that society
loose 10 % of potential workers.
4. INSIGHT
And the cleverest way is
to invest in people not to buy off
E. g.
in USA every 1$ spent for involvement people with disabilities
bring to federal budget 25$ of profit.
For state it’s more profitable than most of other investments
5. STRATEGY
We will speak with politicians
about people with disability on language they like –
about investments,
not about social security
6. IDEA
Politicians talks a lot about economical crisis in country
Politicians talks a lot about their efforts
about absolutely different possible investments
all around the world: from Venezuela to China
So. OK, let them look for money.
But as people are really interested in discussion
about economical reforms why do not discuss the idea:
to make real investment –
in our own people.
7. MEDIA? A LITTLE BIT
We talk about how more accessibility brings a long-term
Return-On-Investment for the state, and/or a company
Because of the economic benefits
it brings
This form of accessibility relates to education, employment,
as well as architectural accessibility
Mass media channels are inefficient for this audience
8. MEDIA? A LITTLE BIT
Individual approach is needed:
networking,
informational events,
direct marketing,
work-group activity,
Lobbying (direct communications with World Bank
and other international organisations)