Market economy, poor health status,
disability, and premature mortality of individuals
received attention primarily as indicators of
reduced living standards in the region of
developing countries. The inequality, poverty and
unemployment implications of the transition
process were also very significant factor for the
economic costs of poor. Education and health
status of disabilities did not receive much attention
because in a high-unemployment environment with
an abundant supply of skilled labour. However, the
situation is rapidly changing because many
transition countries have experienced respectable
economic growth through human development
indicators. The poverty rate for workingage
people with disabilities is nearly two and a
half times higher than that for people without
disabilities. Indeed, recent research finds
that half of all working age adults who
experience at least one year of poverty have a
disability, and nearly two-thirds of those
experiencing longer-term poverty have a disability.
People with disabilities are also much more
likely to experience material hardships such as food
insecurity; inability to pay rent, mortgage, and
utilities; or not being able to get needed medical
care than people without disabilities at the same
income levels. The same goes for families caring
for a child with a disability. In addition to income
poverty, individuals with disabilities are also nearly
twice as likely to lack even modest precautionary
savings in case of an unexpected expense or other
financial shock. Fully 70 percent of individuals
with disabilities responded that they “certainly”
could not come up with Rs.1, 34,000 to meet an
unexpected expense, compared to 37 percent of
individuals without disabilities.