They are the world’s largest minority, and the only minority group anyone can become a member of at any time.
The World ParaVolley Foundation aims to make a tangible and long overdue difference for the planet’s most marginalized group. Approximately 1.2 billion people, 15% of the global population, have a disability. This number constantly increases because of conflicts, chronic diseases, insufficient medical services, and aging populations. Worldwide, 40% of people have a person with a disability in their immediate circle of friends and family. Further, it is the only minority group a person could become a member of at any time.
According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of the world’s disabled live in developing countries, and less than 3 percent of these children attend school. More than 800 million people with disabilities live in poverty, including 3.5 million refugees. Even in developed countries, people with disabilities face several challenges. Between 50 and 70 percent are unemployed due to employers’ incorrect assumptions about their ability to work.
The CDC reports that half of all individuals with disabilities get no physical activity. Access to athletic opportunities is a given for able-bodied individuals, but individuals with disabilities are often left out of this shared experience. WPVF sponsored programs provide various opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to discover a lifelong passion for physical activity.
Through the impact of sport and physical activity, the World ParaVolley Foundation acts as a catalyst supporting the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Foundation aims to improve the life experiences of people with a disability around the globe, enabling a more inclusive society worldwide.
Disability is a broad term that describes a physical, mental, sensory, or cognitive condition
that may limit full participation in life due to environmental or social barriers.
Approximately 15% of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, live with a disability. They are the world’s largest minority, and the only minority group anyone can become a member of at any time.
Worldwide, 40% of people have a person with a disability in their immediate circle of friends and family.
In the USA, 56.7 million people live with disabilities, and in Europe, 60 million.
– Rick Hansen Foundation
In the United States labor force participation by person aged 16-64 with a disability is 27.7 % compared to non-disabled participation of 72.8 %.
– US Dept. of Labor
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