The country should promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in disaster management.

Development organisations need to open up their programmes for people with disabilities

Programmes for the disabled must be redesigned to employ persons with disabilities

Planners should focus on people with disabilities to ensure inclusive development

Nepali society in general still perceives disability as god’s punishment and tends to stigmatise disabled persons. As a result, many of them remain unaware of their rights and are deprived of many government services and the basic right to health, education and employment. As disabled persons are among the poorest of the poor, Nepal must include provisions in the upcoming constitution that prioritise them in development plans to help them overcome their persistent poverty. Doing so will also ensure and increase their inclusion and participation in society.