Australian Aid Improving Lives of People with Disability

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Ten percent of the world's population - an estimated 650 million people - live with disability and 80 percent live in developing countries, mostly in Asia and the Pacific region.

Today's report, entitled Development for All: Achievement Highlights, reveals early successes being made and comes two years after Australia launched its first disability strategy for the aid program.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said people with disability are benefiting from increased access to Australia's aid program, including through education and scholarship programs, more access to public infrastructure, and stronger disabled people's organizations.

"Australia is recognized globally for its leadership in helping give voice to the most voiceless," said Mr Rudd.

"Australians can be proud that the lives of more people living with disability are being improved. Children with hearing impairment in Samoa, for example, have been supported to transition from primary to secondary school, undertaken work experience, and a number of them now have full- time employment."

The government today also reaffirmed its commitment to improving the lives of people with disability by announcing $11.6 million for four new partnerships "UNICEF, the Government of Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and World Health Organization.

The new partnerships are funded from the $30.2 million May budget initiative for disability-specific measures.

Development for All: Achievement Highlights is available online: Development for All: Achievement Highlights.