Developmental Disabilities Across the World
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| Disability exists in every nation, race, and socio-economic groups. It is estimated that 10% of the human population has disabilities, that is roughly 600 million people (www.un.org). United Nations documents declare, "hundreds of millions of disabled people and their families experience disadvantages, discrimination and exclusion because of living and working environments, as well as products and services that are not designed for all members of society." Nearly 400 million disabled people live in underdeveloped countries, where poverty, malnutrition, poor access to medical facilities, and war are among the main causes of disability. Only 2% of disabled people in underdeveloped countries have access to even the most basic services. Every day, millions go unnoticed, are humiliated, and abandoned. They are hidden from the public view, confined to cages, and trapped in poverty.
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