Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
FOR persons with disabilities, the right to food is not merely about availability, but also a matter of access, dignity and inclusion.
Hunger and disability are deeply intertwined, and neither can be resolved without addressing the other.
Although global food security data is rarely disaggregated on the basis of disability, persons with disabilities are far more likely to experience food insecurity than their non-disabled peers.
Every year on October 16, Zimbabwe, just like other countries across the world, commemorates World Food Day, affirming that the right to food is a fundamental human right.
In many low- and middle-income countries, households headed by persons with disabilities report higher rates of hunger, skipped meals and reliance on emergency aid.
Physical barriers often prevent direct access to markets, food distribution points and humanitarian relief.
Communication barriers further compound this issue, as information regarding nutrition programmes frequently fails to reach deaf or blind individuals or those with intellectual disabilities.
Stigma and negative attitudes also play a devastating role, sometimes leading to persons with disabilities being viewed as less deserving of scarce food resources.
For instance, during famines, some families prioritise feeding non-disabled children over children with disabilities — a cruel echo of eugenic thinking, which places unequal value on human lives based on physical or cognitive traits.
Furthermore, discrimination in education and employment severely restricts earning potential, while additional disability-related costs for assistive devices, personal care and medical treatment place heavy strain on household budgets, leaving even less money for nutritious meals.
These challenges are intensified by an accelerating global climate crisis.
Erratic rainfall, severe floods and prolonged droughts continue to decimate harvests across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Climate shocks do not affect everyone equally and persons with disabilities face heightened vulnerabilities when agricultural disruptions drive up food prices or impede access to markets and aid.
During emergency evacuations, they risk being left behind and when relief finally arrives, distribution points are often inaccessible.
When food costs spike, those already living in poverty are the first to be priced out.
If World Food Day is to carry meaningful weight for persons with disabilities, it must be backed by concrete action.
First, food security research and data collection must consistently include disability metrics. Second, physical accessibility must be guaranteed at markets and distribution points, while essential information must be provided in accessible formats, including braille, audio, sign language and easy-read versions.
Inclusion in decision-making processes is equally critical.
Persons with disabilities should serve on food policy committees, agricultural planning boards and humanitarian response teams, as their lived experience constitutes vital expertise. Additionally, climate and food policies must explicitly incorporate disability needs within national adaptation strategies and agricultural frameworks.
Zimbabwe recognises these fundamental rights through its Constitution, National Disability Policy and Persons with Disabilities Act, all of which promote inclusion and accessibility across social services, including food security.
Ultimately, building a world without hunger requires viewing persons with disabilities not as passive recipients of charity, but as active rights-holders, farmers, entrepreneurs, parents and leaders.
A food system should not focus solely on abundance; it must be inclusive and nourishing for everyone. If a food table is inaccessible to persons with disabilities, it functions not as a table, but as a wall.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on [email protected]
