Disabled people: an overview of diversity in numbers

There are approximately 1 billion people with disabilities in the world. In Italy, they represent 5.2% of the population. The magnitude of the theme is essential and the numbers are impressive. 253 million people worldwide have some form of visual impairment representing practically double the Mexican population. 466 million people have hearing loss, which almost corresponds to the size of the European Union. 75 million people need a wheelchair daily, roughly double the Canadian population.

Disabled people in numbers

“Diversity can be gender diversity, it can be sexual orientation, it can be related to ethnical background, and many others.

One of the diversity forms is related to those abilities which are disabilities. From our perspective, these are diverse abilities,” explained Claudia Pavoletti, Director EMEA McAfee Legal Affairs, during her talk at Traent “Internet Festival.

Currently, according to the World Health Organization, there are 1 billion people who are disabled in the world.

Pavoletti continues by saying: “It is quite impressive that 253 million people are affected by visual impairment. They represent pretty much twice Mexico’s population. 466 million people have hearing loss and correspond pretty much to the size of the European Union. 75 million people need a wheelchair daily, which is pretty much twice as Canada’s population. We are talking of something which matters.”

Cultural heritage

The term “diversity” is neutral and was born for various elements. Some of these can be different species, people of different ethnicity, and unique characteristics and values. Therefore, the concept includes cultural and social differences. Basically, these are part of the cultural heritage and roots.

Diversity belongs to each of us, and we cannot choose itsboundaries. Despite this, disabled people are constantly discriminated from different society groups.

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Furthermore, during the first wave of the Covid-19 virus, The United States chose who could access intensive care and who could not. NBC News writes that those who do not have private insurance and those who are disabled are excluded. From Tennessee to Alabama, there is a long list of states that have refused to treat neurological disorders. This is regarding the psychiatric disabled in general, including SMA.

The European approach differs regarding access to care and measures to ensure equality. On 3 December 2020, on the day dedicated to disability, the Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament paid tribute to the millions of European people with disabilities who have suffered the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is expensive for families to care for the disabled. To support people with The Eurostat 2019 survey shows that 26.1% of disabled adults lived in families with financial difficulties. In Greece, disabled people who have had economic problems represent 76.5%, in second place, we find Bulgaria with 65.7%.