Disability Inclusion Matters: Staff voice from Ghana

“Disability Inclusion Matters: Leaving No One Behind, Empowering Unity, Achieving More” is an internal RC system campaign aimed at celebrating and recognizing the crucial roles played by our colleagues with disabilities and the importance of each of us taking concrete steps to make the RC system more inclusive of persons with disabilities. This campaign is called for under the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy and outlined in DCO’s Disability Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025  to raise awareness and change attitudes and understandings around disability inclusion.

Alimata Abdul, UNV Disability Inclusion Specialist, RCO Ghana
 

What does working for the RC system mean to you?

For me, it means ensuring that disability and disability inclusion are on the agenda and discussed or considered in conversations. I ensure this by asking specific disability-related questions in whatever is being discussed. I also bring a disability inclusion perspective to all conversations or agendas. Even though disability is one of our Cooperation Framework's cross-cutting issues, it is sometimes absent from actions and activities planned and carried out. Therefore, I always try to draw attention to the rights of persons with disabilities and bring awareness through my questions and other interventions.
 

What are you most passionate about in your work?

I am most passionate about ensuring disability is integrated into the work of every colleague or inter-agency process. This is evident in my work with our operations management team, human resources, information, communication and technology/digital, procurement and administration working groups to drive forward disability inclusion across our Common Services. 
 

What advice would you give for advancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities? 

I know that leadership, focal points, and all the other specific roles to promote disability are great, but disability inclusion can't be achieved by individuals. It's a collective effort with all of us making sure that our actions and work are inclusive of persons with disabilities. In addition to RCs leading and championing the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors, agency heads should also promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities publicly and within their various agencies. All senior managers should champion the inclusion of persons with disabilities, in line with indicator 1 of the UN country team Disability Scorecard. 

"Given that negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities are still widespread, all HR colleagues should complete a course on disability inclusion to acquire a minimum understanding of disability and how to support staff and candidates, and advance disability inclusion. Additionally, I would like to see disability inclusion as a Key Performance Indicator for all colleagues."

People's experiences and cultural backgrounds tend to influence perceptions and views on issues, which can more often than not lead to unconscious prejudice. It would be helpful if all RCS staff, whether their work directly relates to disability or not, answer questions about disability inclusion in their interviews, and complete the UNDIS course (United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy: Putting Words into Action ). 

It would also be helpful if there was a requirement for all HQ and HR colleagues, particularly those on interview panels, to complete a specific course on disability inclusion. 
 

Click here to learn more about how UN teams around the world are supporting persons with disabilities.