Disability in Argentina
Disability in Argentina is shaped by a combination of historical perspectives, evolving legal frameworks, ongoing structural challenges, and advocacy efforts aimed at improving inclusion and accessibility. According to the 2010 Argentine census, approximately five million people in Argentina (12.9% of the population) live with some form of disability. Additionally, an estimated 28.7% of households include at least one member with a disability.
History and disability legislation
[edit]Historically, people with disabilities in Argentina were regarded as subjects of charity, reflecting a medical model of disability that emphasized deficiency rather than rights or inclusion.[1] Although the disability rights movement gained momentum during the 1970s, discriminatory language and perspectives remain present in some official policies.[1] For example, a 2025 resolution by the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) used outdated terms such as "idiot" and "mentally deficient", drawing criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.[2]
Argentine legislation related to disability has evolved significantly over time, demonstrating an increased commitment to the rights and welfare of individuals with disabilities. On 16 March 1981, Law 22.431 was enacted in Argentina. This law provides various benefits to people with disabilities, including opportunities for job and professional training, access to loans and subsidies, support in education, and a range of state benefits.[3] Subsequently, in 1997, Law 24.901 was passed and enacted, which laid the groundwork for a comprehensive system of welfare and care for individuals with disabilities. In 2001, Law 25.504 was passed and enacted. This legislation permits the Ministry of Health to issue certificates of disability.[3]
Argentina ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008, granting it constitutional status.[4] The country established the National Disability Observatory in 2011 to oversee implementation of the convention. However, the CRPD Committee has criticized the observatory for lacking independence.[5] Legislation such as Law 26.653 (2010) mandates web accessibility for public sector websites, requiring compliance with WCAG 2.0 (levels A and AA).[4] Nonetheless, effective implementation remains limited, with continuing barriers in education, health, justice, and digital access.[6]
Demographics
[edit]According to the 2010 Argentine census, around five million individuals, representing 12.9% of the national population, were identified as having some form of disability.[6] In addition, approximately 28.7% of households reported having at least one member with a disability.[3] Disability prevalence is higher among women (56%) than men (44%),[6] and rates are notably elevated in the Patagonia region.[6][7] While the overall prevalence does not vary significantly between those under and over 64 years of age, the number of people with disabilities is increasing due to population aging and rising chronic health conditions.[6]
Disparities
[edit]A 1981 law mandates a 4% employment quota for people with disabilities in public sector jobs, though enforcement is weak.[8] In 2004, the unemployment rate for this population reached 91%.[9] Programs to support employment inclusion exist but often lack mechanisms for reasonable accommodation and workplace adaptation.[6] Initiatives such as the Alamesa restaurant in Buenos Aires, which employs neurodivergent individuals, have sought to redefine inclusive employment models.[10] Access to public transportation remains a significant barrier. Improvements include manual and automatic ramps on buses and metro systems in Buenos Aires, but many services remain inaccessible.[6]
People with disabilities in Argentina can also face educational disparities. Data indicate a 19% gap in school attendance between individuals with disabilities and the general population. Approximately one in three people with disabilities has not completed primary education, and only 17.8% complete secondary school.[1] Barriers to education include inaccessible physical infrastructure, limited teacher training in inclusive education, and low institutional expectations, all of which contribute to reduced academic achievement and limited preparation for active participation in society.[1][6]
Access to healthcare and support services remains uneven. The Single Disability Certificate (CUD), necessary to access many services, is difficult to obtain for certain groups such as migrants, refugees, and Indigenous people. There is a lack of uniform evaluation criteria and limited public awareness of the certificate's benefits.[6] The national Support Service for Independent Living is not fully operational, and home care services are insufficiently regulated.[6] Medical professionals often lack training in intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, leading to misdiagnoses and over-reliance on psychiatric medications. In large institutions such as La Colonia, high rates of overmedication are reported, often used for control rather than treatment, and a significant number of residents are institutionalized due to the absence of community-based alternatives.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Joly, Eduardo Daniel; Venturiello, María Pía (May 2013). "Persons with Disabilities: Entitled to Beg, not to Work. The Argentine Case". Critical Sociology. 39 (3): 325–347. doi:10.1177/0896920512446758. ISSN 0896-9205.
- ^ "'Idiot, imbecile or mentally deficient'? Milei government's take on disabled". Buenos Aires Times. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Minorities and indigenous peoples with disabilities". Minority Rights. December 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ a b Harari, Ivana; Luján-Mora, Sergio; Díaz, Javier (19 May 2025). "Web accessibility evaluation from the perception of people with disabilities: case of Argentina". Universal Access in the Information Society. doi:10.1007/s10209-025-01226-2. ISSN 1615-5289.
- ^ Waddington, Lisa; Lawson, Anna, eds. (31 May 2018). The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Practice: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Courts (1 ed.). Oxford University PressOxford. p. 16. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198786627.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-878662-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Situational analysis of the rights of persons with disabilities: Argentina" (PDF). Global Disability Fund. November 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ Melcon, Mo; Gold, L; Carrá, A; Cáceres, F; Correale, J; Cristiano, E; Fernández Liguori, N; Garcea, O; Luetic, G; Kremenchutzky, M (June 2008). "Argentine Patagonia: prevalence and clinical features of multiple sclerosis". Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 14 (5): 656–662. doi:10.1177/1352458507085801. ISSN 1352-4585.
- ^ "Disability and Employment in Argentina: The Right to Be Exploited?". NACLA. Archived from the original on 27 February 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Disability and Employment: Fact Sheet 1". United Nations Enable. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ Politi, Daniel; Serra, Anita Pouchard (21 December 2024). "A Restaurant Is More Than a Workplace for People Often Shunned by Employers". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ de Menil, Victoria; Cohen, Alex (December 2009). "Rational Use and Rationale for Use: Psychiatric Medication at an Argentine Institution for Intellectual Disability". Transcultural Psychiatry. 46 (4): 651–671. doi:10.1177/1363461509351377. ISSN 1363-4615.