The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has a long history of including persons with disabilities within our programs and activities. For more than 20 years, the Agency has fostered a climate of non-discrimination and equal participation of persons with disabilities. Yet, we recognize that to further increase participation of persons with disabilities in our programs, we must remove a range of barriers, such as physical inaccessibility and negative stereotypes, and we must work more closely with persons with disabilities themselves.

This book tells the story of lives empowered through a collection of photographed individuals who have participated in USAID-supported programs over the past 10 years. The story also illustrates the “domino effect” produced when a child is able to access education from a young age, then transition into the workforce and become a productive member of society. As USAID works to end extreme poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential, we recognize that all members of society must be fully engaged, including persons with disabilities.

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