The Stark Reality Bridging the Financial Inclusion Gap for Persons with Disabilities
The financial exclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a pressing issue, exacerbating poverty and hindering economic growth in East Africa. According to World Bank (2019). "Disability Inclusion Overview" global discourse often highlighting the importance of financial inclusion, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. PWDs in the global south face numerous barriers, including inaccessible banking services, lack of assistive technologies, and pervasive societal stigma . In many countries, banking infrastructures are often not designed to accommodate individuals with physical disabilities. Financial institutions seldom invest in technologies that would make banking more accessible, such as ATMs with audio instructions for the visually impaired. Consequently, many PWDs are left without basic financial services, trapped in a cycle of poverty and exclusion. A Specialist’s Perspective As a disability inclusion specialist from Uganda, I have witnessed