A three-day capacity-building workshop on disability inclusion was successfully conducted from 24–26 February 2026 in Mogadishu, Somalia. The training focused on strengthening Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and reviewing the Disability Inclusion Language Guide for health services in both public and private sectors.
The workshop was organized by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and brought together 20 participants with disabilities representing OPDs from Puntland, South West State, Galmudug, and Banadir Region. The primary objective was to enhance meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in health systems and ensure that disability inclusion is mainstreamed across medical institutions and services.
During the workshop, participants discussed the requirements for disability-inclusive health service institutions and emphasized the importance of the twin-track approach. This approach promotes both mainstreaming disability inclusion across all health services and implementing targeted interventions that address specific disability-related needs.
Participants examined the challenges affecting PWDs in accessing healthcare services in Somalia and identified institutional, informational, and attitudinal barriers within both private and public health sectors. The discussions highlighted the need for inclusive policies, accessible infrastructure, improved coordination between health institutions and OPDs, and stronger enforcement of disability-related regulations.
The workshop also explored the major barriers preventing PWDs from accessing healthcare services. These include attitudinal barriers such as stigma and discrimination; physical barriers like inaccessible buildings, lack of ramps, and adapted facilities; communication barriers including absence of sign language interpreters and limited accessible information; and financial barriers such as high medical costs and transportation challenges.
Participants emphasized four key “must-do” actions to ensure meaningful disability inclusion: ensuring active participation of PWDs in decision-making processes, identifying and removing barriers in health facilities, strengthening empowerment and capacity development of OPDs, and collecting disability-disaggregated data to support evidence-based planning and service delivery.
Participants actively contributed to improving the Disability Inclusion Language Handbook by providing practical, rights-based language recommendations aligned with Somali culture, policies, regulations, and the lived experiences of PWDs. Their inputs ensured that the guide reflects respectful terminology and promotes dignity and inclusion in healthcare settings.
Among the participants was Dr. Abdisalam Hassan Ahmed, Medical Doctor and General Practitioner based in Mogadishu, currently serving at Banadir Hospital and Mogadishu Memorial Hospital, and a member of the Somalia Disability Youth Association (SODYA). The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen disability-inclusive health services across Somalia and to continue collaborative advocacy efforts between OPDs and healthcare institutions.
