Disability is often perceived negatively perhaps due to ignorance and some prevailing socio-cultural beliefs as well as economic factors. The challenges facing persons with physical disabilities (PWPDs), therefore, are varied and could be in the form of violation of human rights, poverty, stigma, discrimination and exclusion. Disability is closely associated with poverty and is also a barrier to education, employment, access to public services and social protection. In most cases, disability has been addressed through charitable approaches without the recognition of the rights and participation of persons with disabilities, like other citizens.
To reduce stigmatization and discrimination against persons with physical disabilities (PWPDs), as a signatory to several regional and international Human Rights Instruments, the government of Tanzania has gone some way in its Constitution and other domestic laws to protect and promote the right to work for every person including persons with physical disabilities. This dissertation reveals, however, that the government has largely failed to translate this de jure (formal or legal equality) into a de facto (actual equality) to the discriminated ones.
