Disability and social protection in Latin American countries

Abstract

This article aims to compare and analyse the different models used to define and understand disability in the legislation on disability and social protection in five Latin American countries. Five countries with different structure and historical development of social protection systems were selected (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico) and a thematic analysis of 75 legal documents was conducted. The results demonstrate a contradiction between definitions and perspectives used to understand and establish strategies to include disabled people. Indeed, the five countries have used an International Classification of Functionings, Health and Disability perspective in their legislation on disability, but an individual perspective for the social protection legislation. The article offers insight into the inherent tensions presented in such models given the legislative and policy framework around them and reflects on the impact this has for implementation.

Keywords:

• social protection
• Latin America
• policy analysis

Notes

1. The ICF uses the term ‘biopsychosocial model’. However, to avoid confusion with the biopsychosocial model used in relation to social security in the United Kingdom, in this article the model introduced by the WHO is labelled the ICF model.

2. Import Substitution Industrialization was a strategy to protect national economies, to develop infrastructure and to incentivize domestic manufacturing by replacing the imports of some products with domestic production (Bruton 1989).

3. The final number of documents from Mexico was lower than for other countries because general laws on social security and disability cover the main aspects analysed in this study.