Disability inclusion and participation in Mount Frere, Eastern Cape: Barriers and facilitators

Background: Rural settings may present particular challenges to the inclusion and participation of people with physical disabilities (PWPD). These relate to the physical environment, infrastructure and service delivery issues, socioeconomic constraints and specific traditional and cultural beliefs surrounding disability. Targeted interventions require an understanding of these contextual specifics. Objectives: This study investigated the lived experiences of people with disabilities in relation to social inclusion and participation in Mount Frere, a rural town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Method: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the barriers, facilitators and underlying cultural perceptions that shape the inclusion and participation experiences of PWPD in this community. Five participants with paraplegia were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis was employed. Results: The findings reveal significant challenges, including societal stigma rooted in traditional beliefs, infrastructural inaccessibility and economic constraints, which collectively hinder social inclusion and participation. Despite these barriers, the participants' resilience, adaptability and agency were evident. The results illustrate the importance of a biopsychosocial approach to understanding the barriers and facilitators to inclusion and participation for PWPD in rural settings. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for a holistic approach to disability interventions, emphasising development, community education to combat stigma and the promotion of economic empowerment for PWPD. Contribution: These findings contribute to the broader discourse on disability rights in rural South African contexts and call for targeted, context-specific policies to enhance inclusion and participation.