Situating the Disabled Person in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This chapter explores the context of Burkina Faso in relation to disabled people’s lived experiences. It starts by giving an overview of the country’s geographical, ethnic, religious, governmental, economic and historical aspects. The chapter then focuses on specific issues germane to the lived experiences of disabled people in Burkina Faso, laying the groundwork for the coming chapters. The overall situation of disabled people is discussed with regard to perceptions of disability and the challenges disabled people encounter in their everyday lives. These aspects are explored further within urban and rural contexts, focusing particularly on begging in relation to disability. The subsequent section examines disabling illnesses and the use of traditional and modern medicine, followed by a discussion of three elemental aspects of disabled people’s lives: families and marriages, education and employment.