Student addresses economic inclusion of refugees with disabilities in The Lancet

Mustafa Rfat, a PhD candidate in social work at the Brown School, has co-authored a correspondence published in The Lancet calling on greater economic integration of refugees and asylees with disabilities. 

“The financial rights of refugees and asylees with disabilities need to be protected; this should include using disability rights and ensuring equitable access to employment programs, educational opportunities, workplace accommodations, and vocational rehabilitation, which are essential for long-term economic integration,” he wrote.

In 2023, over 20 million people were newly displaced, with more than 6 million designated as refugees and asylum seekers, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The United States remains a primary destination for many of these individuals.

However, inconsistent data collection on disabilities within refugee populations complicates efforts to accurately assess the scope of the issue. Currently, there is no standardized process in the U.S. to identify refugees and asylees with disabilities upon arrival.

The correspondence emphasizes that researchers are key to addressing these gaps and developing evidence-based programs and policies.

“Gathering data on the number of refugees and asylees with disabilities and their demographic characteristics is a necessary foundation for this work,” he wrote. “Creating a systematic process and grounding it in the Americans With Disabilities Act definition of disability is essential for resource planning and allocation.”

The correspondence also includes contributions from Josephine Nabayinda, a postdoctoral research associate at the Brown School’s International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD), and Samuel Kizito, MD, a research assistant professor.