This report found that many people with disabilities enter institutions as children and remain there for their entire lives. Most of these institutions visited by Human Rights Watch researchers did not provide for more than people’s basic needs, such as food and hygiene, with scarce contact with t ... he community and little opportunity for personal development. Some residents are tied to their beds and given sedatives to control them. more

Epilepsy is one of the world’s most common chronic neurological disorders. Roughly 50 million people suffer from it, 5 million of them in the Region of the Americas . Nevertheless, it is estimated that over 50% of these people in Latin America and the Caribbean have no access to services. Furthe ... rmore, the stigma attached to people with epilepsy is a barrier to the exercise of their human rights and social integration. more

salud pública de méxico / vol. 50, suplemento 2 de 2008, pp.167-177. In response to the emerging global concern regarding health and people with intellectual disabilities (ID), several developed countries have established national initiatives to address the unique health needs of this population ... segment. However, most people with ID reside in countries with developing economies, such as many Latin American countries, yet there is virtually no information on the health of people with ID in these regions. Countries with developing economies face distinct challenges in promoting health among this population segment that may preclude adoption or adaptation of policies and practices developed in regions with established economies. This paper will address the issue of health promotion among people with ID in Latin America, an area that is undergoing significant reforms in both health care and disability rights more