Some people with disabilities cannot function without support. This support would need to be provided by adults. It is estimated that 500 thousand adults serve as helpers. Assuming that all of the adults would otherwise be working, about 126 million days of work are lost. At an average daily wage rate of 1.86 US dollars per person, as of 2006, about $234 million U.S. is lost in total each year.

Adult Helpers in Bangladesh

Some people with disabilities cannot function without support. While this support is also provided by adults, some children are forced to drop out of school to assist disabled family members. It is estimated that 500 thousand children serve as helpers. If each child went to school for about 6.37 years, the average number of years of schooling as of 2005, this would mean about 3.2 million years of schooling are lost. It is estimated that the income lost due to lack of attendance is about 11 U.S. cents per person per day, or about $28.2 million U.S. in total each year. 

Child Helpers in Bangladesh

It is estimated that 1.9 million people who would have been employed are not employed due to their disability, accounting for 751 million days of work. It is assumed that each hour of work would earn the average wage rate of 1.86 US dollars per person, as of 2006. This would mean that about $891 million U.S. is lost in total each year.

Unemployment Rate of Disabled Individuals in Bangladesh

Due to disabilities, it is estimated that 463 thousand people between 6 and 15 years old are not in school. If each child went to school for about 6.37 years, the average number of years of schooling as of 2005, this would mean 3 million years of schooling are lost in total. It is estimated that the income lost due to lack of attendance is about 11 U.S. cents per person per day, or about $26.2 million U.S. in total each year.

Truancy Among Disabled Children in Bangladesh

- Costs due to lack of access to unemployment.
- Costs due to children with disabilities not attending school
- Costs due to adults helping people with disabilities, forgoing work
- Costs due to children helping family member with disability, forgoing school

Grinnell College

Pepperdine University

Cost of Disability by Country

Ali, Z., & Zulfiqar, A. (2014). Economics of Disability in Bangladesh. The National Archives: Richmond, UK.

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