ABSTRACT
This chapter explores disability in Nigeria, the country with the highest number of persons with disabilities in Africa. It begins with a discussion of African understandings of disability and international influences promoting social models of disability, despite the predominance of religious-medical conceptions of disability in Nigeria. Following a brief overview of discourses informing perspectives on disabilities, it continues with an examination of barriers to social inclusion, especially for women with disabilities, before suggesting solutions that might inform a social work response. It suggests a political role for social workers in advocating for social interventions, state services, and strong representation for people with disabilities, while engaging in research and advocacy to demonstrate the benefits of social interventions in disability service provision.
