Stigma analysis

• Evaluations, learning and research conducted from previous projects
• Other research, consultations, reports (available locally or nationally) on stigma and discriminatory practices that are relevant to your intended project

• How does social stigma manifest in your setting?
• Are there examples of internalised stigma?
• Is there evidence of stigma by association?
• Are there particular policies reinforcing stigma and discrimination?
• Are there particular organisational practices that are reinforcing stigma?

These questions consider who experiences stigma and what combination of attributes (‘intersectionality’) interact and affect the stigma experience.

• Are there people with certain types of disability who are particularly affected by stigma?
• Do men and women experience stigma differently? In what way? Would they need a different approach?
• Does poverty play a role? How?
• What other characteristics which may be relevant to your context and project, also affect stigma? For example: age, ethnicity, living in a rural/urban setting

• Who and what is driving and reinforcing stigma? In what way?
• What are the key discriminatory behaviours?
• What is the language people use around disability? Is that contributing to stigma? For example, we know in many projects that language used for disability can be very stigmatising. Be aware of this: listen to people with disabilities about what is acceptable to them
• Are there particular social norms and cultural practices that are stigmatising towards people with disabilities? For example, a fairly common practice of hiding children with disabilities due to the perception and belief that a child with disability is a curse/punishment
• Are there particular myths and beliefs that are sources of stigma? For example, that disability can be contagious
• Are there differences in rural and urban contexts?
• Are there differences across communities by tribe or location?

• Who (people and organisations) have power and influence in your community over social norms and changing behaviours?
• Who is likely to be listened to?
• Are there any allies that would be good disability advocates to challenge stigma?

• Consider the four types of stigma and how they may affect your proposed project. In what way?
• Where is stigma and discrimination happening? For example, in the family, community, in school, at service level
• How significant are those four types of stigma as barriers to achieving your project aims?
• Which types of stigma need to be addressed? For example, will ‘internalised stigma’ affect a person with a disability accessing a health service? Is there stigma at the health service level that acts as a barrier in service provision? Are there health policies that are discriminatory and reinforcing the experience of stigma?

Thinking about the different types of stigma identified and the issues identified, consider:

• Who needs to change?
• What needs to change?
• Where does that change need to happen?
• Who and which organisations and structures have power that can contribute to change? For example, traditional leaders in a rural Ghana community hold considerable power and influence, and are respected. They actively participated in the Ghana Participation Programme and contributed in different ways to help reduce stigma: selecting and endorsing local inclusion champions, contributing to disability inclusive language guides, and participating in radio discussions

• What role will OPDs and people with disabilities play? This is likely to become clearer as you also think about approaches to take
• Who (individuals or institutions) have power in your context and can play a key role? And in what way?
• Which partnerships will help you deliver a given approach?
• Are there any identified needs for these partners to enable them to deliver the approach?
• Are there partnerships that can be complementary to your work? For example, a partner that can deliver poverty alleviation work that you have identified as contributing to stigma, yet is beyond the scope of your organisation