An Analysis of the Intentions of a Chilean Disability Policy Through the Lens of the Capability Approach

Abstract

This article sheds light on the public policy situation for persons with severe disabilities in Chile by analyzing the Ministry of Health Home-Based Care Program for Persons with Severe Disabilities. The article further advocates for the relevance of the Capability Approach (CA) in the assessment of public policy for persons with disabilities and intends to illustrate a link between a real policy and basic concepts of the CA providing a model of content analysis for public policy through the lens of the CA. We present a content analysis, focused on underlying intentions of agency, freedom, wellbeing, and achievement based in the official text of the Chilean program. Then we examine this content under original categories and matrices based on the work of Sen, to ultimately reveal how a current Chilean policy falls short of fully addressing the diagnosed situation of its target population and highlights areas for improvement. Not only does the program lack coherence and compliance with Chilean laws and international standards, but it also lacks connections with important concepts for persons in situations of dependency such as agency and freedom.