Section 1 Engaging DPOs is an essential first step for inclusive programming. They bring the experience of disability to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of inclusive programs and can leverage the participation of persons with disabilities through their networks. There are national-level disability-specific DPOs and umbrella groups that include members from across the country with all types of disabilities. There are also several regional and international groupings such as the African Youth with Disabilities Network,14 European Disability Forum15 and International Disability Alliance.16 Organizations that work for persons with disabilities, but do not necessarily include them at all levels of membership, can be useful civil society partners as well. However, it is preferable to work with Women take Braille notes during a civic and electoral rights training in Burma. DPOs to ensure the perspectives of persons with disabilities are included in the design and implementation of programming. Mapping the DPO Community Before engaging with any local partner, it is always helpful to meet with a range of groups. This includes organizations that represent certain types of disabilities, as well as cross-disability organizations that represent people with all types of disabilities. Groups based in rural areas often have different priorities and concerns, so they should be involved in programming along with groups located in urban centers. If partnering with a DPO, there are several factors that require additional consideration and might lead to the need to allocate additional time for mapping the DPO community. There might be divisions within the disability community based on where groups stand on issues and their interest in political activism. The landscape of DPOs is often difficult to maneuver. Certain groups may feel an incentive to avoid overt political action, as they rely on government resources to carry out their primary service delivery function. Some DPOs might have favored status resulting from ties to a particular political party or their history as the primary recipient of government resources. There also may be resentment among various groups that compete for a limited pool of resources. Some DPOs are reliant on funding from donors or assistance providers whose staff may exert considerable influence over the actions and partnerships of the DPO. 14  African Youth with Disabilities Network. <http://aywdn.wordpress.com/>. 15  European Disability Forum. <http://www.edf-feph.org/>. 16  International Disability Alliance. <http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/en>. Equal Access: How to Include Persons with Disabilities in Elections and Political Processes 29