 |
Regional Workshop on Monitoring the Implementation of the
Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free
and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the
Pacific (BMF) |
|
Materials : Country/Review PaperCOUNTRY PAPER : SRI LANKARegional Workshop Prepared by General Overview of disability – specific legislation
Current level of Implementation of BMF1. Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities
The disabled have turned out to be strong to raise their collective voice for their rights. As a result, formation of self-help organizations representing the disability groups are a very encouraging phenomenon.
2. Women with DisabilitiesThe Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare specially is concern with the situation of women in general and handicapped or disabled women who invariably are categorized as poor. Several programs had been conducted for the self-employment training and leadership training needed for grown up disabled females. Women's Development Center, a voluntary organization in the Central Province plays a role of coordinator of the CBR network in South East Asia. Disabled women s representative is included is the National Council for the disabled. 3. Early intervention and EducationMinistry of Education conducts special education classes to admit the disabled children and train them to be absorbed into formal education stream. Special Education Committee comprising relevant line Ministries, Departments, NGOO ensure that children will be able to complete a full course of primary education. The Children's Secretariat established under the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare is working towards community based early intervention services for all infants and young children (0-5 years). Health Ministry has commenced a Programme to train audiologists, to be appointed to the government hospital. First batch of 12 audiologists have completed their 6 months training Course in the last month. There are 16 special schools and 150 special schools for hearing impaired children through out the country. The Ministry of Social Welfare has taken action to implement publicity and awareness about the sign language and the Department has taken action to develop sign language through a team of experts to teach sign language. However one shortcoming is that so far the Government and the NGOs could not get together and prepare a document or directory on sign language. Disability Studies Unit has been established at the University of Kelaniya, number of years back, but so far no considerable expansion of those educational research programmes has taken place. Medical Faculty of the Colombo Campus has shown an increasing interest on the Community Based Rehabilitation activities and annually that University is organizing a programme for the final year medical students with the help of the Ministries of social Welfare, Health and Non governmental Organizations in this field. In addition, curriculum has been developed for such students on community medicine. However these activities need further improvement. An advanced education at the University level is necessary for the hearing impaired students in Sri Lanka. SO far none of the Universities has focused attention on that subject. 4. Training and employment, including self-employmentVocational training is being provided to the disabled both by the government and NGOO. Department of Social Services conducts and manages vocational training in 26 trades at five centers, while the Ministry of Health is handling the training center with medical facilities at the Agama Rehabilitation Hospital, which are most probably helpful to start gainful employment. The Government policy is to allocate at least 3% of the job opportunities in the public sector for persons with disabilities. For instance the Ministry of Public Administration has already allocated 3% of the clerical jobs in the government clerical service for the disabled people. Since majority of the disabled children in this country don't reach higher education levels, it is necessary to promote their vocational skills. Generally these training courses vary from 3 months to two years and, since these training courses are far behind the changing labor market, the Ministry has taken action to turn towards developing the training programmes to suit the individual needs and disabilities which takes into the account the nature of the disability as well as the availability of raw materials and facilities in their own community. Accordingly FAO has agreed to come forward and introduce an agricultural vocational training programmed for the disabled. It is scheduled to start the project on pilot basis by the end of this year. The location has been identified and the preliminary arrangements are in process. Department of Social Services together with the NGOO like Employers Federation and Motivation has initiated a job placement service in the year 2003, in collaboration with the private sector entrepreneurs. Usually vocational training provided by the NGOO is conducted in small scale. Only a few organizations like Islamic Center for the Disabled, Mahayana etc. have the resources for large-scale vocational training activities. 5. Access to built- environment and public transportParliament of Sri Lanka passed the amended legislation on plans and guidelines on accessibility to built environment in the year 2003. Steps have been taken to initiate the accessible facilities in the public places like Divisional Secretariats and District Secretariats where the disabled people mostly go for their requirements. The National Secretariat has provided the funding for Persons with Disabilities. Further it has been planned to construct accessibility facilities at the newly planned coordinating and resource finding centers established at the Divisional Secretariats. First one of these kinds was constructed at the District Secretariat at Kalahari in 2003. The accessibility to public places, buildings, roads, transport system and communication facilities are need to be planned and initiated under a long-term development programmed for the whole country. Codes and guidelines on wheel chairs has been prepared by a Committee consisting Sri Lanka Standards Bureau, National Engineering and Research Institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology which tests the productions against the approved standards. 6. Access to information and communication including ICTAccess to the information and communication is basic human right. Sri Lanka has taken action to introduce sign language, Braille, finger Braille etc. For the benefit of the disabled population. However, due to the lack of human resources and capital a well-planned information system is not available for the majority of the disabled people. Access of the visual and hearing-impaired persons into the information like Internet and e-mail is also very limited. Sri Lankan Government has to pay more attention to this subject as early as possible. 7. Poverty alleviation through capacity building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmesThe disabled people are doubly handicapped due to their poverty. They need protection, employment, shelter, medicine and nutrition etc. Sri Lanka is a welfare state and grant public assistance, Samurdhi grants and other charities for the poor. Usually the poor disabled persons could apply for these grants. However, such grants are barely sufficient for their maintenance. The National Secretariat for Person with Disabilities initiated following special assistance programmes for them, which are with an increasing demand.
National plan of Action on DisabilityNational plan of action has been prepared on the guidelines of BMF and the draft is now under consideration. |
