A to Z
Guide
for
Inclusion
Equal Opportunities
(Persons with Disability) Act Chapter 413
Employment
The meaning of disability
Discrimination should not take place throughout employment. An employer should not discriminate a qualified person with a disability. This should not happen in any stage of applications, hiring, compensation, job training or job privileges.
Education
Education should be accessible to all. No student or family member should be discriminated when applying for schools. People with disability along with family members have the same rights as every other student in a school. It is not permitted to refuse a person with disability in a school or any other educational facility.
As stated in the document, "disability means a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder one’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”
Disability Discrimination
This document gives detailed description of disability discrimination. Discrimination happens when a person with disability is treated differently than another person who does not have such disability. However in cases such as accommodation or services, it must sometimes be provided differently.
Employment
Provision of Goods, Facilities or Services
Access
People with disability and their family members have the right to enter any premises or building that every other person enters. The owner of the premises shall not refuse any person with disability or family members to become a member of such facility. If needed, alterations to the premises must be needed to make it accessible to all.
No person with disability should be excluded from participations or benefits of a programme. Several goods, facilities and services may include, accessibility to any place, accommodation in a hotel, education facilities, entertainment and sports, transport and membership of associations.
People with disability and family members have the right to have a place to stay. People who rent or sell houses cannot discriminate any person with disability by not allowing them to stay there.
Accommodation
People with disability may have equal opportunities when granting different services, goods or facilities to meet their special needs. This allows people with disability to have the same rights at school, in education, accommodation, services and facilities.
Exemptions
Test of reasonableness
Before modifications are made, one should determine if actions are justifiable or not. The nature and cost, availability or grants from public funds, financial resources should all be taken into consideration before decisions are taken.
The National Commission Persons with Disability is made of up not less than fourteen members. Seven of which represent the Ministries for Social Policy, Labour, Health, Education, Housing and Economic Planning. The other seven represent the voluntary organizations.
The National Commission Persons with Disability
The Commission may start investigations when an act is seen as discriminating. The commission may also help any person who needs help when formulating a complaint.
Complaints, investigations and enforcement
The minister along with the consultation with the Commission shall allow exemptions only for a specified period of time.
Miscellaneous
Information taken from the following document, click
on the PDF image to view the document.
