Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Federation of the Deaf - WFD

Macau

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997 Macau Deaf Association, Macau
No reply was received from the Government of Macau.

General policy

There is no officially recognized disability policy. Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has not done anything to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, political rights and the right to privacy. No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the outdoor environment. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by the organizers/providers of services. The following measures have been promoted by the government to ensure accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing lifts and accessible toilets and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations, lack of planning and design capacity, lack of knowledge, research and information, lack of co-operation from other organizations/institutions and lack of enforcement mechanism. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status. There are government measures to encourage media to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities, but no measures to encourage other forms of public information to make their services accessible. The only service provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others is sign language interpretation for major events.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. Disability organizations are never consulted when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. The government gives financial support to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties and NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to identify needs and priorities, contribute to public awareness and provide services.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee.

The adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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Contents of the WFD Report