Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Inclusion International - ILSMH

Chile

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Sociedad pro Ayuda del Nino Lisiado, Chile
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Chilean Government, DPI

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, and in guidelines adopted by a national disability council. The emphasis in this policy is on rehabilitation. According to the Government, there is no officially recognized disability policy.

Since the adoption of the Rules, by means of various methods, the government has conveyed the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. According to the Government, the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special and general legislation.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court of law, the right to privacy and to property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government the benefit of financial security is not guaranteed by law.

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. According to the Government, there are laws and regulations ensuring the accessibility of the built environment requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of public transportation and housing are made accessible. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring accessibility in public places, improving accessibility in housing, providing financial incentives/support for accessibility measures in housing, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. According to the Government, special transport systems for persons with disabilities include reduced prices in public transport and are offered for whatever purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors 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, is not used as the first language in education of deaf people and is not recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. According to the Government, there are measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible. No services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others. According to the Government, the following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape and sign language interpretation being available for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. Organizations of persons with disabilities are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. According to the Government, organizations are always consulted. Consultations occur at the national level. The government gives organizational/logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. According to the Government, no support is given to organizations of disabled persons. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties but to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, participate in planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with disabilities, contribute to public awareness, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Planning. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries, from organizations of persons with disabilities, from other NGOs and from the private sector. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development.

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Contents of the ILSMH Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Chilean Government, DPI