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

Nicaragua

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997 Asociacion de Padres de Familia con Hijos Discapacitados, Nicaragua
No reply was received from the Government of Nicaragua.

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on rehabilitation and individual support.

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 special legislation. There are no judicial mechanisms to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. administrative and other non-judicial bodies include an Ombudsman and a governmental body (administrative).

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education and employment. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling.

Legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of public transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority, by local governments, and by the organizers/providers of the services. The only measure promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment is the ensuring of access to public places. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities available for whatever purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors and lack of enforcement mechanism. There is a 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.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy making and to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local level. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties and to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to contribute to public awareness, to provide services and to promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Education. The committee includes representatives of the Ministries of Employment, Transport, Education and from organizations of persons with disabilities. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. The establishment of the committee has had the following effects: improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field. Its establishment has not led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources nor to improved promotion of public awareness.

To a certain extent the adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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