Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Rehabilitation International - RI

Dominican Republic

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Asociacion Dominicana de Rehabilitation, RI, Dominican Republic
No reply was received from the Government of the Dominican Republic.
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General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in policy, adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on prevention, rehabilitation, accessibility measures 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 a combination of special legislation and general legislation. There is no judicial mechanism to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. However, there is a special body to defend the rights of persons with mental disabilities.

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 and employment.

New 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, and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas and ensuring access to public places. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors and lack of enforcement mechanism. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. There are no government measures to encourage media or other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no 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. Organizations of persons with disabilities are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. 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 mobilize persons with disabilities, provide services and to promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The committee includes representatives of Ministries, of organizations of persons with disabilities and of other NGOs. The co-ordinating committee is expected to participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. It is too early for and assessment about the effects of the co-ordinating committee.

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

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