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

Brazil

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

National Federation of the Deaf, Brazil
No reply was received from the Government of Brazil.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in guidelines adopted by the national disability council and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on rehabilitation, prevention, accessibility measures, anti-discrimination law, and individual support. Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has not taken any action in order to convey the message of full participation.

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 property rights. No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility in the built environment. The only measure which has been promoted by the government in order to ensure accessibility in the built environment is marking parking areas. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations and lack of enforcing mechanism. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people has no officially recognized status. It is not used as the first language in education nor as the main means of communication. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. Literature in Braille is the only service provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organizations. 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 sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. The government gives support for projects to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judiciary, political parties and 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 the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with disabilities, contribute to public awareness and promote income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Justice. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries. The government expects the committee to perform other tasks. The effect of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee is improved promotion of public awareness.

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