National Programme of Action for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities

To minimize the number of people that would be exposed to disabilities by controlling causes of disabilities,
To raise the awareness of the community so that becoming cognizant of causes of disabilities, it could launch timely preventive measures.
To minimize resource (man power, material, finance, etc) demanded for rehabilitation (resettlement) of sections of society victimized by disabilities which occurred by failure to take preventive actions promptly.

Disseminate awareness raising education geared towards prevention of disabilities to the ' community using massmedia, schools, health institutions, work places, religious institutions, residential areas, public gathering places, using other similar' occasions
Conduct study and research,
Expand health services
Undertake national immunization (vaccination) campaign,
Inform about traffic regulations and procedures and enforce them,
Improve the living standard of segment of' society who are at low living - levels (bełow poverty line),
Enhance the participation of the community,
Participate persons with disabilities and their associations in prevention activities,
Include a portion about prevention of disabilities in the regular education curriculum at every level.
Abide by working directives and procedures issued as concerning occupational safety and health.

Prepare awareness raising and agitator programs and disseminate educational leaflets which create and develop awareness of the community
Enable professionals pertinent to the field acquire proper skill about prevention of disabilities.
Conduct study and research at various levels to identify causes of disabilities on which prevention measures could be taken and to get information which can indicate better prevention methods capable of revealing causes of disabilities.
Compile and utilize findings of studies and research.
Expand health institutions.
Increase the number of health professionals.
Maintain environmental sanitation with the participation of the community.
Make health institutions to exert due emphasis for prevention of disabilities and run it along with other programs in coordination.
Increase coverage of immunization of mothers and children and over all health services.
Design and implement safety measures in factories and other workplaces which protect workers from accidents.
Produce and deploy trained professionals in the field of occupational safety and health and monitoring.
Take various measures that enable to control hazards which occur, in the house.
To reduce disabilities due to traffic accidents:
- Make traffic laws and regulations to be known and properly complied with,
- Make the roads suitable for vehicles.
- Provide appropriate education and control in order to make the vehicles roadworthy.
Create means to increase the per capital income of the community in order to prevent disabilities created from low living standard.
Make persons with disabilities and their association to be active participants in the purpose of changing the attitude of the community and in other related activities performed to prevent disabilities.
Design and implement a lesson which will be incorporated in the curriculum to give knowledge of disabilities.
Educate and enable the community to actively participate in the course of prevention of disabilities.

Program of Action for Medical Rehabilitation

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Associations of persons with disabilities and Federation of Persons With Disabilities, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, the Regional Administration, Non Governmental Organizations, the Employers' Federation, the Confederation of Labour Unions, Mass Organizations, the National Committee for the Prevention of Harmful Traditional Practices, and others, as may be necessary.

3.2 Medical Rehabilitation

Medical rehabilitation program is a performance referred to a health care which enables a person with disability to have a meaningful life by, self supporting develop psychological and participation capabilities and if need arises apply and replace the disabled part of the body by prosthetic orthotic devices.

This service sector includes general medication; prosthetic and orthopedic appliances physiotherapy, training of specialists and the like.

In our country the size of population estimated to receive health services is 41% and the health service coverage of the rural population is minimal since most of the health institutions are concentrated in big towns. Considering the health institutions exist through out the country there are 87 Hospitals with 11,685 hospital beds, 257 health stations, 2992 clinics and 1108 kebele health posts. When the health service coverage is contrasted with the size of population, 1 Hospital for 658,305 people, 1 Hospital bed for 4900 people, 1 Health station for 222,850 people, and 1 Clink for 27,453 people. With respect to medical personnel and population comparison, according to the information released by the Ministry of Health in 1997, a doctor for 38619 people, a pharmacist for 389090 people, a nurse for 13920 people, a sanitariam for 871733 people, a laboratory technician for 50638 people and a health assistant for 5390 people.

Among the total population, mothers and children account for 60 – 70% and mostly vulnerable to illness and death. Among the live birth babies 105 per 1000 die before birthday of their first year and measles, hoping cough, poliomyelitis, tetanus, diphtheria and tuberculosis, are causes for diseases, disabilities and death for many babies

It is possible to realize from the aforementioned indicative information that the health service coverage is lo w when the health institutions and the number of medical professionals over all the country are compared with the total population. Viewed from the stand point of limited health institutions and relevant available professionals, disabilities which could have been contained by medical treatment before developing in to severity, have exposed many individuals to permanent disability.

Besides, among those which contribute for the aggravation of the problem is the lack of expansion of occupational health services that enable to prevent disabilities from hazards at work places and the inability of those established to operate to the extent of expectation.

Prosthetic, orthopeadic and physiotherapy service could be cited along with medical service.

Prosthesis is an artificial appliance replaced for leg or arm due to various reasons. Similarly, orthopeadic device is an appliance fitted for paralyzed part of the body in convenient manner for mobility. These are artificial arm and leg, corset, brace, crutch, wheelchair, white cane, hearing device, orthopeadic shoe, and other similar aids.

On the other side, physiotherapy is a scientific medical method which encompasses therapy of heat, cold, radiation, water, sound, physical exercise and massage by medical equipment which are product of technology. Indeed, it is a treatment method that enables to cure the patient in collaboration with other medical professionals, to speed up remedying period and to halt the disease from becoming worse when various illness or accident cause complications on the body.

In these medical fields currently there are only 26 orthopaedic technicians and. 80 physiotherapists in the whole country. This reveals that there is acute shortage of trained professional in the sector in contrast to the number of needy for the service.

If persons with disabilities get appropriate prosthesis and orthopaedic appliances as per type of their disability, it could enable them to actively participate in socio-economic' activities by developing their potentials and involving in all spheres. However in this respect, when the, service rendered is compared with the size of the needy, it is quite minimal. Thus, considering benefit of this service to persons with disabilities into account significant emphasis Should be placed to balance the required trained manpower in the sector with the service demanded.

To contain the impairment on persons with disability from developing to severe stage.
To enable persons with disabilities participate in every activities of the community by developing their capacity and ability.

Strengthen and expand medical rehabilitation services.
Establish strong referral system
Provide medical institutions with adequate 'skilled professionals in the field.
Incorporate medical rehabilitation education unit in medical training institutions.
Raise awareness in field of medical rehabilitation.
Expand occupational health services.
Expand prosthetic, orthopeadic and physiotherapy services along with health service deliveries.
Expand medical services for persons with mental disabilities.
Strengthen traditional health service methods.
Make premises of medical service institutions accessible to persons with disabilities:

Strengthen the existing health institutions by encorporating vaгious medical fields and establish new ones as may be necessary.
Arrange the referral system which is done from one medical institution to another at each level in a coordinated manner.
Train and deploy various adequate professionals in medical rehabilitation and indeed, train those who are on duty as the need arises.
Design and incorporate courses concerning medical rehabilitation in the curriculum of medicine.
Launch information and education programs geared towards sensitization regarding medical rehabilitation.
Strengthen and expand physiotherapy and prosthetic orthopeadic services rendering institutions. ,
Make medical training intuitions to incorporate occupational health education in. their curriculum and deliver it.
Facilitate duty free importation of production equipments of prostates and orthosis, raw materials, mobility Aids, and equipments of physiotherapy services.
Strengthen and expand medical service delivery institutions for mental health.
Provide training to upgrade the know how of traditional masseurs and traditional healers in the field.
Design and construct medical institution buildings and roads with in the premises suitable for the mobility of persons with disabilities.

Programme of Action for Educational Rehabilitation

Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs-Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Associations of persons with Disabilities and their Federation, Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, Federal Revenues Board, Regional States, Non-governmental Organizations-and others as deemed necessary.;

3.3 Educational Rehabilitation

Educational rehabilitation is to enable persons with disabilities to become self reliant Using the knowledge they acquire by creating as equal opportunities as any other citizen in regular and non-regular educational programs. In this respect in the new Educational and Training Policy of the Country this statement is mentioned in its "detail objective " to make possible for persons with disabilities and those with extra ordinary talent meaning those who require special educational approach to learn in accordance with their ability and needs.

In addition to this, regarding special education service, "designing special education programs at different levels for persons with disabilities and those with special talent" is indicated in the policy.

In the country the visual impaired are served in 4 special boarding schools, one special day school, 23 special classes. Deaf and speech impaired are learning in 3 special boarding schools, 5 special day schools, and 31 special classes. Mentally retarded are served in 2 special day schools and 29 special classes.

Considering the educational participation of persons with disabilities in 1999 academic year, the information available from the Ministry of Education disclosed that the number of persons with disabilities who attended special education was 3727.

From this figure, 870 males and 618 females, totally 1488 were blinds; 940 males and 735 females totally 1675 were deafs and special impaired, 272 males and 209 females totally 481 were mentally retarded, 88 males and 55 females totally 143 were with other types of disabilities. Along with this 187 males and 113 females totally 300 teachers are engaged in special education service.

Special education service is undergoing in most part of' the country in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Eventhough there is no reliable information that enables to figure out the number of school aged population with disabilities, it is not difficult to estimate that the size of persons with disabilities who could not get educational opportunities is enormous when compared with the total number of persons with disabilities. Among the principal problems that are stated for this are:

Limited number of special education service rendering institutions and teachers.
Scarcity of special education teaching aid materials
Lack of complete sign language which could serve nationally.
Low -participation of persons with disabilities in regular educational program due to distance and inaccessibility of setting of educational institutions.
Low level of awareness of the community ; to send , children with disabilities to school.
Lack of clear and uniform implementation directive regarding special education. etc

Therefore, it is essential that concerned bodies should exert proper effort to enable persons with disabilities to become full participants in the educational sector as any citizen by providing appropriate teaching aids as per their type of disabilities, strengthening special education service with better organization and making educational institutions easily accessible.

Programme Objective

To enable persons with disabilities to have equal participation in educational sector in accordance with their type of disability.
To enable persons with disabilities to be -citizens acquainted with knowledge and full personality.
To equip persons with disabilities with skills which help them be self supportive and enhance their participation in the community.
To raise educational participation of women with disabilities.

Increase coverage of special education service.
Assist educational participation of persons with disabilities with provision of special education teaching aids.
Aquaint teachers, principals and other relevant educational professionals with basic knowledge about disability and special education
Increase the number and professional capability of special education teachers.
Provide all the necessary support for persons with disabilities to enable them pursue their education properly.
Involve associations of persons with disabilities and their families in designing and implementation of education:
Facilitate school premises to be accessible for mobility and over all involvement of persons with disabilities:
Raise participation of children with disabilities in pre-school programs.
Integrate persons with disabilities to attend regular educational programs with able bodied fellows.
Establish coordination of work among different bodies who render special education service.
Involve non-governmental organizations and the community at large in provision of special education service.
Raise awareness of the community to enhance the educational participation of persons with disabilities in general and women with disabilities in particular.

Activity

Strengthen and expand special education service rendering institutions throughout the country specially in rural areas.
Adequately supply special education aid instruments such as Braille, as late and styles, abacus; Tape recorder, hearing aid, interpreter service etc.
Facilitate necessary conditions for duty free importation of special education aid instruments from abroad .
Incorporate in the curriculum of teacher training institutions about disabilities and special education to acquaint the trainees with the subject.
Train and place special education teachers and other professionals ill various fields as deemed necessary locally and abroad. And conduct continuous on the job training.
Provide various incentives which support persons with severe disabilities and who are unable to attend school due to lack of economic capacity so that they actively pursue their education.
Enhance contribution of parents and associations of persons-with disabilities that help to increase educational participation of persons with disabilities.
Make premises of educational institutions buildings and roads with in their compound and other service rendering centers, accessible to persons with disabilities.
Organize pre-schools premises accessible to in a condition that they can accept children with disabilities and formulate regulations and directives which enhance this task
Facilitate conducive situations for schools to admit and teach persons with disabilities as any other student in the regular educational programs.
Establish the necessary system which enables parties who are engaged in catering special education services and support them to perform coordinated activities.
Encourage and support the community to have its own contribution in the expansion of special education service.
Educate and sensitize schools, communities, families and the general public about special education service and participation of persons with disabilities in the education sector using all possible means.
Make special support available to enhance educational participation of female students with disabilities.

Program of Action for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, Federal Board of Revenue, Association of parents of persons with Disabilities, Federation of persons with Disabilities, Non-governmental Organizations, Teachers' Associations, and others as may be necessary.

3.4 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service

Vocational rehabilitation is one of the components of rehabilitation and is a task exercised to enable persons with disabilities to become self reliant and make proper contribution for their nation by being equipped with useful skill which could be a base for their future life. In this sector, though effort are being made to deliver vocational training services for persons with disabilities by various governmental and non-governmental organizations, the size of beneficiaries is very limited compared to the number of needy for the service.

Regarding vocational training institutions, as the number of institutions established specially for persons with disabilities is very few, a considerable number of persons with disabilities have not had the opportunity to undergo such training. On the other hand, because existing, established institutions were not organized in such a way that they are appropriate for admitting and training persons with disabilities and also were not ready to accommodate them, persons with disabilities were unable to be equal beneficiaries of the opportunity as any other citizen.

Inspite of the fact that some Non-governmental Organizations have set up vocational training centers it is possible to suggest that their impact in upgrading sustainable lives of the beneficiaries was minimal for they have very limited capacity and concentrated on training streams that are highly saturated and have fierce competition.

The Developmental Social Welfare Policy which was prepared by Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and adopted recently, provides for creating conditions where rules, regulations, programs and services could be strengthened and expanded which enhance vocational training and placement opportunities for persons with disabilities. Accordingly necessary efforts have to be made to enable persons with disabilities to become beneficiaries of equal opportunity in vocational training.

Another issue related with vocational rehabilitation is employment of persons with disabilities. Efforts are made to enable persons with disabilities capable of supporting themselves and their family by being engaged in income generating fields commensurate with their capacity and ability.

Unemployment is widespread socio-economic problem in our county. Although this problem affects all sections of the society, it is most aggravated on persons with disabilities.

Despite the fact that the Conventions and Recommendations adopted by International Labour Organization concerning vocational training and employment of persons with disabilities contain several issues reminding member states to implement them, the level of development of our socio economy has not allowed to put them into action.

Taking this situation into account the Government of Ethiopia has issued Proclamation No. 101/1994 in August 1994, concerning the rights of disabled persons to employment. However, it has become difficult to put this proclamation into effect due to delay of drafting regulations and directives for implementation. As a consequence several persons with disabilities capable of working are deprived of equal opportunity to be employed in vacancies available merely due to their disabilities. It is observed that even those who are employed are encountered with obstacles as conductive situations required to perform their jobs are not fulfilled.

Therefore, it is imperative to create all the necessary conditions suitable to motivate persons with disabilities to engage themselves in work fields available in the country which fits to their ability and capacity and which enable them to be self sufficient and job creators.

Program Objectives

To enable persons with disabilities get vocational training which help them improve their prospective life.
To promote capabilities and self-confidence of persons with disabilities.
To enable persons with disabilities engage in income-generating jobs and support themselves and their country.
To enable persons with disabilities have equal opportunities in all fields of job.
To reduce the number of unemployed persons with disabilities.
To promote participation of women with disabilities in vocational rehabilitation and employment.

Increase the coverage of vocational rehabilitation service.
Facilitate conditions by reforming vocational training centers to be appropriate for persons with disabilities to be integrated with able bodied persons.
Produce competent professionals in the field of vocational rehabilitation.
Conduct study and research in the field of vocational rehabilitation.
Establish operational procedures which encourage vocational training of persons with disabilities.
Establish sheltered workshops where persons with disabilities could be employed as may be necessary.
Provide support and incentives for organizations that employ persons with disabilities.
Implement proclamation No. 101/94 which regulates employment of persons with disabilities.
Facilitate situations in which persons with disabilities could create self employment.
Organize persons with disabilities in self-help work groups and associations.
Create conducive working situation for persons with disabilities.
Raise awareness of the community in order to motivate the participation of persons with disabilities in general and women with disabilities in particular in vocational rehabilitation and employment.
Make use of basic skill training centers in rural areas.

Strengthen the existing vocational training centers by man power and appropriate production equipments.
Establish new vocational training centers at different localities.
Make buildings and roads of vocational training centers accessible to persons with disabilities.
Train and deploy adequate professionals in various vocational streams.
Train persons with disabilities by integrating them with able bodied persons.
Gather, compile and implement information that clearly identify suitable vocational; streams for persons with disabilities at different levels.
Adopt the screening criteria for vocational training center in the coιuntry to accommodate persons with disabilities.
Establish, as need arises, production and service giving institutions at different level in which persons with disabilities could be employed and strengthen the already available ones.
Provide various incentives for individuals and organizations who establishes institutions where persons with disabilities could be employed.
Provide appropriate support and incentives (such as exemption from income tax and duty free etc) for employers as per the number of persons with disabilities employed.
Issue and follow-up implementation of regulations and directives for Proclamation No. 101/94, providing employment of persons with disabilities.
Encourage by providing the following for those persons with disabilities who exert efforts to support themselves either by creating jobs individually or in self help groups or organizations.
- Initial capital and credit service
- Technical support
- Material support
- Duty free and income tax exemption etc.
Provide with the following facilities for persons with disabilities to perform their duty efficiently:
- Suitable working environment and instrument
- Personal assistance services
- Interpreter services (for sign language)
Give special attention and incentive for women with disabilities in vocational training and employment.
Disseminate education and sensitization towards raising awareness of the community at various levels regarding equal opportunity and full participation of persons with disabilities in the field of vocational training and employment.

4.1 Promoting Accessibility of Persons with Disabilities

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, Federal Civil Service Commission, Investment Authority, Federal Board of Revenue Ministry of Trade and Industry Employers Federation, Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Union, Associations of persons with disabilities, Ethiopian Federation of Persons with disabilities, Non-Governmental Organizations, Regional Administrations and other as required.

4 Integration and Equal Participation

Integration and Equal Participation describes the states in which persons with disabilities under all circumstances have equal rights without any discrimination like any other citizen to participate in every socio economic and political life of the community and make their part of contribution. It is essential that persons with disabilities should be equal beneficiaries of all rights just as any other individuals -who could, exercise such: as family formation, participation in socio-political activities, religion, access to public services, mobility and adjusting day to day life style. Eventhough, measures undertaken with respect to rehabilitation services are auxiliary instruments in promoting full participation of ,persons with disabilities in all spheres, their results could not be satisfactory unless they are substantiated by positive attitude and support of the community.

It is very significant to avoid unfavorable approaches and experiences which are hindrance to integration and equal participation of persons with disabilities since it is inevitable to have citizens with disability inspite of the fact that all possible preventive measures are taken. Disability occurs regardless of period, place or economic status of any section of the society. It is imperative that the resources of a nation should be equally utilized in accordance with the needs of all citizens and development plans and programs designed at national level. Therefore, the planning and organization of any national programme should be in such a way that it could involve persons with disabilities. This course will have immense contribution regarding safeguarding the rights and dignity of citizens over and above enabling entire utilization of the available human resource.

On the other side, when it is said that the rights of persons with disabilities should be respected it should be noted that they have also an obligation to meet their fair share of contribution in the national building. Accordingly, the society has to facilitate conditions which would allow them to meet their obligations and should be able to utilize the available man power in this regard.

However, due to inadequacy of services and support, negative attitude of the community and other factors, persons with disabilities hindered to full participation in regular activities of the society. To convert this situation, tremendous effort and remarkable contribution should be made by governmental and non-governmental organizations in particular and by community in general. Therefore, in order to materialize integration and equal participation of persons with disabilities, the following programme of actions should be implemented.

Accessibility to information and communication services and mobility from place to place without any barrier should be facilitated for persons with disability for they could successfully run their daily life and could practice equal participation in all sectors.' Nevertheless, participation of persons with disabilities is found restricted because of the' fact that existing roads, buildings, communication systems, various public services and recreational centers are organized unfit for persons with disabilities along with lack of special` supportive services which enhance their daily life.

4.1.1 Regarding Construction Works and Other Public Services

This service includes conditions in which persons with disabilities should benefit from the existing amenities as per their type and severity of disability by placing due focus and avoid obstacles which impede persons with disabilities from benefiting, public services and recreational centers. In this aspect proper attention should be paid in organizations and utilization of roads, public transport and other services. Concerned bodies should incorporate and implement these issues in their policies, regulations and directives to this end.

Since every public service rneant for all people, considerable attention should be made to facilitate in such a way that every person could make use of independently it without the need for assistance of other.

As regulations concerning promotion of accessibility for persons with disabilities is issued globally, different countries are attempting to improve conditions by adopting regulations and directives in accordance with their concrete situations.

In our country too, eventhough regulation and directive issued by the state with respect to this service are non-existent currently, it is believed that it would be possible to resolve the challenges of persons with disabilities if due observance and commitment is given by the bodies who are vested with authority and responsibility to carry out these duties.

One of the means to solve constraints which persons with disabilities encounter in relation with constructions works is making buildings and roads construction in such a way fitful to them from the beginning and the other is to modify the existing structure slightly. In this case the activities undertaken are highly valuable for segments of persons with disabilities without incurring high additional costs. Mainly social advantage to persons with disabilities is noticeable as their basic problems are eliminated thereby enabling them to become full participants in all activities of their respective environment.

On the other hand, it is taken for granted that since public transport services are considered in advance to, cater services to all on equal basis, they should be provided in a manner accessible to every one. In this respect other countries are endeavoring to create suitable situations like appropriate transport services and making some modifications to the existing ones to solve problems encountering their citizens with disabilities. However, supports extended are varied depending upon the objective condition of each country. The above mentioned situations should be facilitated as much as possible in our country in order to support the right of movement of persons with disability from place to place equally as any other section of the society, which were prevalent due to unfavorable conditions.

4.1.2 Concerning Information and Communication Services

Persons with disabilities have to get proper information regarding their rights, services available various programs undertaken in the country national plans and tasks by elimination of all barrier which face in the sector of communication services. The information should be prepared and disseminated in such away that they are accessible to all persons with disabilities according to the type and severity of their disabilities.

It is essential to facilitate favourable situations for persons with disabilities to have ease access to information disseminated in the form of script, audio, sign language and other methods.The government should provide necessary support for relevant bodies in order to implement the facilities by giving due attention.

Program of Action for Promotion of Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

To facilitate, suitable conditions specially for those with acute mobility and visual impairement, to move from place to place without barrier.
To create situations where persons with disabilities could become beneficiaries of public transport services as any other citizens.
To facilitate conditions in which persons with disabilities could have access to information and communication services.

Program of Action for Awareness Raising

Adopt legislation, regulation and directive regarding construction of buildings and roads.
Issue the necessary regulations and directives which urge public transport services provide special facilities to persons with disabilities.
Involve associations of persons with disabilities in construction design works.
Make use of braille, tape, large-letters Type machine and other by products of technology.
Expand the use of sign language in the community.
Enable persons with disabilities accessible to mass media services.
Raise adequately the awareness of professionals and workers engaged in the sector about disability.

Activity

Draft the relevant laws, regulation and directives - and submit to the government and implement them.
Ensure construction designs are made in accordance with the adopted regulations and directives.
Follow up maintenance of construction works in order to make accessible to persons with disabilities.
Provide special support by reserving entrance, exit, seats and the like for those persons with disabilities whose impairment allow them to make use of existing public transport services.
Facilitate availability of special transport services as much as possible for those persons with disabilities whose impairment impede them from using prevailing public transport services.
Organize information by use of latest technology and supply it for the users.
Expand the usage of sign language by training` instructors and interpreters of sign language.
Create sufficient awareness through various programs about disabilities among workers engaged in building design, transport and the communication services and the community in general.

Executive Bodies

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication, Building Construction Design Enterprise, Minister of Information and Culture, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, Ethiopian Federation of persons with Disabilities, Regional states, Ministry of Work and Urban Development and other as may be necessary.

4.2 Awareness Raising

One of the major constraints against full participation of persons with disabilities is the wrong perception of the community towards persons with disabilities the vise versa and of themselves. While the community at large considers persons with disabilities as incompetent, often receivers and dependent, they themselves develop a sense of inferiority complex and outcast.

Since disability is considered to be caused not by natural and man made calamities but either by God's indignation or as a 'result of evil faith for the majority of the society, it imposes heavy effect on the lives of the victim's of the problem in general and on women with disabilities in particular. These wrong view and attitude made the initiative of community to prevent disability and to undertake the necessary rehabilitation action up on incidence of disability very low.

In order to, improve and eventually eliminate this situation wide and continuous education about causes of disabilities prevention of disabilities, capacity and interest of persons with disabilities type of support and care provided particularly for women with disabilities must be given for those engaged in, health, education, social, vocational training and employment sectors, for legislative bodies, plan designers and community as a whole. Indeed the community is expected to fully participate and contribute its due support for achievement of intended outcome in the attempt of awareness raising by examining its out look, towards persons with disabilities the extent to which its negative attitude affected felling of persons with disabilities and realize the conseηnquence in the situation where persons with disabilities are isolated from existing socio-economic and political activities. With respect to changing the attitude and raising awareness of the community although unfailing effort is being exerted by concerned governmental and non-governmental organizations and associations, it has not been possible to attain the expected results for the task demands coordinated endeavor of the whole community.

Therefore, favorable conditions should be created by the government placing priority attention to undertake adequate and extensive awareness raising program.

To bring about attitudinal change which induces persons with disabilities to develop self-confident without feeling inferiority complex.
To raise the awareness of the community and initiating them to become direct participants in prevention of disabilities, provision of care and support for persons with disabilities:
To enable persons with disabilities to become full participants and contribute their respective share in social economic and political activities of the society.

Conduct national awareness raising program which could involve the entire community.
Transmit education in public gathering schools, health institutions, religions institutions, recreational centers, work places, etc.
Use mass media and various publications.
Organize mobile awareness raising services.

Launch large scale awareness raising program in coordinated manner by pertinent governmental and non-governmental organizations and associations or persons with disabilities.
Establish national information center, collect relevant informations and disseminate as may be necessary.
Conduct education by organizing awareness raising clubs in schools and other appropriate institutions.
Conduct continuous educational and sensitization activities in various languages through massmedia.
Make products, creative works and other outputs of persons with disabilities displayed to the public.

4.3 Organization of Persons with Disabilities in Associations

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and Information and Culture, Ministry of Economic Development and cooperation, Associations of persons with disabilities and Ethiopian Federation of persons with disabilities Non Governmental Organizations, Regional Administrations, Employers Federation, Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency, Ethiopian Press Agency and others as may be necessary.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right to participate in decision makings concerning their day to day life. It is essential to involve them particularly in planning and policy formulation with respect to services meant for them.

In many countries the struggle of persons with disabilities to safeguard their rights and to improve their living conditions manifested by persons with disabilities, their families and associations and organizations established for defending and protecting their rights. The views and interests of persons with disabilities and the efforts they exert to alleviate their problems are channeled to the state and the community through their associations. The organization of persons with disabilities will not only strengthen their participation at every sector but also will have a great contribution to the expansion of rehabilitation services. Besides these, associations of persons with disabilities are useful instruments in accomplishing goals of self help attempts run by the assistance of governmental and non-governmental organizations and individually. Indeed, these organizations provide enormous benefit to their members by enhancing the development of personal skills and capacity as well as mutual support and assistances.

Currently in our country there are four association of persons with disabilities organized and operating at various forms. These are known as:

The Ethiopian National Association of the Blind.
The Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf.
The Ethiopian National Association of Physically Handicapped.
The Ethiopian National Association of Ex. Leprosy Patients.

As the names indicate these associations are organized by the type of disabilities and they have recently established the Ethiopian Federation of Persons With Disabilities and are trying to resolve their problems collectively.

Eventhough these associations assume national content in organization, their capacity to mobilize and participate the numerous persons with disabilities throughout the country under the umbrella of respective associations is limited due to shortage of finance, trained man power and other similar factors. In addition, as a consequence of aforementioned' reasons the management capability of many associations is not strong. Therefore, they are not in a position to struggle for their rights and other issues by extricating themselves from their internal problems.

So, taking these and similar challenges into account, necessary support should be given to the association by the government in order to have representational role for persons with disabilities in protecting the rights and benefits of their members.

The associations hereafter referred to as Associations or Associations of Persons With Disabilities include association of parents or friends of persons with disabilities.

Program of Action for Strengthening and Expanding Associations of Persons with Disabilities

Programme Objective

To enable the associations of persons with disabilities to legally recognized and represent persons with disabilities in all fields at national and regional levels.
To enable the associations of persons with disabilities to participate in the decision making process in all aspect regarding persons with disabilities and make their contributions with the government and the society.
To enable persons with disabilities to safeguard the rights and benefits of their fellow members organized in associations at national or regional levels as per the type of their disabilities.

Organize persons with disabilities at different levels in accordance with the type of their disabilities.
Develop capacity building.
Utilize the experience of other countries by adopting to the objective conditions of the country
Raise awareness
Promote participation of persons with disabilities.
Create networking among different associations.
Coordinate various supports.

Organize different associations at every level and- make persons with disabilities their members.
Coordinate the support of governmental and non-governmental organizations and the community in order to strengthen and expand associations of persons with disabilities.
Provide training of management skills for leaders of associations of persons with disabilities to enable them discharge their responsibility efficiently.
Provide financial, material technical and other similar supports so that associations of persons with disabilities are strengthened accomplish their mission adequately.
Search and exercise the experiences and experiments of associations of persons with disabilities of other countries considering the (objective) reality of the country; make appropriate participation and cooperation at global and continental levels.
Educate the community about the importance of associations of persons with disabilities and their contribution.
Conduct proper awareness raising education to persons with disabilities of the advantage of getting together and organize themselves.
Facilitate conditions in which persons with disabilities could sufficiently and actively participate in preparation and implementation of policies plans, programs, etc. at every level through their association.
Provide the necessary support to various associations to efficiently meet their individual and collective responsibilities and strengthen the networking among themselves by mutual support.

Program of Action for Religion

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Association of persons with disabilities and Ethiopian Federation of persons with disabilities, pertinent Governmental and Non-governmental offices and Organizations, Regional Administrations and others as may be necessary.

4.4 Religion

It is believed that in a religious forum where equality of mankind is ensured and the respect to human dignity is confirmed, persons with disabilities should be full participants on equal basis in all activities in their respective communities. However, as observed from experience, unfavorable situations in some rituals don't allow persons with disabilities from being beneficiaries of the religious services sufficiently which in principle all human beings should equally have access to the Holy scripture of God as well as equally participate in the worshipping ceremony. The major factors forwarded for this are the wrong attitudes on the part of followers of the faith towards persons with disabilities which means considering persons with disabilities as beggars and offering them is a means of salvation.

On the other hand, in accessibility of religious institutions, buildings and service delivery center to persons with disabilities, in accessibility of religious teachings and other related services to them. Incompatibility of prayer ceremonies with the physical conditions of the persons with disabilities, lack of opportunity to be full participants in delivering religious teachings and other ministries and the like have limited their religious satisfaction, and spiritual worship.

Therefore religious institutions are expected to extend all possible support to resolve these impediments so that persons with disabilities could become full participants in religious faith which they choose to worship without any constraint.

To enable persons with disabilities to become equal participants in the religion of their respective communities according to their faith.
To make persons with disabilities have easy access to religious teachings and spiritual services.

4.5 Culture, Sports, Recreation, Family Life and Personal Security

Create conducive condition to enrich the spiritual life or persons with disabilities.
Raise awareness.
Equally provide religious teachings and ministries (spiritual services) to persons with disabilities.
Participate associations of persons with disabilities.

Activity

Make buildings of religious institutions and religious service delivery centers accessible to persons with disabilities.
Facilitate conditions of prayer ceremonies (bowing, shoes off, standing for long hours etc) suit to physical capabilities of persons with disabilities.
Create favorable ways to participate persons with disabilities in religious teaching and ministries (preach, song mass, etc) in accordance with their interest and ability.
Eliminate the prejudice of religious promoters (authorities) and their followers against persons with disabilities through administering persistent awareness raising education.
Create conditions which facilitate accessibility of religious teachings literatures and spiritual services to all persons with disabilities:
- Prepare and supply in braille or bold letters to visually impaired persons.
- Transmit for deaf and speech impaired through sign language interpreter.
Facilitate conditions to incorporate information about disabilities in training programs run by religious institutions:
Make associations of persons with disabilities participate in actions undertaken by religious institutions in order to augment equal participation persons with disabilities in religious activities.

Executive Bodies

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Association of persons with Disabilities, The Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities, Religious Organizations and Institutions, Regional Administrations, Ministry of Information and Culture and others as may be necessary.

It should be clearly realized that as any other citizen (able bodied), persons with disabilities have desire and intention to create cultural and social relationships, know and protect rich history and culture their country as well as participate in various entertainment activities since these basic situations assist persons with disabilities to have physical and mental strength, to develop their capacity and aptitude to maintain their health and develop intellectual capacity and enable them to involve in group interactions, they should be eligible to become beneficiaries not individually but by integrating themselves into the community.

It is essential to create conditions where persons with disabilities could get proper awards (prizes) as incentives when they become outstanding and enable them to participate in fine arts and apply their skill effectively. In this course they could also make a contribution to their country apart from enriching their own private skill and knowledge. With respect to recreational facilities while entertainment and sport centers should be accessible to persons with disabilities encompassing the demanded services in their establishments persons with disabilities must be encouraged: and pushed, to become beneficiaries of the-services.

On the other side, recognizing the right of persons with disabilities to form their own families, it is imperative to extend assistance to them to have full participation in family life while their family life and personal security is ensured. In addition, as persons with disabilities are mostly exposed to adverse acts (beggary, rape, etc ...) they have to be protected from offences arising from their disability.

Therefore, to implement the aforementioned rights it is highly essential to substantiate with the appropriate law, regulations and directive which demand attention of the government and bring remarkable attitudinal change on the part of the community.

Program of Action for Culture Sports Recreation, Family Life and Personal Security.

To enable persons with disabilities to become full participants and equal beneficiaries of services of culture, sport` and recreation available in the community.
To make persons with disabilities lead successful life protecting their personal well-being and forming family:
To protect persons with disabilities from offences due to their disabilities.

Encourage persons with disabilities to have active participation in the area of culture, sports and entertainment.
Create suitable situation that facilitates participation of persons with disabilities in culture, sports and recreation.
Organize persons with disabilities in different clubs.
Provide family guidance and counselling service.
Amend and issue laws, regulations and directives.
Raise awareness:

Award prizes of incentives to those persons with disabilities outstanding in creative works.
Strengthen sports Federation of persons with disabilities at each level.
Organize recreational and sports centers easily accessible to persons with disabilities.
Make persons with disabilities to become active participants in such clubs as entertainment, literature, music, etc.
Motivate persons with disabilities to participate in various entertainment and sports trainings
Make programmes that are implemented to strengthen private and family life, encompass persons with disabilities.
Enact and implement laws, regulations and directives that enable to defend offences against persons with disabilities.
Provide education to sensitize the community to have adequate understanding about the right of persons with disabilities to form a family, personal skill and aptitude.