Page 190 - DEDU506_SPECIAL_EDUCATION_ENGLISH

Special Education Dinesh Kumar, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 26: Disability Act 1995

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
26.1 Disability Act-1995
26.2 Summary
26.3 Keywords
26.4 Review Questions
26.5 Further Readings

Objectives

The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below:
• to explain about the disability act 1995 and its provisions.

Introduction

The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly
mandates an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities. In the recent years, there
have been vast and positive changes in the perception of the society towards persons with disabilities.
It has been realized that a majority of persons with disabilities can lead a better quality of life if they
have equal opportunities and effective access to rehabilitation measures.
According to the Census 2001, there are 2.19 crore persons with disabilities in India who constitute
2.13 percent of the total population. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, locomotors
and mental disabilities. Seventy five per cent of persons with disabilities live in rural areas, 49 per
cent of disabled population is literate and only 34 per cent are employed. The earlier emphasis on
medical rehabilitation has now been replaced by an emphasis on social rehabilitation. There has
been an increasing recognition of abilities of persons with disabilities and emphasis on mainstreaming
them in the society based on their capabilities. The Government of India has enacted three legislations
(Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) for persons with disabilities viz. In
this unit we will discuss about the disability act-1995 and its aspects in various fields of life, like
education, employment, and social respect etc. for disabled persons.

26.1 Disability Act-1995

Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 was enacted
in 1995 to give effect to the Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of the People with
Disability. The aims and objectives of the Act are:
• To spell out the responsibility of the state towards the prevention of disabilities, protection of
rights, provision of medical care, education, training, employment and rehabilitation of persons
with disabilities;
• To create a barrier free environment for person with disabilities in the sharing of development
benefits, vis-a -vis non disabled persons;
• To counteract any situation of abuse and exploitation of persons with disabilities; and
• To make special provision of the integration of persons with disabilities into the social
mainstream.

184 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY