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Unit 26: Disability Act 1995

Blindness and low vision has been included in the definition of disability. Notes
In order to achieve its aims and objectives the act imposes obligations on the appropriate governments
(central, state and local governments) in the following areas:
• prevention and early detection of disabilities (Section 25)
• providing equality in education (Section 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
• providing equality in employment (Section 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 47)
• providing affirmative action programmes in providing aids and appliances to persons with
disabilities and preferential allotment of land at concessional rates for housing, setting up
businesses setting up of special schools establishment of research centres establishment of
factories by entrepreneurs with disabilities (Section 42, 43)
• providing non-discrimination by removing physical barriers (Section 44, 45, 46)
• providing research manpower development (Section 48, 49)
• setting up institutions for persons with disabilities (Section 52)
• providing social security for the disabled (Section 56, 67, 68)
26.1.1 Provision of Prevention and early detection of disabilities
In order to prevent the occurrence of disabilities, the appropriate government authorities have to
(within their economic capacity and development):
• undertake surveys, investigations and research concerning the cause of occurrence of disabilities
• promote various methods of preventing disabilities
• screen all the children at least once in a year for the purpose of identifying "at risk" cases
• provide facilities for training to the staff at the primary health centres
• sponsor awareness campaigns and disseminate information on general hygiene, health and
sanitation,
• take measures for pre-natal and post-natal care of mother and child;
• educate the public through the pre-schools, schools, primary health centres, village level workers
and anganwadi workers;
• create awareness amongst the masses through television, radio and other mass media on the
causes of disabilities and the preventive measures to be adopted.

26.1.2 Provision for Education under Disability Act–1995
In order to provide equal opportunities for the disabled in education, the appropriate government
and local authorities have been entrusted with:
• Ensuring that every child with disabilities have access to free education in an appropriate
environment till 18 years of age.
• Promoting the integration of students with disabilities in normal schools.
• Promoting setting up of special schools in government and private sector in such a manner that
children with disabilities living in any part of the country have access to such schools and equip
these schools with vocational training facilities.
• Conducting part-time classes in respect of children with disabilities who having completed
education up to class fifth and could not continue their studies on a whole-time basis;
• Conducting special part-time classes for providing functional literacy for children in the age
group of sixteen and above;
• Imparting non-formal education by utilizing the available manpower in rural areas after giving
them appropriate orientation;
• Imparting education through open schools or open universities;
• Conducting class and discussions through interactive electronic or other media;

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