Disability policy needs improvement

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
THE National Disability Policy is one of the many agendas that needs special attention to improve, National Board for Disabled Persons chairman Brown Kapi says.
Speaking last Tuesday, he said many issues had not been attended to by the government. 
The national policy covers all people living with disability.
It targets 11 areas in education, training and employment, rehabilitation and assistive devices, legislation and accessibility and communication.
Non-governmental or­ganisations such as AusAID, United Nations and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency have supported disabi­lity in PNG through programmes and delivery of devices and funds.
“The lack of realising the policy is a problem that not only is affecting the lives of people living with disability but the country in terms of achieving development,” Kapi said.
“Look at it properly and see that it emphasises the needs of people living with disabilities.
“When calling for recognition of disability, the focus must support the ‘actual getting things done’ that will benefit people with disabilities, rights and privileges, equality and participation,” he said.
He said the national policy was one way to discourage the negative perception of disability and promote equal rights and participation of people with disabilities as citizens of the country.
Kapi said he hoped to see the policy implemented under the leadership of Loujaya Toni.