Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities Through Institutional Based Rehabilitation Services

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPD) Act, 2016; replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The RPD Act includes total 21 conditions under disability. The existing eight national institutes established during 1970s and 1980s are old fashioned and working for empowerment of single disability. Studies have shown that non-inclusion of persons with disabilities in the development process has several implications, as stigma of disability may result in loss of income and additional cost to the person with disability, for their care providers and other family members. This also results in loss of education and social exclusion to them and their family. The Biwako Millenium Framework 2003-2012; has been extended as new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2013 to 2022 to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. In addition to legal framework, extensive infrastructure has been developed to empower persons with disabilities in time bound manner by 2022. The present study has been conducted through purposive sampling and data shows that Composite Regional Centers (CRC) is providing only 84 % of rehabilitation services related to social security to persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation services related to education is limited to 28 %, employment services are 20 % and early intervention services are limited to 12 %.