The government is planning to launch pilot one-stop service centres in 10 districts or upazilas to provide comprehensive services for persons with disabilities from a single location, said State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin on Thursday.
The centres will offer healthcare, education, rehabilitation, mental health support, skills development, employment assistance, legal aid and other essential services, she told reporters after a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Implementation Committee on the Protection of the Rights and Services of Persons with Disabilities at the Secretariat.
The pilot initiative would also provide vocational training, support for marketing products made by persons with disabilities and income-generating activities for their guardians, she said.
The government is also planning establish training centres to develop specialised trainers for disability services, she said adding guardians staying at the service centres for extended periods while accompanying their children would also be provided with opportunities to engage in income-generating activities.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare M A Muhit who chaired the meeting said the government has formed two high-level national committees to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Health Ministry has already launched healthcare services for around 1,000 children with disabilities under the Shishuswarga programme in Korail slum, said Muhit.
The programme would be expanded to 20 to 25 upazilas during the current fiscal year with a focus on identifying children with disabilities at the grassroots level, community-based early detection, treatment and referral services, he said.
Besides, separate records will also be maintained for every child to facilitate long-term rehabilitation, employment support and access to other services in coordination with the Ministry of Social Welfare and relevant agencies, he added.
Muhit also said the Ministry of Youth and Sports plans to ensure dedicated facilities for athletes with disabilities in new sports infrastructure projects. Reception programmes and financial incentives for successful Special Olympics and Paralympic athletes will also continue.
The government is also moving to make disability-friendly designs mandatory in all public buildings and infrastructure projects, he said adding, the Planning Commission will consider accessibility features as one of the key criteria in evaluating future government projects.
New government buildings will be required to include ramps, appropriate lifts and at least one disability-friendly toilet, he said.
The government is also working to ensure similar facilities in educational institutions and has recommended that future electric buses be equipped to accommodate wheelchair users, said Muhit.