Disabled youth demand facilities
Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Disabled youth are facing hardships while using roads and pathways in the twin cities due to non-availability of specific facilities for them.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYA) should ensure necessary facilities on roads and pathways through out the country so young people with disabilities can move in a safe and convenient manner”, said a social worker Yaqub Khan. “Absence of the required facilities is dangerous and in some cases impossible for youth who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids”, he remarked. He said ramps should be built on streets and roads from where disabled persons can enter them. Resurfacing of a street or sidewalk may need some alteration but filling of potholes would require no changes. He said on the existing roads and sidewalks alterations cannot be carried out. However, curb ramps may be constructed at places where a pedestrian walkway intersects a road or sidewalk.
When contacted Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs told APP that special and handicapped youth may be given same quota in all youth activities as has been approved by the government in respect of Special Education and Rehabilitation of disabled persons.
“Chair accesses and special toilets for the disabled would be made compulsory in construction of buildings in future,” he said. He said that special quota and opportunity to the disabled for studying in all educational institutions including those for higher education would be given both at home and abroad.
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=223530
Filed under: News from Pakistan on February 10th, 2010
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