Fariba Barimani, the head of the Secretariat of the Coordination and Supervision Committee for the Implementation of the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, discussed the status of persons with disabilities in Iran during her recent meeting with officials and representatives from various organizations. She pointed out global and national statistics, announcing that currently about 9 million and 800 thousand people in Iran have disabilities, which is equivalent to 11.5% of the total population of the country.
Coverage by the Welfare Organization and the Need for More Support
Barimani stated that of this number, only about 1 million and 600 thousand people are covered by the Welfare Organization. Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, she said: "This law is considered one of the leading supportive laws, and based on evaluations conducted, about 82% of its provisions are functioning well, but 18% still need further follow-up and attention."
Development of Educational and Employment Programs
During this meeting, representatives from various organizations discussed Articles 14, 20, and 21 of the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and emphasized the necessity of pursuing the rights of these individuals and developing educational programs. A representative from the Technical and Vocational Training Organization also announced the development of 153 educational standards specifically for persons with disabilities since 2025, adding: "In these standards, special attention has been given to the education of individuals with autism spectrum disorders." She also pointed out the necessity for trainers to be familiar with specialized methods for teaching persons with disabilities and said: "74 trainers will be trained at the Teacher Training Center for education in this field to ensure a more specialized educational process."
This meeting also addressed the needs assessment in the employment sector, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Welfare Organization. A representative from the Islamic Propagation Organization also referred to the holding and support of religious activities specifically for persons with disabilities, stating that this organization aims to strengthen the religious foundation of these individuals.
The Role of Broadcasting in Information Dissemination
A representative from the Broadcasting Organization pointed out the role of this organization in implementing the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, announcing that the Broadcasting Organization has exceeded the set amount in broadcasting programs related to this law. However, he emphasized that the actions taken are still not sufficient and that this organization is ready to collaborate more in this area.
According to him, the Broadcasting Organization is also prepared to produce educational programs related to persons with disabilities and to introduce their capabilities to provide a platform for showcasing their achievements in the national media.
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