XN000022-1981-07-26 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 1981

+LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, THE DISABLED SHOULD ENJOY THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE AN EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL TRAINING AND TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.+

THROUGH THE ALLOCATION OF MONEY FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ASSISTS SPECIAL SCHOOLS, TRAINING CENTRES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PURCHASING VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF DISABLED PEOPLE TO AND FROM WORK.

THE DEPARTMENT SUBVENTS THE REHABUS SCHEME, UNDER WHICH 11 BUS SERVICES ARE RUN TO HELP DISABLED PEOPLE TO GET TO WORK, TO GO TO SCHOOL OR TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

+WE HOLD REGULAR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BUS, FERRY AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING STEP BY STEP FACILITIES ON THESE SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED, MR LAW SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET UP A TRANSPORT AND ACCESS SUB-COMMITTEE, COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND PUBLIC SPIRITED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVING TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED.

+ON THE BASIS OF PROPOSALS BY THIS COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STARTED MODIFYING FACILITIES IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SWIMMING POOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS TO ENSURE THAT THEY BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED USERS,+ MR LAW SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME, TRAFFIC LIGHTS WITH A SOUND SYSTEM ARE GRADUALLY BEING INSTALLED IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TERRITORY TO HELP THE BLIND CROSS ROADS.

+THIS YEAR IS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS, + MR LAW SAID.

+APART FROM STEPPING UP VARIOUS REHABILITATION SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PAID PARTICULARLY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE TRANSPORT PROBLEMS FACED BY THE DISABLED.+

VARIOUS TRAFFIC AND BUILDING LAWS AND LEGISLATION GOVERNING PUBLIC TRANSPORT BODIES WERE AGAIN REVIEWED TO SEE HOW TRANSPORT FACILITIES COULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED FOR THE DISABLED, HE ADDED.

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