Medvedev plans to simplify rules on disability status

Dmitry Medvedev announces plans to simplify rules governing disability status

08.05.2019

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will sign a resolution to change rules surrounding the registration of disability in Russia.

‘As discussed at a meeting with representatives of organisations for people with disabilities, we plan to simplify and shorten the assessment process,’ the Prime Minister announced at a cabinet meeting. ‘We shall be transferring gradually to the electronic exchange of documentation, which will make things easier for people with disabilities. They will no longer need to collect additional documents personally from different authorities, and should be able to complete formalities through the public services portal.’

Dmitry Medvedev made reference to the current disabled access programme, which seeks to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy easy entry to social facilities, utilities and transport, and suggested a ministerial discussion on increased state control in this area.

‘Since 2011, we have had an existing state programme (“Accessible Environment” Ed.), which we have already extended to 2025,’ he said. ‘We have taken steps to ensure that people with disabilities do not experience difficulties when they go out, take public transport, go to the shops, to hospital, or to a pharmacy. As a result, about two thirds of such essential facilities are now fully accessible – and we cannot stop here. In many cases these measures are inadequate. We need to develop and fund them, and to include financing from the federal budget for relevant services, and for the improvement of technical facilities and institutions.’

According to Minister of Labour and Social Protection Maxim Topilin, the objective is to achieve 100% access to popular social facilities, as well as public transport. Disabled access is currently at 64.1%.

‘Over the eight years in which regional programmes have been developed, that is to say between 2011 and 2018, accessible facilities have increased from 5000 to over 24,000. A survey of selected facilities suggests that existing disabled access has risen from 14.4% to 64.1%. By 2026, we must ensure that such facilities have 100% access,’ the Ministry Press Office quotes Topilin as saying, according to a TASS report.

Source: https://www.asi.org.ru/news/2019/05/08/medvedev-invalidnost/

Get involved

Share This