Linkages with Other Relevant Policies

The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities recognises that disability is a cross-cutting issue. It acknowledges the fact that disability affects and is affected by all aspects of life namely, economic, social, cultural, political, environmental and technological factors. A comprehensive policy and action plan to address disability issues and their effects on persons with disabilities should be based, therefore, on a thorough exploration and appreciation of its relationships with other relevant Government policies and legislations.

The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities is linked to a number of other national policies, legislation and instruments such as the Constitution of Malawi which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability and promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities.

When drafting the National Policy, the stakeholders took into consideration the fact that the Vision 2020 as well as the Malawi Growth Development Strategy (MGDS) recognise the need to develop the capabilities and potential of persons with disabilities to increase their productive capacity. These documents also attempt to remove barriers which limit their participation in society and improve social, economic and environmental conditions that limit their access to decision-making processes.

The policy is also linked to the Education Policy which contains provisions for all learners with special needs, as well as the Handicapped Persons Act of 1971 which established the Malawi Council for the Handicapped with the responsibility to promote the welfare of persons with disabilities and to administer vocational and special training centres, as well as rehabilitation and welfare services for people with disabilities.

Noting that most of the challenges that persons with disabilities face are often related to employment, the policy has also been linked to the Employment Act that prohibits any discrimination on any grounds, including disability in such areas as training, recruitment, pay and advancement of people with disabilities.

The Policy is related to Health policies, which provide for the establishment of medical rehabilitation services in government hospitals, and to provision of health services including mobility aids and appliances to people with disabilities. It recognises that persons with disabilities have the same needs for basic health services as anyone else, and that health centres may be physically inaccessible or far apart. Information on health care is often not provided in accessible formats and persons with disabilities are not targeted for health education.

Finally, it is also linked to Gender and Youth policies. For instance, one of the objectives of the draft National Youth Policy is to create a conducive environment for youth employment both in the formal and informal sectors. And one of the strategies identified in the draft youth policy in order to achieve the objective is the provision of “special training programmes for young people with disabilities.”