STRATEGY FOR EQUALITY: MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

. Amend the Constitution to prohibit discrimination and to guarantee a right to education.

. Amend the Constitution to prohibit discrimination and to guarantee a right to education.

. Introduce a Disabilities Act to set down in law the rights of people with disabilities.

. Establish a National Disability Authority to monitor the implementation of disability policy and to provide redress for individuals with grievances.

. Establish Disability Resource Centres throughout the State to provide information and assistance to people with disabilities.

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. Give every person with a disability a right to have his or her needs assessed.

. Provide an independent advocacy service for disabled people, especially those in residential services.

. Introduce a disability pension for people who cannot work - or cannot work up to their ability - because of their disablement and a costs of disability payment to meet the extra everyday cost of disability.

. Organisations which are funded by the State to provide services to disabled people should be obliged to fill 8 per cent of their jobs with such people within four years. The 3 per cent public service jobs quota should be filled in three years. The private sector should be given three years to fill 3 per cent of jobs with disabled people or face legal regulations.

. Introduce a universal right of access for all citizens to all new buildings.

. All new railway carriages and buses bought by CIE or the private sector from January to be accessible for people with disabilities.