PALAU, Disability Country Profile
 CONSTITUTION Following WWII, Palau was part of the UN Trust Territory in the Pacific, administered by the USA. In 1978, it decided not to join the Federated States of Micronesia. In 1986 a Compact of Free Association with the USA was approved, ratified in 1993, and it came into force in 1994, when Palau became independent. It is a republic with a Constitutional Government, and its legal system is based on the former Trust Territory laws, acts of legislation, municipal, common and customary laws. It has a 9 member Senate, and a 16 member House of Delegates elected every 4 years. The population is slightly under 20,000. HUMAN RIGHTS There is the 1993 Equal Employment Opportunities Act to prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability in the employment market. SIGNATORY TO THE UNESCAP PROCLAMATION ON THE FULL PARTICIPATION AND EQUALITY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION Signed in 1997 FOCAL POINT ON DISABILITY WITHIN GOVERNMENT Not specified DISABILITY SPECIFIC LEGISLATION In 1993 the Equal Employment Opportunities Act was passed. In 1997 Passage of Accessibility Act was passed. Stipend Law to provide minimal financial allowance to families with children under the age of 21 who require 24 hour care. NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OR NATIONAL DISABILITY COUNCIL Establishment of Interagency Collaboration Committee to coordinate and provide services to persons with disabilities from birth to adulthood in the areas of: Early childhood education, special education/ transition to employment, healthcare, vocational rehabilitation and job training and placement. A Convention on Disability was held, bringing together families, supporters and others with an interest in disability issues NATIONAL DISABILITY POLICY N/A NATIONAL DISABILITY ACTION-PLAN N/A DISABILITY STATISTICS AND DATA COLLECTION There is an interagency database working in tandem with the Ministry of Health information system to provide information about persons with a disability. Agencies outside the Ministry of Health will be able to access client information, with their permission. SELF-HELP ORGANISATIONS Omekesang Association of people with disabilities formed in 1997. Palau Parents Network is an association of parents with children with disabilities, active in special education issues. WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES No information known. EARLY DETECTION, EARLY INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION Establishment of a data base that registers children with disabilities and their movement between services. Improved education transition services from Head Start to early childhood services in Special Education to primary and secondary schools. Since 1997 many children with special needs have received certificates and or diplomas of completion of 12 years of school. In 2002 the first child with special needs went to College in Hawaii. The Ministry of Education has implemented curriculum change that allows inclusive education in primary and secondary schools. School-based health clinics and counseling services are now available in several primary and secondary schools. Special Education have established policies for presentation of grievances. Special Education works with the Parents Network to continue educating parents of children with disabilities of their rights, and how those rights can be exercised. TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT There is an Equal Employment Opportunities Act to remove discrimination against employment of persons with a disability. There are two work training and placement programmes which have included children with special needs. They work with Special Education and Vocational Services to facilitate job placements. It has been reported that a number of placements have been made, most in private industry. ACCESS TO BUILT ENVIRONMENTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT In 1997, Palau passed a Passage of Accessibility Act, providing for the removal of physical barriers and permitting access by Persons with a disability to Government buildings. Physical access to government buildings and some private sector buildings is improving. ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS N/A POVERTY ALLEVIATION A Stipend Law has been introduced to provide minimal financial allowances for families with children who require full time care. Return to Disability Country Profiles homepage | Disability homepage | Top of Page |
|
