Changes to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Bill

The National Assembly is discussing the package of draft laws on making amendments and changes to the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Law on Functional Assessment of Individuals, with the aim of approving it in the first reading.

According to the main reporter, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Arsen Torosyan, the proposed changes involve several adjustments in both laws. The adoption of the drafts is driven by the need to improve the legal field aimed at ensuring the full realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and to avoid misinterpretations.

Torosyan stated that the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines the concept of “independent living centers” as a new formulation and as an organization providing services to persons with disabilities.

He noted that the adoption of the drafts will contribute to the expansion of funding sources for providing supportive measures and reimbursement for renovation, clarifying the concept and operation of “independent living centers,” developing unified rules and approaches, ensuring their effective operation, and providing accessible and quality services for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The minister also informed that the next change concerns the procedures for utilizing personal assistant services.