Disability rights rules amended for people with high support needs

The government has come out with a new set of amendments to the disability rights rules and these will be applicable for people in the “high support needs category”. This refers to people who need constant care, help in day-to-day life and who are dependent on others.

The law defines people with high support needs like this – those who need “an intensive support, physical, psychological and otherwise, which may be required by a person with benchmark disability for daily activities, to take independent and informed decision, and to access facilities and participating in all areas of life including education, employment, family, community life, treatment and therapy.

The new amendment will allow people with 40% and more benchmark disability who meet the criteria of special needs to receive the benefit of schemes created for them. District level assessment boards will decide and recommend welfare and support benefits for them.

What it means

Here are some details of what the new amendments imply:

1. State governments will set up assessment boards at district level or the division level. This will depend on the population of disabled people in the region.

2. The assessment boards will be headed by a chairperson and eight members.

3. There is also a provision for initiating schemes for the welfare of people with high support needs. These may be launched by state government and may vary from state to state.

4. Only people with benchmark disabilities with permanent disability certificates will be eligible.

5. The assessment board will use six parameters to determine the eligibility of a disabled person applying under this category. The scores will be assigned on the basis of the 100 point graded weightage.

6. 35% weightage has been assigned to the extent to which a person is not able to perform daily activities due to disability. Weightage of 25% each has been assigned to severity of physical disability and mental disability.