First Lady Candida Montilla has announced the launch of a Council for Children with Special Needs for coordinating national initiatives.
During the announcement at the Presidential Palace yesterday, Thursday 26 March 2015, Montilla said that research by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) had found that there are around 83,000 children under the age of 19 with special needs in the Dominican Republic. She said that a study of the country’s five most populous provinces showed that 57% of services for this segment are provided by non-governmental or religious organizations and less than 27% by the government. 97% of services for people with special needs are located in cities. Since its launch, the First Lady’s Office has been working to create more free government services for people with special needs.
“The creation of the Comprehensive Care Center for People with Special Needs (CAID) is an example of the government’s will to work together with the members of society and international organizations who struggle every day to convert exclusion into inclusion,” said the First Lady.
The new Table will be funded by Unicef and will work in partnership with the First Lady’s Office, the National Council for People with Special Needs, the National Council for Children and Adolescents and the Ministry of Education.
http://primeradama.gob.do/gobierno-activa-esfuerzos-para-hacer-valer-derechos-de-ninez-con-discapacidad/