On 1 December 2025, President Luis Abinader presented the National Disability Plan 2025-2035, an integral public policy aimed at guaranteeing equal conditions and opportunities for all people with disabilities in the Dominican Republic.
This initiative is a national commitment to ensure that the more than 478,000 people living with a disability in the country. The disability breaks down to 57% women and 43% men, according to the 2022 National Census. The plan seeks to enable these to live with dignity, autonomy, and full rights.
The plan is supported by Law 5-13 on Disability, constitutional guarantees, and the UN’s International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Dominican Republic has a large number of persons with disabilities, especially thousands who have suffered traffic accidents, mostly caused by imprudent motorcyclists.
Key strategic pillars and advances
- Equal opportunities for all persons
• Training: 15,497 people from 180 public and private institutions participated in workshops on dignified treatment toward people with disabilities from a rights-based approach.
• Virtual education: 20,655 people have been trained through the virtual platform, Academia Conadis. - Universal accessibility and design for all
• Regulation: The architectural regulation for accessibility in buildings and spaces was updated (Mived–Conadis).
• Evaluation: 53 public and private institutions are registered in the National Accessibility Evaluation System (Sinac 2025).
• Certifications: 26 beach segments were evaluated alongside Blue Flag, and 24 web portals were assessed for Nortic B2 certification. Efforts are underway to expand sign language programs. - Health and Integral Rehabilitation
• Infrastructure: An agreement with the National Health Service (SNS) led to the opening of three valuation units.
• Compliance: 54% of hospitals meet physical accessibility criteria according to the Nordom 779.
• Specific Protocols: A care protocol for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is being implemented.
• Expansion: The Centers for Comprehensive Attention for Disability (CAID) and Territorial Therapeutic Intervention Units (UITT) are being expanded, with 17% in the process of adaptation and 29% in planning. The Mental Health Law is also under review. - Educational, cultural, and sports inclusion
• Education policy: An inclusive approach has been incorporated into the Decennial Education Plan (Horizonte 2034).
• Pilot projects: Projects are underway for the diagnosis and assessment of people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, inclusion in the higher education system, and sports inclusion. - Adequate work and sustainable employment
• Public Administration: An agreement between the Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) and Conadis seeks to strengthen the labor inclusion quota.
• 126 institutions submitted evidence of compliance with the inclusion and accessibility Sub-indicator 9.6.
• 30 state institutions created their first Governmental Inclusion and Accessibility Committee (CIAG).
• 85 institutions completed training programs to meet the labor quota.
• Private sector: An inter-institutional round table was created to promote labor inclusion in the private sector. - Promotion, protection, and social development
• Legislation/forums: National forums were held on implementing Law 34-23 for the inclusion of people with ASD, along with regional forums to promote inclusive municipalities (in collaboration with the Dominican Municipal League).
• Social Days: “Conadis for All” social inclusion days were conducted in various provinces, including Baní, Santiago, San Cristóbal, Higüey, La Vega, and Puerto Plata.
• Funding: The government allocated RD$141,220,800 to various non-profit organizations (ASFLs) in the disability sector during 2025, with a projected increase for 2026.
Special recognitions
During the press conference, President Abinader presented special recognitions to individuals and organizations dedicated to inclusion:
Amelia Brea, inclusive actress.
Odile Villavizar, mother and autism advocate.
Cristina Francisco, defender of the rights of women with disabilities.
Patronato Nacional de Ciegos (National Patronage for the Blind), for its pioneering work.
Posthumous recognition to Mary Pérez Marranzini, received by Celso Marranzini.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Presidency
La Semanal 1 December 2025
2 December 2025