Gérald Oriol Jr, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, reminds in this beginning of year that people with special needs, will not have difficulties to gain access to new buildings, including schools, hospitals, public and industrial buildings, if the bill passed in the Senate on 13 March 2012, is strictly respected.

Through the enactment of this Act, the right to free movement will finally extend to persons with disabilities. The construction of public buildings must comply with the principles of universal accessibility. Private homes designed to rent, school infrastructure are also subject to this law. Thus, people with reduced mobility will be able to access in wheelchairs or other means of support to their disability. In order to ensure the promotion and application of these principles, the involvement of the reconstruction actors is essential, particularly the Ministry of Public Works.

According, Gérald Oriol, Jr., the promulgation of this law was a "historic event." According to him, a number of measures are enacted in order to facilitate access to education, employment, housing, justice, leisure and other social services to individuals with special needs. "All is not yet given [...] it will be necessary not only to ensure the vulgarisation, but also get that everyone make the effort to apply the prescribed."

Meanwhile, the technicians of the Ministry of Public Works has completed the first phase of the national building code buildings. This is the part that the President Martelly has presented to the nation on January 12. According to the Ministry of Public Works, the complete Code will be ready in April and should take into account the principles of universal accessibility.

According to information provided by an executive of the Unit of Housing Construction and Public Buildings (UCLBP), whose mission is to work on the reconstruction of government buildings and housing, all studies and ongoing projects and future construction must take into account accessibility for people with special needs in buildings, especially in terms of parking and lifts.

According this executive, all arrangements are already taken to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities in buildings: access to the floors, WC, door handles, among others. "Everything is designed for the person, whatever its disability can circulate freely."

HL/ TB/ HaitiLibre