Need for legislation to recognise developmental disorders, study reveals.

ISLAMABAD -- A study about differently-abled people has revealed that federal and provincial laws acknowledge only four categories of disabilities such as physical, visual, intellectual and hearing impairments.

Sindh is the only province that recognises other categories (such as developmental disorders) for conditions like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyspraxia, dyslexia, rett syndrome, tourette syndrome and so on.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan Acts do not provide special quota for persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) in the respective elected bodies. However, Article 16 (2) of the Balochistan Act clearly states that representation of persons with disabilities shall be ensured by the government in all the elected bodies through special quota.

Launched by the Potohar Mental Health Association (PMHA), the report highlights that the Sindh legislative assembly recently passed the Peoples Empowerment Act in which 1 percent quota was allocated for PLWDs in the Sindh local body elections.

Zulqurnain Asghar, from the PMHA said that persons living with disabilities should not be apologetic for demanding their rights. The respective federal and provincial governments, civil...