Need policy changes to ensure jobs for persons with disabilities

State minister for the Ministry of Social Welfare Prof Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru on Thursday called for policy changes to create decent employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Speaking at a discussion programme at a hotel in Dhaka, he said collective works of all are required to ensure access to facilities for persons with disabilities in order to achieve an inclusive society.

He said inclusiveness is about giving equal access to everyone and also changing the perception of society. “There is a need to work together to ensure inclusiveness and access to facilities and services found in the community for persons with disabilities.”

The state minister came up with the remarks at a discussion hosted by BRAC on the learnings from a skills development project titled “Disability Inclusive Vocational Training and Youth Employment”. The project was jointly launched by BRAC, ADD International, the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) and Light for the World in 2020.

Meanwhile, speaking at Thursday’s event, BRAC’s Senior Director KAM Morshed said 10 per cent of the population, a startling amount, has a disability and makes up for one of the most vulnerable groups as they receive little to no help.