Disability in Cuba

According to Humanity & Inclusion, around one third of people with disabilities in Cuba have an intellectual disability. Around 3.2% have a severe disability. Recent numbers, in 2018, showed that there were 447,674 people with disabilities living in the country and 46.3 percent of this number were women. There are around 19,000 users of Cuban Sign Language (Lengua de Señas Cubana LSC). As of 2019, there are more than 300 interpreters of sign language in the country. ==Policy==

Cuba largely follows a medical model of disability in its policies. The National Council to Support Persons with Disabilities (CONAPED) was created in 1996 to implement programs and policies to protect the rights of people with disabilities. Promoting the rights of people with disabilities and providing accessibility and other services were part of the country's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Cubans can also access social security through the Social Security Act. Parents of children with disabilities are provided a subsidy. Cuban healthcare is free and locally provided with healthcare workers living in the same communities they serve. The healthcare service provides various rehabilitation services for adults with disabilities. Each person has a medical team assigned to them after being diagnosed with a "potential disability." The National Association of Deaf works with people who are Deaf or who are deafblind. In 2014, the European Union and CBM worked to procure assistive technology for people with disabilities. Education The Constitution of Cuba specifies that children with either physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities must be identified and provided education. Such children are identified through the Center for Orientation and Diagnosis and then are provided services through the Ministry of Education. Students may be placed in a special education class or sent to a special school. Students who cannot attend school can have lessons given to them at home or at the hospital. Special education training for teachers consists of one seminar of training. Children with disabilities in the country have, over time, face difficulties because specialists in their care have declined over time. Cuban sign language began to be taught in special schools starting in 1994. ==Accessibility==

Cuba has listed accessibility standards, however as of 2019 not all information and communication technologies were fully accessible. There is a shortage of assistive devices for people with disabilities in Cuba. People may wait for a long time for items such as prosthesis. ==Cultural attitudes==

According to journalism professor, Isabel Moya Richard, the cultural revolution in Cuba helped improve the lives of people with disabilities. Moya said that the government providing healthcare, education and access to sports gave people with disabilities a sense of dignity. Families often choose to be involved in the care and treatment of family members with disabilities. Many families may attribute brujeria or other folk reasons as the cause of an intellectual disability. However, children with disabilities are cared for in their households, most often by female relatives. There is still some social stigma for having a family member with intellectual disability. There are also families who believe it is "a 'blessing' to be the parents of a special child." == Unique challenges ==

People with disabilities are often unable to access the right of "principle of participation." Individuals who do not support the government have reported discrimination from care services. Individuals working with the Institute for the Defense of Vulnerable Communities (Instituto de Defensa de Comunidades Vulnerable) which is part of the Network of Inclusive Culture Cuba (Red de Cultura Inclusiva Cuba) has faced persecution from the government for their work with ensuring the rights of people with disabilities. Organizations that do not face persecution have members that also support the Cuban government. == Sport ==

, Yunidis Castillo of Cuba preparing for the Women's 100m - T46 second semifinal The Federación Cubana de Limitados Físico-Motores (ACLIFIM) was created in 1977 and registered with the National Olympic Committee. The ACLIFIM was nationalized on March 14, 1980. == See also ==