disabilities, in integrated settings”. 35 In order to implement such an approach, States
should ensure that teachers are trained to educate children with disabilities within
regular schools and that the necessary equipment and support are available to bring
persons with disabilities up to the same level of education as their non-disabled peers.
In the case of deaf children, for example, sign language should be recognized as a
separate language to which the children should have access and whose importance
should be acknowledged in their overall social environment.
H.
Article 15: The right to take part in cultural life
and enjoy the benefits of scientific progress
36.
The Standard Rules provide that “States should ensure that persons with
disabilities have the opportunity to utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual
potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of their
community, be they in urban or rural areas. ... States should promote the accessibility
to and availability of places for cultural performances and services ...”. 36 The same
applies to places for recreation, sports and tourism.
37.
The right to full participation in cultural and recreational life for persons with
disabilities further requires that communication barriers be eliminated to the greatest
extent possible. Useful measures in this regard might include “the use of talking
books, papers written in simple language and with clear format and colours for
persons with mental disability, [and] adapted television and theatre for deaf
persons”. 37
38.
In order to facilitate the equal participation in cultural life of persons with
disabilities, Governments should inform and educate the general public about
disability. In particular, measures must be taken to dispel prejudices or superstitious
beliefs against persons with disabilities, for example those that view epilepsy as a
form of spirit possession or a child with disabilities as a form of punishment visited
upon the family. Similarly, the general public should be educated to accept that
persons with disabilities have as much right as any other person to make use of
restaurants, hotels, recreation centres and cultural venues.
35
Standard Rules (see note 6 above), Rule 6.
36
Ibid., Rule 10, paragraphs 1-2.
37
See A/47/415, paragraph 79.