The government has launched a national roadmap to strengthen the participation of people with disabilities across key sectors over the next five years.
The National Action Plan on Disability Inclusion, which will be implemented from 2025 to 2030, was inaugurated on Wednesday by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef.
According to the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the roadmap was formulated with direct input from people with disabilities from islands across the country. The ministry will focus on five priority areas, including expanding access to education and employment. It also outlines measures to remove physical barriers in public and private buildings to ensure equal access to services in both urban and rural communities.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Social Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham highlighted that more than 300 jobs have been created for people with disabilities over the past two years, and said the government aims to further increase their participation in the workforce.
Statistics released by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) last month show 15,059 individuals are currently registered on the national disability registry. The largest group comprises people with physical disabilities, totalling 4,223. Other categories include:
Multiple disabilities: 3,336  
Mental health conditions: 2,116  
Intellectual disabilities: 1,871  
The most commonly subsidized therapeutic services for children and adults with disabilities include behaviour therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.