Chapter-1 Preliminary

1. Short title and commencement: (1) This Act may be cited as the “Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2074(2017).”

(2)        This Act shall commence on the ninety-first day of the date of its authentication.

1. Definitions: Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act,

a. “Helpless person with disability” means a person with disability who does not have any property or any family member or guardian to attend, care and serve him or her or who cannot earn their living by way of self-employment.

b. “Person with disability” means a person who has long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability or functional impairments or existing barriers that may hinder his or her full and effective participation in social life on an equal basis with others;

c. ………..

d. “Prescribed” or “as prescribed” means prescribed or as prescribed in the Rules framed under this Act.

e. “Steering Committee” means the Disability National Steering Committee referred to in Section 38;

f. “Family” means the grand-father, grand-mother, father, mother, son, daughter, elder brother, younger brother, elder sister, younger sister, husband or wife of a person with disability, and this terms also includes other relative of him or her relative living in the undivided family;

g. “Accessible” means a condition where the persons with disabilities can fully and with no barriers use, on an equal basis with others, human-made physical structures, means of transportation, information and communication equipment and technologies or services and facilities provided to the public in order to enable such persons so that they can live self-dependently and fully participate in every aspect of life;

h. “Rehabilitation Centre” means the rehabilitation centre as referred to in Section 29;

(h1)    “Enterprise” means any factory, organization, institution, association, company, firm or other organization that has been established, incorporated, registered, formed or in operation under the prevailing law with the objective of doing business, industry or service, with or without profit-motive;

i. “Language” means spoken or sign language and other forms of non-spoken languages;

j. “Ministry” means the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Government of Nepal;

k. “Communication” includes languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio, plain-language, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology;

l. “Coordination Committee” means the local coordination committee referred to in Section 42’

m. “Local Level” means a Rural Municipality or Municipality;

n. “Guardian” means a person appointed under the prevailing law for the protection of the rights and interests of the persons with disability;

o. “Protection Officer” means the officer referred to in Section 58.