The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) has launched a year-long pilot scheme to train access officers to ensure that the disabled are able to enjoy a barrier-free environment when entering public entities’ premises, according to the bureau’s statement on Friday.
Access officers promote equality and social inclusion by making sure that persons with disabilities can access public services.
The scheme, which started yesterday, initially is on a trial period, with a total of 17 access officers on duty in 10 public sector entities during the first phase, the statement said.
In order to tie in with the launch of the scheme, the statement said, the bureau organised a number of training sessions at the Patane Activity Centre of the Municipal Market Complex on Avenida de Demétrio Cinatti, involving about 80 trainees from 15 public sector entities set to be appointed as access officers of their respective premises.
According to the statement, the training by the bureau’s Rehabilitation Affairs Committee taught its members how to enable people with different types of disabilities, such as physical disabilities, visual disabilities, hearing disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism and mental disabilities, to access public entities’ premises.
A total of public entities are participating in the first phase of the scheme, namely the Social Welfare Bureau, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), Social Security Fund (FSS), Housing Bureau (IHM), Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT), University of Macau (UM) and Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), the statement noted.
Members of the public can visit the bureau’s official website at www.ias.gov.mo for more details about the premises that currently provide barrier-free environment and the respective access officers.
This undated handout photo provided by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) on Friday shows members of various public entities attending a training session for access officers last month at the Patane Activity Centre of the Municipal Market Complex on Avenida de Demétrio Cinatti. – Photo: IAS
