Disability Act Switzerland

Disability Act Switzerland

Disability Act

• The Disability Act of Switzerland is known the Disability Discrimination Act.
• The Disability Discrimination Act identifies that no one should be discriminated against due to a disability.
• The Disability Discrimination Act, which came into force in 2004
• The law prevents, reduce or eliminate discrimination suffered by persons with disabilities.
• This law sets framework conditions that make it easier for people with disabilities to participate in social life and, in particular, to independently cultivate social contacts, to gain further education, and to gain gainful employment

Definition of Disability

This Act defines disability as a person who has disadvantages, because of permanent physical, mental or psychological disabilities, to perform everyday activities, to socialize, to move, to educate themselves or to have gainful employment.

Purpose of Disability Act

• Federal legislation requires most colleges and universities to provide equal access and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
• The purpose of the law is to prevent, reduce or eliminate discrimination suffered by persons with disabilities.
• Sets framework conditions that make it easier for people with disabilities to participate in social life and, in particular, to independently cultivate social contacts, to gain further education, and to gain gainful employment.
• The Federal Council, created this law, to carry out or support temporary pilot projects in order to test incentive schemes for the employment of disabled people.
• This purpose may provide investment contributions for the creation or creation of disabled work places.

Special Provisions for the Cantons

• The cantons shall ensure that children and young people with disabilities receive a basic education adapted to their special needs.
• Wherever possible and beneficial to the child or young person with a disability, the cantons shall provide suitable forms of schooling to encourage the integration of children and young people with disabilities in the regular school system.
• In particular, they shall ensure that that children and young people with perceptual or articulation disorders and persons close to them can learn a communication technique appropriate for the disability.

Autism policy/strategy/bill

Policy and Funding of ABA Services in Switzerland

• At this present time ABA is not a state recognised service discipline in Switzerland.
• It is applied mainly in the area of EIBI (early intensive behavioural intervention) with children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and/or with children, adolescents or adults with ASD other developmental or behavioural disorders.
• To our knowledge there are no services in the other areas of ABA (see also ABA practice).

Services for children with autism in Switzerland

• Health services in Switzerland are provided by public clinics and hospitals and by private doctors and hospitals.
• Very few specialists working with young children with autism have training in ABA.
• Very little ABA is used in schools, most of the staff that are specialized in autism have training in TEACCH and the so-called Affolter-model®
• Despite of the changes seen in the last ten years, treatment for a child with autism in Switzerland still implies a constant battle on all grounds for the parents.

References:

Marshak, Laura, et al. "Exploring barriers to college student use of disability services and accommodations." Journal of Postsecondary Education and disability 22.3 (2010): 151-165.

Marshak, L., Van Wieren, T., Ferrell, D. R., Swiss, L., & Dugan, C. (2010). Exploring barriers to college student use of disability services and accommodations. Journal of Postsecondary Education and disability, 22(3), 151-165.