02430nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653000900084653002100093653003200114653001400146653001500160653001100175653001200186653001100198653001000209653002500219653001200244653000900256653001600265653002500281653002100306653001700327100001300344700001300357700001000370700001300380245010300393300001100496490000700507050003200514520147200546022001402018       2006                            d  c2006 Jul-Sep10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aDisabled Persons10aDiscrimination (Psychology)10aEducation10aEmployment10aFemale10aHousing10aHumans10aIndia10aInstitutionalization10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aSelf-help groups10aUnemployment1 aRobins R1 aMartin D1 aRaj D1 aRaju M S00aAwareness about the persons with disability act among leprosy patients and other disabled persons.  a217-290 v78  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>To assess the level of awareness about the different provisions of the Persons with Disability Act (PWD Act) among leprosy patients and other disabled, 233 disabled persons from the self-help groups formed by Vadathorasalur Leprosy Control Unit have been interviewed using a structured interview checklist. The results show that 74.7% of the respondents were aware that identity cards are available for the disabled, 56.2% were aware of the free education benefit to the disabled, as low as 35.6% were aware of the scholarships, 33% knew about the employment reservations, 24.9% heard about the housing scheme of the government for the disabled, but 24.5% only knew about law against discrimination, 31.8% came in contact with institutions for the severely disabled and only 16% were aware of the unemployment allowance to the disabled. The level of awareness is low among women with regard to all components of the Act. It was found that students studying up to secondary level were not aware of the availability of scholarships and free education, which needs to be seriously looked into, especially by educational institutions. The level of formal education played a significant role in increasing awareness about the Act among literates. The knowledge is low among persons of all occupations. The study showed that there is a great need for an educational intervention programme to publicize the provisions of the Act among the disabled and their families.</p>  a0254-9395