coordination and technical rigour in the information gathering on disability. There is an urgent need to conduct a national wide disability survey. 30. There are several groups with severe disabilities who do not receive financial support. Presently, financial assistance is provided only for the blind among persons with disabilities. The Welfare Section of the Ministry of Health and Family provides monthly financial support to some persons with disabilities through the social safety net scheme on absolute poverty. People who receive income support on the grounds of disability and/or health conditions are likely to increase in the future and it is critically important to develop a set of standard criteria that can be used to provide adequate and equitable financial assistance for persons with disabilities. 31. Persons with disabilities who live outside Male’ face barriers in access to government services. Some of the procedures for obtaining services require people to visit Male’ and the full costs of travel and accommodation has to be borne by the applicant. Some procedures also require people to obtain certification from IGMH doctors based in Male’. There are no psychiatrists and psychologists in the regional hospitals and physiotherapy services are also limited in the atolls. There is a need for immediate review of the procedures for access to government service and ensure that people resident in any atoll of the Maldives have ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES equal and equitable access to services and support. ... 14 32. There is limited knowledge of disability related issues among government staff. The social service workers and counsellors working in the Family and Children Services Centres have received only basic training on disability. Training for staff must focus on increasing confidence, while also addressing the basics of disability as a rights issue. 33. There are many barriers that prevent persons with disabilities getting from place to place. Living an ordinary life means being able to get from place to place, whether it’s from home to school or work, to friends’ places, to social events. The roads, pavements, road signs and traffic lights are not designed to be friendly for persons with disabilities. The passenger dhonis and speed boats do not have any special seating or built in accessibility considerations for persons with disabilities. 34. Limited access to premises that provide services to persons with disabilities is a major service gap. There is an urgent need to make premises such as homes, hospitals, schools,