The democratically elected presidents of the federations are voting members of the CONADIS Board of Directors. They participate in disability-related policy-making and planning at the national level such as creation of the Strategic Plan for the Disability Sector, 2002-2006, the 2nd National Disability Plan.⁷³ The federations played a key role in the inclusion of amendments to the Political Constitution that included explicit language on people with disabilities and disability rights. They were also important participants in the amending of the Disability Act in 2001, the design of the General Regulations on Special Education, and the content of the Childhood and Adolescence Code

As demonstrated by the inclusion of representatives from disability organizations in CONADIS, discussions bringing together various stakeholders are widely used in the development of disability policy. This process ensures that all parties are given the opportunity to express their views on proposed policies.⁷⁴

One result has been the creation of advocacy networks such as the Disability Rights Advocacy Network.⁷⁵ Another example is the Network for the Advancement of Rights and Mental Health, created in April 2001.⁷⁶ Despite these efforts at including stakeholders in the policy process, however, many individual people with disabilities remain unaware of their rights and the mechanisms in place to demand their enforcement.

The 1st National Disability Plan, currently in force, was released in 1991. The 2nd National Disability Plan for Ecuador, which will lay out an action plan for the next decade, is currently in the process of approval. The proposal developed by CONADIS was submitted to provincial representatives of CONADIS, presidents of national disability federations, governmental representatives of the relevant Ministries (Economy, Human Development, Health, Education, and Housing), and non-governmental representatives related to the disability field. The Final Consensus Workshop for the 2nd National Disability Plan took place in Quito in 5-7 November 2003.⁷⁷ The budget has not been presented for approval yet. The plan must now be approved by the CONADIS Board of Directors and the President of the Republic.

The plan addresses both general strategic guidelines and specific strategies for action. It focuses on three main topics: disability prevention, care for people with disabilities, and social integration. For each area, the document identifies the most important problems, programs that can address those problems, and the organization or institution responsible for implementation. The 1st National Disability Plan was important in the creation of the current legal framework protecting disability rights, so this instrument is also expected to be important in directing action in the future.

73. Ibid.

74. Government of the Province of Pichincha, Plan General de Desarrollo Provincial 2002 - 2022 [General Provincial Development Plan 2002-2022], (Consultation Meeting for People with Disabilities, AH / editorial, Quito, 2002).

75. Pilar Samaniego de García (President), interviewed by author.

76. Hernán Chávez (Director of the National Mental Health Office, Ecuador Ministry of Public Health), interviewed by author.

77. The workshop was sponsored by CONADIS.