In Nicaragua, the National Council for Rehabilitation (CNR), run jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, coordinates the cross-institutional efforts and develops rehabilitation policies for persons with disabilities. As of April 2004 no such policies have been made known to the public.38 With no National Disability Action Plan, each government office or entity applies its own policies independently.
There is no cross-disability organization in Nicaragua. Thus, disability
organizations develop disability-specific plans of action. The cooperation among
disability non-governmental organizations appears to be increasing as a result
of their participation in the National Council of Rehabilitation and the drafting
of standards on accessibility coordinated by the MTI. Currently, the largest
organization in this sector is the Nicaraguan Federation of Organizations for
Rehabilitation and Integration (FECONORI), which is made up of organizations
that represent persons with multiple disabilities. FENOCORI has three major
goals: social integration, accessibility, and human rights protections. Among the
obstacles to achieving more effective disability action are noncompliance with
Law 202, ineffective operation of the CNR, the lack of coordination in the disability
sector, and the lack of financial resources. In order to advance the rights of
persons with disabilities, more unified disability organizations at the governmental
and non-governmental levels are necessary.
38. http://www.grupoese.com.ni/2001/bn/02/01/bg1MN0201.htm.