Evaluating Persons with Disabilities about Awareness of their Rights as Citizens of Pakistan: A Survey with Reference to ICT Rights of PWD’s Act 2020

Abstract

Purpose: Awareness of human rights are significant in the safety of the citizen of a country. While the government has set up detailed rights for people with disabilities, due to the lack of awareness many people with disabilities in Pakistan are not able to access educational, vocational or employment facilities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate people with disabilities’ awareness of their rights as citizens of Pakistan. Methodology: The study was quantitative in nature. To collect and evaluate data, the researcher designed a questionnaire of twenty-four statements. The variance was calculated to evaluate awareness based on the age, gender, employment status and disability of the participants. Findings: Major findings of the study revealed that participants of age twenty-seven and above and who were employed, were aware of most of the mentioned rights, while participants who were below age twenty-seven or students, were unaware or partially aware of most of the mentioned rights. Implications: Seminars and webinars should be conducted to the awareness of the rights of people with different abilities in educational institutions for people with disabilities, for parents of children with disabilities as well as for the common public so, that people with different abilities feel included and safe in society.