Providing support services for persons with disabilities

States should ensure the development and supply of support services, including assistive devices for persons with disabilities, to assist them to increase their level of independence in their daily living and to exercise their rights. States should ensure the provision of assistive devices and equipment, personal assistance and interpreter services, according to the needs of persons with disabilities, as important measures to achieve the equalization of opportunities. States should support the development, production, distribution and servicing of assistive devices and equipment and the dissemination of knowledge about them. To achieve this, generally available technical know-how should be utilized. In states where high-technology industry is available, it should be fully utilized to improve the standard and effectiveness of assistive devices and equipment. It is important to stimulate the development and production of simple and inexpensive devices, when possible using local material and local production facilities. Persons with disabilities themselves could be involved in the production of these devices. States should recognize that all persons with disabilities who need assistive devices should have access to them as appropriate, including financial accessibility. This may mean that assistive devices and equipment should be provided free of charge or at such a low price that persons with disabilities or their families can afford to buy them. In rehabilitation programmes for the provision of assistive devices and equipment, states should consider the special requirements of girls and boys with disabilities concerning the design, durability and age appropriateness of assistive devices and equipment. States should support the development and provision of personal assistance programmes and interpretation services, especially for persons with severe and/or multiple disabilities. Such programmes would increase the level of participation of persons with disabilities in everyday life, at home, at work, in school and during leisure-time activities. Personal assistance programmes should be designed in such a way that the persons with disabilities using the programmes have a decisive influence on the way in which the programmer are delivered.