Providing medical care to persons with disabilities

States should ensure the provision of effective medical care to persons with disabilities. States should work towards the provision of programmes run by multidisciplinary teams of professionals for early detection, assessment and treatment of impairment. This could prevent, reduce or eliminate disabling effects. Such programmes should ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities and their families at the individual level, and of organizations of persons with disabilities. Local community workers should be trained to participate in areas such as early detection of impairments, the provision of primary assistance and referral to appropriate services. States should ensure that persons with disabilities, particularly infants and children, are provided with the same level of medical care within the same system as other members of society. States should ensure that all medical and paramedical personnel are adequately trained and equipped to give medical care to persons with disabilities and that they have access to relevant treatment methods and technology. States should ensure that medical, paramedical and related personnel are adequately trained so that they do not give inappropriate advice to parents, thus restricting options for their children. This training should be an ongoing process and should be based on the latest information available; states should ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with any regular treatment and medicines they may need to preserve or improve their level of functioning.