The purpose of the present Law shall be to regulate relations in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

The legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities shall consist of the present Law and other legislative acts.

If an international treaty of the Republic of Uzbekistan establishes other rules than those provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the rights of persons with disabilities, the rules of the international treaty shall apply.

The following basic concepts shall be applied in the present Law:

Discrimination on the grounds of disability – any segregation, exclusion, dismissal, or restriction due to disability, the purpose or result of which is to deny the recognition or enjoyment – equally with others – of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or other field;

communication — the use of languages, texts, the braille alphabet, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia tools, as well as printed materials, audio tools, ordinary language, as well as augmentative and alternative methods, means, and forms of communication, including accessible information and communication technology;

Children (child) with disabilities – persons under the age of eighteen years who – due to limitations on their vital activity due to persistent physical, mental, sensory (sensual), or mental impairments – require social care and protection of their rights and legitimate interests by the state and society;

Person with a disability – a person with persistent physical, mental, sensory (sensual), or mental impairments, who needs social care and protection, creation of conditions for full and effective participation on an equal basis with others in the political, economic, social life of society and the state;

Social protection of persons with disabilities – a system of economic, social, and legal measures guaranteed by the state, which provide persons with disabilities with the conditions to overcome, replace (compensate) the limitations of vital activity and aimed at creating equal opportunities with other citizens to participate in the life of society and the state;

Public associations of persons with disabilities – nongovernmental non-profit organizations created by persons with disabilities to protect the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of persons with disabilities and to provide opportunities equal to those of other citizens to participate in the life of society and the state;

Prosthetic and orthopedic aids – products designed to replace missing limbs or other parts of the body, compensating for impaired or lost functions of the body;

Sign language interpretation – a method of translation with the help of dactylic alphabet and (or) sign language from any language;

reasonable accommodation — making adjustments in a specific situation for persons with disabilities to exercise human rights and freedoms on an equal basis with others;

Medico-social expert examination – determining based on a comprehensive assessment of clinical, functional, social, occupational, and psychological data of the person being examined; the degree of loss of health and the degree of limitation of his/her vital functions caused by an enduring disorder of the functions of the body; the disability group; the cause and time of its onset; and issuing recommendations on the types of work and working conditions possible for the person due to his/her health condition, the need for outside care, appropriate types of sanatorium treatment, and social protection;

Typhlo-technical aids – means aimed at correcting and compensating for the lost capabilities of persons with disabilities as a result of a visual impairment;

Limitation of vital activity of a person – full or partial loss by a person of the ability or possibility to perform self-service, movement, orientation, communication, control over own behavior, as well as engage in training and labor activity.

The basic principles of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities shall be as follows:

Respect for the dignity of persons with disabilities, their independence, and freedom of choice;

Inadmissibility of discrimination on the grounds of disability;

Equality of opportunities in the exercise of human rights and freedoms;

Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and their right to preserve their individuality;

Accessibility of facilities and services;

Involvement of persons with disabilities in the life of society and the state.

Respect for the dignity of persons with disabilities, their independence, and freedom of choice shall be ensured through the establishment of guarantees for the protection and the exercise of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities and their families on an equal basis with other citizens.

Any segregation, exclusion, dismissal, restriction, or preference with regard to persons with disabilities, as well as refusal to create conditions for access to facilities and services by persons with disabilities shall be prohibited.

Special measures aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and their involvement in the life of society and the state shall not be deemed discriminatory against other citizens.

Equality of opportunities in the exercise of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities shall be ensured through the implementation of measures to guarantee their accessibility and provide equal access to facilities and services, social, economic, and cultural spheres, healthcare, education, employment, as well as information and means of communication.

Children with disabilities shall fully enjoy all human rights and freedoms on an equal basis with other children.

In all actions taken in relation to children with disabilities, priority shall be given to the primacy of their interests with the aim of comprehensive and harmonious development of children with disabilities, the promotion of their social activity, interest in labor, inclusion in education, science, technology, art, and sports.

Accessibility of facilities and services shall be ensured by creating conditions for persons with disabilities to have access – on an equal basis with other citizens – to buildings, facilities, transport, information, and means of communication, including information-communication technologies and systems, as well as to other facilities and services provided to the public.

The planning and development of cities and other settlements, the formation of residential and recreational areas, the development of design solutions for new construction, the reconstruction of buildings, structures and their complexes, as well as the development and production of public transportation means, information and means of communication without accommodating these facilities for unhindered access to them by persons with disabilities shall not be permitted.

Involvement of persons with disabilities in the life of society and the state shall be carried out by comprehensively encouraging their participation in public and political life and preventing any form of restriction.

State bodies shall carry out measures to involve persons with disabilities in the life of society and the state.

The following shall be the main areas of state policy in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities:

Taking comprehensive measures to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities;

Protection of the honor and dignity of persons with disabilities;

Ensuring the equality of rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with other citizens;

Involvement of persons with disabilities in the life of society and the state;

Organization of awareness and educational work in society on issues of respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;

Ensuring compliance with legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities;

Ensuring openness and transparency in the activities of state bodies and their officials to protect the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of persons with disabilities;

to ensure the possibility of receiving inclusive education (preschool, additional, general secondary, secondary specialized, professional, higher, and postgraduate education) for persons with disabilities;

Development of cooperation between state bodies and nongovernmental non-profit organizations in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

Ensure the implementation of state policy in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Ensure the development, approval, and implementation of state programmes in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Ensure the implementation of legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities;

Exercise control over the activities of state administration bodies in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

It shall carry out supervision over the activity of the republican executive hokimiyat bodies concerning the securing of the rights of persons with disabilities;

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan may also exercise other powers in accordance with the legislation.

The republican executive hokimiyat bodies shall, within the scope of their powers:

Implement state policy in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Determine priority areas for ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Develop and implement state programs for rehabilitation, social protection and ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Ensure the implementation of legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities;

Finance and organize scientific research and training of specialists in the field of medical, professional, and social rehabilitation of persons with disabilities;

Take measures to develop a network of inpatient social service institutions for persons with disabilities in need of nursing care and aid;

Create a network of rehabilitation, research and production centers, inpatient social service institutions for persons with disabilities, specialized educational institutions and sanatoriums, and create organizations to provide social and domestic services to persons with disabilities;

Create a network of rehabilitation therapy departments in outpatient and inpatient treatment and prevention institutions of the state healthcare system.

The republican executive hokimiyat bodies may also exercise other powers in accordance with the legislation.

Local government bodies shall:

Ensure the implementation of legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities;

Develop, approve, and implement territorial programs for rehabilitation, social protection, and ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Establish a minimum number of jobs for the employment of persons with disabilities.

Local government bodies may also exercise other powers in accordance with the legislation.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall establish the Interagency Council for Persons with Disabilities to coordinate the activities of state bodies implementing the state policy on ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities and to develop concerted actions aimed at ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the present Law.

The composition of the Interagency Council for Persons with Disabilities shall include representatives of ministries, agencies, and organizations whose competence includes the implementation of state policy to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as representatives of nongovernmental non-profit organizations, including public associations of persons with disabilities.

One of the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be the Chairman of the Interagency Council for Persons with Disabilities.

Sessions of the Interagency Council for Persons with Disabilities shall be convened by the chairman as necessary, but at least once a half-year.

The Regulations on the Interagency Council for Persons with Disabilities and its personal composition shall be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Citizens' self-governance bodies and nongovernmental non-profit organizations shall contribute to ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

Citizens' self-governing bodies and nongovernmental non-profit organizations shall be entitled to the following:

Receive legal, methodological, organizational, and financial aid from the state and – in the prescribed manner – from international organizations in carrying out activities to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities;

Participate in addressing the problems related to social protection of persons with disabilities, as well as in financing relevant activities;

Participate in creating conditions for persons with disabilities to have access – on an equal basis with other citizens – to buildings, facilities, transport, information, and means of communication, including information-communication technologies and systems, as well as to other facilities and services rendered to the public;

Carry out public oversight of compliance with legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Citizens' self-government bodies and nongovernmental non-profit organizations shall also be entitled to engage with other activities on ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

Public associations of persons with disabilities shall be entitled to participate in the formulation of state policy in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities as follows:

to submit proposals to the republican executive hokimiyat bodies, economic management bodies, and local executive bodies regarding the securing of the rights and legal interests of persons with disabilities;

The republican executive hokimiyat bodies, economic management bodies, and local executive bodies shall cooperate with public associations of persons with disabilities and their authorized representatives in the preparation and adoption of decisions affecting the interests of persons with disabilities.

Submit proposals to the drafts of regulatory-legal acts being developed on the matters of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities;

Participate in the work and sessions of the Interagency Council for Persons with Disabilities;

Organize – jointly with authorized state bodies – sports, awareness-raising, and cultural events.

State administration and economic management bodies and local government bodies shall interact with public associations of persons with disabilities and their authorized representatives in the preparation and adoption of decisions affecting the interests of persons with disabilities.

Legal entities and individuals shall be entitled to provide material, technical, and financial aid to the public associations of persons with disabilities.

Any discrimination on the grounds of disability shall be prohibited.

To ensure equal opportunities and prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability, state bodies shall implement measures to ensure opportunities for equal access of persons with disabilities to facilities and services, social, economic, and cultural areas, healthcare, education, employment, as well as information, and means of communication.

The state shall guarantee equal and effective legal protection of persons with disabilities from all forms of discrimination.

The state shall take measures to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of opportunities to exercise fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right to protection against encroachments; to privacy of their personal life, family, home or correspondence; and to protection of their honor and dignity in accordance with the procedure stipulated by the legislation.

The state shall take measures to ensure the confidentiality of information about the identity and health status of a person with a disability.

The state shall take measures to ensure the rights of children with disabilities to a family and family environment; to reduce the number of children with disabilities placed in specialized institutions; to provide them with alternative care by involving relatives in family settings and within other forms of accommodation of children with disabilities.

The state shall provide material, advisory, and other aid and support to families raising children with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right on an equal basis with other citizens to acquire and change citizenship and to free travel within the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and to enter and leave the Republic of Uzbekistan, subject to the restrictions imposed on citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan by the legislation.

The state and the nongovernmental non-profit organizations, including public associations of persons with disabilities shall inform persons with disabilities of the availability and accessibility of support programs and services that take into account their age, gender, and form of disability, as well as personal needs.

The state shall ensure that persons with disabilities have access to governmental and special housing programs.

The state shall ensure the necessary conditions and opportunities for persons with disabilities and families with a disabled member to acquire housing at affordable prices.

Records of persons with disabilities in need of housing or improvement of their housing conditions shall be kept by the local executive authorities.

When local executive authorities compose lists of citizens in need of housing or improved housing conditions, persons with disabilities and families with a disabled member shall be included in a separate list.

Persons with disabilities shall be entitled to housing and preferential mortgage loans under governmental and special housing construction programs on preferential terms.

The costs related to the acquisition of land plots by persons with disabilities and families including a person with a disability through electronic online auctions shall be compensated in the manner prescribed by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In housing allotment, persons with disabilities shall – wherever possible – be provided with housing close to their place of work, medical and rehabilitation facilities, while observing the principle of accessibility of facilities and services.

Persons with disabilities may be provided – at their request – with living quarters on the lower floors of apartment buildings of the state housing fund. Persons with disabilities who have apartments on the upper floors shall be entitled to exchange them for living quarters located on the lower floors, subject to the availability of vacant living quarters.

The living quarters provided to persons with disabilities or to families with a disabled member shall comply with the principle of accessibility of facilities and services.

Living quarters occupied by persons with disabilities shall be equipped with special aids and appliances for free movement and use by persons with disabilities. Equipment of these living quarters shall be performed by local executive authorities.

Persons with disabilities shall be entitled to receive social housing on preferential terms and conditions.

The republican executive hokimiyat bodies, local executive bodies, and organizations must create conditions for unimpeded access for persons with disabilities, including persons using wheelchairs and guide dogs, to all social infrastructure facilities (residential premises, public and production buildings, structures and installations, healthcare and sports facilities, cultural and entertainment institutions, and other institutions) and must implement targeted measures for the reasonable accommodation of social infrastructure facilities.

The design, construction, and reconstruction of public buildings and structures – regardless of their organizational and legal status – shall be performed with consideration of the needs of persons with disabilities.

When designing, constructing, and reconstructing public buildings and structures, measures shall be provided for the creation of parking spaces of a suitable quantity and size for use by persons with disabilities.

When acquiring and installing elevators in residential buildings and social infrastructure facilities, the organizations concerned – regardless of their organizational and legal status – shall be obliged to ensure the accessibility and possibility of using elevators for all categories of persons with disabilities.

Acceptance for operation of construction and reconstructed facilities of social-domestic and cultural purpose shall be carried out with the inclusion in the composition of the state acceptance commission of representatives of public associations of persons with disabilities.

Creating conditions for access to facilities and services for persons with disabilities shall be an mandatory part of construction projects. Norms and regulations for the construction and reconstruction of buildings, structures, and their complexes shall be developed with consideration of the opinions of public associations of persons with disabilities.

Accessibility of transportation facilities and road infrastructure shall be ensured by organizations (regardless of their organizational and legal status) that provide public transportation services, with the involvement of public associations of persons with disabilities through the following:

Equipment of public transport with special aids and appliances to create accessibility for persons with disabilities, including arrangement of separate seats, information boards for the hearing impaired, and voice announcements of stops;

Reproduction in large font of contrasting colors of routes and signs of urban and rural public transport means;

Equipment of passenger train carriages with special seats and outfitting of platforms, as well as railway stations with specialized mechanical ramps;

Outfitting and equipping of stopping areas, taking into account urban development norms and rules, including installation of ramps and handrails, application of tactile coating on the areas in front of the vehicle entrance doors, as well as installation of electronic information boards;

Adaptation of crosswalks and intersections, streets and public roads in compliance with the needs of persons with disabilities;

Installation of audible and visual signaling systems at intersections;

Escorting people with disabilities to vehicles at airports and air terminals, major railway stations, as well as in the subway;

Equipment of special waiting places for persons with disabilities.

The development and production of domestic transportation means shall be carried out taking into account the needs of persons with disabilities.

Owners of hotels shall be obliged to equip at least one room of the total room stock accessible to persons with disabilities who use a wheelchair, as well as ensure the installation of displays and sounding devices for announcements that meet the needs of persons with hearing and vision disabilities.

The state shall guarantee persons with disabilities the exercise of the rights to information and provide persons with disabilities with information intended for the general public, in accessible formats and using technologies that take into account the different forms of disability.

The state shall promote the use of sign language and other alternative forms of communication as a means of human communication.

The state shall ensure that persons with disabilities have access to television programs, films, theater and other cultural events in formats that are accessible to them. The state television channels shall ensure the broadcasting of news programs with sign language interpretation or subtitles.

The state shall ensure the publication of fiction, school textbooks, other didactic materials and educational tools using alternative forms of communication (Braille script and audio versions).

State bodies and organizations shall be obliged to create additional opportunities on their official websites for persons with disabilities to access information posted there and to use services.

State bodies and organizations shall take into account compliance with the criteria of accessibility for all categories of persons with disabilities when performing state orders for public procurement of information-communication equipment and information support.

State bodies and organizations shall hire – wherever necessary – a sign language interpreter under contract to ensure communication between a representative of that state body or organization and a person with a hearing impairment.

State bodies and organizations shall ensure access for persons with disabilities to objects of tangible cultural heritage, tourist and sports facilities and installations, as well as recreational facilities.

Theaters, museums, cinemas, information and library institutions and information and resource centers, and parks of culture and recreation shall be accessible to persons with disabilities.

In order to provide access for persons with disabilities to objects of tangible cultural heritage, tourist and sports facilities and installations, as well as recreation facilities, organizations – regardless of their organizational and legal status – shall perform the following with the participation of public associations of persons with disabilities:

Facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities and their families in cultural, sporting, and tourist events;

Organize – in partnership with nongovernmental non-profit organizations – cultural, sporting, and recreational events;

Create the necessary conditions and opportunities for persons with disabilities to engage in sports, hold sports competitions, and participate in them;

Provide assistance to nongovernmental non-profit organizations whose activities are aimed at involving persons with disabilities in sports and the cultural life of society;

Participate in promoting and encouraging the participation of persons with disabilities in sporting events of all levels.

Organizations – regardless of their organizational and legal status – shall create the conditions to ensure access for persons with disabilities to sports facilities, recreation facilities, and tourist facilities, including on a free-of-charge basis.

Sports halls and the premises of state-owned sports facilities and structures shall be provided free of charge to persons with disabilities for engaging in sports, with the exception of cases stipulated by legislation.

The state shall provide education and training for coaches, judges, and other specialists in Paralympic sports.

State bodies shall develop and implement annually – jointly with nongovernmental non-profit organizations, including public associations of persons with disabilities – the programs to create conditions and attract persons with disabilities to engage in sports.

The state shall create a system of material support for persons with disabilities to engage in sports.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right to appeal to state bodies, organizations, and their officials either individually or collectively.

State bodies, organizations, and their officials shall be obliged to comply with the requirements of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan when considering appeals, and to take measures to ensure their full, objective, and timely consideration, as well as to take measures within their powers to ensure the restoration of violated rights, freedoms, and protection of the legitimate interests of persons with disabilities.

State bodies, organizations, and their officials shall be obligated to create the necessary conditions for persons with disabilities to access with appeals (applications, complaints, proposals) through the following:

Recognizing and supporting sign language as a means of interpersonal communication, as well as taking measures for its development and application in various spheres of life of society and the state;

Provision of sign language interpretation services in cases necessary to protect and exercise the rights of persons with disabilities;

The use of facsimile signatures by persons with disabilities to sign their appeals.

Persons with hearing and speech disabilities shall be provided the services of a sign language interpreter when:

Conducting investigative actions or participating in court proceedings in criminal, civil, administrative, and economic cases;

Notarization of documents or transactions;

Training in driving or computer skills;

Provision of public services.

Persons with hearing and speech disabilities may also be provided with sign language interpreter services in other cases stipulated by the legislation.

The state shall annually provide training for sign language interpreters, teachers of the deaf, speech therapists, and speech and language pathologists.

The facsimile signature of a person with a disability – a specially prepared stamp (cliché), which replaces the handwritten signature of a person with a disability, who is unable to handwrite his/her signature for reasons of health status (impaired vision, absence of limbs, impaired coordination of movement, paralysis).

The facsimile signature of a person with a disability may be used by a person with a disability only if – due to physical disabilities – he/she is unable to sign necessary documents using his/her handwritten signature.

A facsimile signature shall be made for the person with a disability, and shall be used by him/her throughout his/her life. If the facsimile signature is lost, a duplicate shall be made.

No one shall be restricted in the exercise of his/her civil rights as a result of the use of the facsimile signature.

For the purpose of developing and strengthening the sense of respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in the public mind, the state bodies shall ensure the following:

Promote through the media and the press a positive perception of the active social role of persons with disabilities;

Promote the capacity and contribution of persons with disabilities in the development of society and the state;

Foster the mass media towards a positive and tolerant portrayal of persons with disabilities that promotes their social integration;

Implement measures to eradicate stereotypes and prejudices against persons with disabilities from the public mind;

Educate at all stages of education, including among children from an early age, the respect for persons with disabilities;

Promote an appreciation of the merits and abilities of persons with disabilities and their contribution to collective achievements in the workplace and the labor market;

Develop and implement educational and awareness-raising programs on persons with disabilities and their rights.

The state shall place an annual state order for the following:

Production of feature films, documentaries, performances aimed at eradicating stereotypes and prejudices against persons with disabilities in society, as well as at creating a positive image of persons with disabilities;

Production and placement of social advertising information and publications in the media aimed at promoting the capacity and contribution of persons with disabilities in the life of society and the state, as well as at creating a positive image of persons with disabilities.

Social advertising information and clips aimed at presenting a positive image of persons with disabilities shall be placed on television channels, in the press, and in other mass media.

Courses and study subjects on the rights of persons with disabilities shall be conducted in higher educational institutions of legal and humanitarian orientation.

The recognition of a citizen as a person with a disability shall be performed by medico-social expert commissions, and for children under the age of eighteen – by pediatric medico-social expert commissions.

A person shall be referred for a medico-social expert examination by a state medical institution, with the exception of the cases stipulated by part 3 of this Article.

Medical organizations – regardless of their organizational and legal status – shall have the right to refer for medico-social expert examination the persons with obvious signs of disability, without performing additional examinations to obtain clinical and functional data.

If a person, due to their health condition, is unable to visit the medical-social expert commission and this is confirmed by the conclusion of a medical institution, the medical-social expertise shall be conducted at the person's home or in the inpatient facility where the person is undergoing treatment, at the person's request.

Representatives of local employment agencies, local government bodies, trade unions, insurance and other organizations, as well as representatives of public associations of people with disabilities shall be entitled to take part in meetings of the medico-social expert commission.

Certification shall be performed no later than ten calendar days from the date medico-social expert commissions accept medical documents. The person referred to undergo a medico-social expert examination shall be notified of the day of the examination by the medico-social expert commission within two working days from the day medical documents are accepted. When a disability is established, a citizen shall be recognized a person with a disability from the date on which the documents are accepted by medico-social expert commissions.

Based on the results of the medico-social expert examination, a citizen, recognized as a person with a disability shall be determined the group, cause, and time period for establishing a disability, and children under the age of eighteen – the category "Children with Disabilities" with a time period for re-examination.

Disability without a re-examination period shall be established for persistent, irreversible morphological changes and disorders of the functions of human organs and systems, the impossibility of improving the course of illness and recovery and social adaptation due to the ineffectiveness of rehabilitation measures taken, in accordance with the list of diseases and anatomical defects, approved in line with the established procedure.

Re-examination earlier than the specified deadlines shall be performed when the health status and the degree of restriction of vital activities change, or when facts are revealed that medico-social expert commissions made unreasonable decisions, or when a control function is performed by higher medico-social expert commissions.

Medico-social expert commissions shall be assigned to state medical institutions equipped with the necessary equipment to conduct free examinations.

The republican executive hokimiyat bodies and other state organizations shall, within the scope of their powers, analyze the production, social, environmental, and other causes of the emergence of diseases leading to disability in order to study the factors and conditions affecting the emergence of disability.

With a view to develop a database of persons with disabilities and to record and analyze the structure of disabilities, the medico-social expert commissions shall keep personal files of persons (children) with disabilities.

The criteria and mechanisms for establishing disability shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The purpose of rehabilitating persons with disabilities shall be to restore their social status and abilities to self-care and various types of professional activity, enabling them to lead a full-fledged life and to exercise their rights and potential opportunities.

The state shall guarantee the medical, social, vocational, and physical rehabilitation and habilitation of persons with disabilities in state institutions.

Medical rehabilitation shall mean a set of medical services, aimed at the preservation and partial or full restoration of impaired and/or lost functions of organs and body systems of the persons with disabilities.

Social rehabilitation shall mean a set of measures aimed at creating the conditions for persons with disabilities to overcome limitations on their vital activities, restore their social status, the possibility of self-care and independent living, and their return to habitual conditions of family life in society.

Vocational rehabilitation shall mean a set of measures aimed at providing vocational guidance, vocational training, and employment for persons with disabilities, as well as restoring their lost vocational knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Physical rehabilitation shall mean the restoration (correction and compensation) of impaired or temporarily lost functions of the body and abilities to engage in social and vocational activity by persons with disabilities through the use of means and methods of physical culture and sports.

Rehabilitation and habilitation of disabled persons shall be organized in compliance with an individual disabled person rehabilitation program.

Habilitation shall mean a set of medical, social, pedagogical, psychological, and other correctional measures, aimed at the development of absent (innate) and (or) undeveloped functions of the body for adaptation to life in society.

Habilitation services shall include medico-social, psychological, pedagogical, and other correctional services provided to children at risk.

Children at risk shall mean children under the age of three who are at high risk of physical and/or mental retardation in the absence of early intervention and necessary medical, social, psychological, pedagogical, or other correctional support.

Habilitation services shall be provided by medico-social organizations, as well as specialized organizations for the provision of medico-social services, regardless of their organizational and legal status.

The habilitation of persons (children) with disabilities shall be performed by qualified personnel to the maximum extent adapted to their needs.

An individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall mean a set of rehabilitation measures optimal for a person with a disability, developed on the basis of a medico-social expert examination, including certain types, forms, volumes, timing, and procedure for implementing medical, social, vocational and physical rehabilitation measures, aimed at restoring and compensating for impaired or lost body functions, as well as the abilities of a person with a disability to perform certain types of work activity.

For a disabled person, an individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall be developed within ten days of a medico-social expert examination.

The individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall be mandatory for execution by state bodies and organizations, citizens' self-governance bodies, and other organizations, regardless of their organizational and legal status.

The individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall be developed on the basis of a multidisciplinary assessment, performed by specialists in medical, social, educational, and vocational fields.

State bodies and organizations, citizens' self-governance bodies, as well as other organizations, regardless of organizational and legal status, shall ensure the rigorous, timely, and full implementation of the measures stipulated in individual disabled person rehabilitation programs.

When developing an individual disabled person rehabilitation program, physicians of the medico-social expert commission shall inform the disabled person of his/her rights, provided by the present Law.

Financing of measures to implement an individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall be performed at the expense of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other sources, not prohibited by legislation.

When performing the measures specified in an individual disabled person rehabilitation program, the disabled person shall have the right to the following:

Equal and respectful treatment by those involved in the rehabilitation process;

Complete and reliable information about their rights and opportunities, as well as the nature, quality, and conditions of rehabilitation;

Involvement of representatives of nongovernmental non-profit organizations, including public associations of persons with disabilities, at any stage of the rehabilitation process.

An individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall have a recommendatory nature for a disabled person. This person shall be entitled to refuse either type, form, or volume of rehabilitation measures, as well as the implementation of the program as a whole. A disabled person shall be entitled to independently decide the issue of providing him/herself with a specific technical rehabilitation device or other means or type of rehabilitation, including cars, wheelchairs, prosthetic/orthopedic aids, printed publications with special typefaces, sound-amplifying equipment, signalling devices, video materials with subtitles or sign-language interpretation, and other similar means.

Technical rehabilitation devices and services shall – as a rule – be provided to individuals with disabilities in kind.

If a technical rehabilitation device or service, stipulated by an individual disabled person rehabilitation program, cannot be provided, or if the disabled person has acquired the corresponding device or paid for the service at his/her own expense, then he/she shall be paid compensation in the amount of the cost of the technical rehabilitation device or service, which was to have been provided to the disabled person.

Should a disabled person decline an individual disabled person rehabilitation program as a whole, or the implementation of individual parts thereof, state bodies and organizations, citizens' self-governance bodies, as well as other organizations, regardless of their organizational and legal status, shall not bear responsibility for the failure to implement it.

The procedure for developing and implementing an individual disabled person rehabilitation program shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The state shall promote the development of the rehabilitation industry in order to develop and organize the production of modern prosthetic-orthopedic products and technical rehabilitation devices.

The State Register (List) of prosthetic-orthopedic products and technical rehabilitation devices, the procedure for providing such devices, as well as the list of medical indications and contraindications for providing persons with disabilities with technical rehabilitation devices shall be determined in line with the established procedure.

Financing of expenditure commitments to provide persons with disabilities with prosthetic-orthopedic aids and technical rehabilitation devices, including their manufacture and repair shall be carried out at the expense of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Additional funds for financing expenses for the prosthetic-orthopedic aids and technical rehabilitation devices for persons with disabilities, stipulated by this Article may also be obtained from other sources, not prohibited by legislation.

An entrepreneurial subject whose total revenue at the end of the reporting period comes from the production of prosthetic and orthopedic devices and accessories for persons with disabilities, or from the provision of orthopedic prosthetic services to them, or from the repair and maintenance of prosthetic and orthopedic devices and accessories, constituting at least thirty percent of the total volume, shall have the following rights:

Advantage in contracting based on the results of competitive bidding for the sale of state property facilities at "zero" redemption value, subject to buyer's commitment of investment and social liabilities with the equality of its bids with those of other bidders;

Rental payment for the state property facility in the amount of fifty percent of the minimum size of the rental rate for that facility.

The state shall take the necessary measures to ensure the exercise of the right of persons with disabilities to have – on an equal basis with other citizens – access to healthcare services, quality medical care that takes into account the needs of persons with disabilities.

The state shall take measures to provide qualified medical care to persons with disabilities, carried out within the framework of the program of state guarantees for the provision of free medical care to citizens. Medical care for persons with disabilities shall be provided within the framework of existing medical services of all levels, as well as by specialized services for persons with disabilities.

Persons with incurable diseases in advanced or final stages shall be entitled to palliative medical care services, providing for the meeting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients.

Social care for persons with disabilities shall be provided in the following forms:

Monetary payments (pensions, allowances, lump sum payments);

Provision with technical rehabilitation devices, surdotechnical, typhlo-technical or other aids, including wheelchairs, prosthetic-orthopedic aids, printed publications with special typefaces, sound-amplifying equipment and signalling devices, video materials with subtitles or sign-language interpretation, as well as vehicles;

Medical, social, vocational, and physical rehabilitation and domestic services;

Transportation services;

Provision of medicines.

Social care for persons with disabilities shall be rendered by local government bodies, healthcare authorities, public education bodies, and other state bodies based on findings of medico-social expert commissions.

Persons with disabilities who have partially or completely lost the ability to look after themselves and require permanent nursing care shall be provided with services for them at home and in specialized residential establishments in line with the procedure established by the legislation. In these establishments – along with the provision of social services – appropriate conditions for vital activities shall be ensured, medical services provided, as well as work activities and recreation organized.

Persons with disabilities who have suffered an occupational injury or occupational disease through the fault of their employer (regardless of the organizational and legal status of the organization) shall be provided – according to medical indications – with technical rehabilitation devices and special transportation means at the employer's expense.

Local government bodies shall have the right to establish additional social safeguards for persons with disabilities at the expense of the local budget.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right to free health-resort recovery, as well as the provision of medicines, medical devices for the care of persons with disabilities, and specialized therapeutic foods for children with disabilities.

The procedure for providing persons with disabilities with health-resort recovery and the list of medicines, medical devices for the care of persons with disabilities and specialized therapeutic foods for children with disabilities shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Social and domestic services for persons with disabilities shall be provided by healthcare authorities, employment and labor relations agencies, charitable and other organizations with the participation of citizens' self-government bodies, and nongovernmental non-profit organizations, including public associations of persons with disabilities, and shall include the following types:

Counseling on issues of social protection and the provision of social services;

Referral to the appropriate agencies and organizations;

Assistance to persons with disabilities who are in need due to their health condition in establishing guardianship over them and monitoring the guardians' performance of their duties;

Assistance in obtaining prosthetic-orthopedic aids and technical rehabilitation devices;

Provision of free or discounted medications for persons with disabilities requiring nursing care;

Assistance to persons with disabilities in need of nursing care in the provision of free basic food and hygiene products, including cooking and cleaning of their homes, and hygiene.

If the employee has received a disability through the fault of the employer and needs nursing care, the employer shall be obliged to support at its own expense the person caring for the person with a disability for the duration of their disability – based on findings of medico-social expert commissions or pediatric medico-social commissions – and compensate the affected employee for the material damage caused and compensate for moral harm.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right to education in educational organizations throughout their life for the fullest development of their capabilities and participation in the life of society and the state.

The state shall guarantee the development of inclusive education for persons with disabilities, creation of necessary conditions for their access to education and vocational training, retraining, and advanced training.

Educational organizations, jointly with state bodies, shall ensure that children with disabilities receive preschool, additional, and general secondary education, as well as secondary specialized, professional, higher, and postgraduate education.

If the temporary teaching of children with disabilities in educational institutions is impossible, the authorized republican executive hokimiyat bodies in the sphere of education and educational institutions shall ensure the home teaching of children with disabilities based on the recommendations of specialized doctors and with the consent of their parents or other legal representatives.

Home education of children with disabilities shall be provided at the expense of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The state guarantees free general secondary, additional, secondary specialized, and professional education for children with disabilities.

Free or preferential provision of persons with disabilities with special teaching aids and literature, as well as the possibility of using the services of sign language interpreters shall be exercised at the expense of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Non-state educational organizations shall be entitled to establish preferential payment for the education of persons (children) with disabilities.

Education, vocational training, retraining, and advanced training of persons with disabilities shall be carried out in various forms, including separation and on-the-job training, in the form of external training, as well as using distance learning technologies, by training in educational institutions and organizations, specialized educational institutions, at home, in special groups, classes, and based on individual training plans.

For the purpose of the comprehensive and harmonious development of children with disabilities, forming social activity in them, instilling a passion for work, and involving them in science, technology, art, and sports, educational institutions must, jointly with state bodies, ensure the access of children with disabilities to additional education, while creating the necessary conditions for this.

The Republic of Uzbekistan shall recognize sign language as a means of interpersonal communication for persons with disabilities.

State bodies shall take measures to improve the education system for persons with disabilities by developing languages, methods and means of communication, accessible multimedia tools and digital technologies more suitable for each person with disabilities, mastering the braille alphabet, alternative letters, speech and verbal communication skills, as well as training teachers and school personnel on inclusive education issues, and placing teachers with disabilities who know sign language and the braille alphabet in educational institutions.

Preschool education for children with disabilities shall be carried out in preschool educational organizations.

The necessary rehabilitation and habilitation measures shall be carried out for children with disabilities of preschool age, with favorable conditions created for their stay in preschool educational organizations.

Multidisciplinary, specialized preschool educational organizations shall be created for children with disabilities, whose health status temporarily excludes the possibility of their attending preschool educational organizations.

The implementation of the state educational program of preschool education and upbringing – which includes advanced methods – shall be ensured in the multidisciplinary specialized preschool educational organizations.

General secondary and specialized secondary education and vocational training of persons with disabilities shall be carried out in educational institutions and organizations, and if necessary – in specialized educational institutions.

Additional education for persons with disabilities shall be carried out in palaces, houses, clubs, and centers of children and youth creativity, the "Barkamol Avlod" children's school, children's and youth sports schools, children's music and art schools, studios, information and library institutions, and health-improving institutions.

Higher education of persons with disabilities shall be carried out in higher educational institutions and organizations.

Postgraduate education for individuals with disabilities may be obtained in higher educational and scientific organizations.

For children with disabilities undergoing treatment in inpatient treatment and prevention or rehabilitation establishments, educational classes shall be organized in these establishments.

For persons with disabilities requiring special conditions for receiving vocational education, specialized vocational educational institutions of various types and kinds shall be created, or appropriate conditions in vocational educational institutions shall be arranged. Training in them shall be carried out in accordance with the state educational standards on the basis of special curricula.

An additional two percent quota of admission to higher educational institutions from the total admission of applicants shall be allocated for persons with disabilities on the basis of a state grant.

Admission to higher educational institutions of persons with disabilities to the additional quota shall be carried out according to the results of entrance examinations.

The applicants not accepted on the additional quota allocated to persons with disabilities with the scored points shall participate in competition on the given direction of education on the general grounds.

The vocational training, retraining and advanced training of persons with disabilities shall be provided in educational institutions and organizations, including specialized educational institutions, as well as at enterprises of public associations of persons with disabilities in line with an individual program for rehabilitation of a person with disabilities.

The state shall guarantee the provision of didactic and instructional materials, including materials for the blind (Braille alphabet), letters in sound version for the visually impaired, sound literature, including auxiliary sound systems for training in groups, translation into mimic and sign language for the hearing-impaired during vocational training (including during vocational diagnostics and orientation, formation, and rehabilitation), education, learning, and improvement.

Driving instruction for persons with disabilities recognized by health care facilities capable to drive cars shall be carried out on the basis of special training programs.

Driving instruction for deaf and deaf-blind persons shall be carried out with sign language interpretation on the basis of a general training program.

Persons with disabilities shall have the right to work in organizations with normal conditions of work, in specialized enterprises, in workshops and sites that employ persons with disabilities, as well as to perform individual labour or other activities not prohibited by legislation.

Discrimination on the grounds of disability shall be prohibited in relation to all forms of employment relations, including conditions of employment, hiring, performance of work, retention of work, promotion in service (job), as well as ensuring safe working conditions.

Termination of an employment contract on the employer's initiative during the period of temporary disability and the being of a person with a disability on leave, as stipulated by labor legislation, shall not be permitted with the exception of cases of complete liquidation of the organization.

Persons with disabilities may not be involved in work at night time, or in work overtime and work on weekends, except in cases stipulated by the legislation.

Persons with category I and II disabilities shall be entitled to shorter working hours without reducing their pay and shall be entitled to extended annual basic leave in accordance with labor legislation.

The state shall perform the following to employ and provide employment for persons with disabilities, as well as to increase their competitiveness in the labor market:

Carry out vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, their labor support, as well as providing persons with disabilities with the opportunity to obtain and retain suitable work and advance in the service (job);

Establish the minimum number of workplaces in organizations, regardless of their organizational and legal status, for hiring persons with disabilities, in accordance with the procedure stipulated by the legislation on employment of the population;

Ensure the reservation of jobs in professions suitable for the employment of persons with disabilities;

Provide incentives to organizations, regardless of their organizational and legal status, to hire persons with disabilities and ensure the creation of specialized jobs;

Ensure the creation of the necessary conditions and incentives for persons with disabilities to engage in entrepreneurial activity;

Provide state support to specialized enterprises;

Organize and improve training programs to train persons with disabilities in new professions;

Provide encouragement and development of employment and employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector;

Provide state support to organizations employing persons with disabilities, including their work at home.

Employment of persons with disabilities shall be provided by local labor authorities.

Local government authorities shall establish in organizations with more than twenty employees a minimum number of jobs for the employment of persons with disabilities in the amount of not less than three percent of the total number of employees.

Taking into account the needs of persons with disabilities and local characteristics, specialized enterprises and workplaces shall be created to use the labor of persons with disabilities. Persons with a visual impairment shall have a priority right to participate in production, the conditions of which correspond to their capabilities.

Disputes in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities shall be resolved in line with the procedure established by the legislation.

Persons guilty of violating the legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities shall be held liable in accordance with the established procedure.

The following shall repeal:

1) Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 422-XII dated November 18, 1991 "On Social Protection of Disabled Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1992, No. 2, Art. 78);

2) Resolution of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 423-XII dated November 18, 1991 "On the Procedure for enactment of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Social Protection of Disabled Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1992, No. 2, Art. 79);

3) Paragraph 2 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 621-I dated May 1, 1998 "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1998, No. 5-6, Art. 102);

4) Section I of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated May 12, 2001 No. 220-II "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2001, No. 5, Art. 89);

5) Section I of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated August 27, 2004 No. 671-II "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2004, No. 9, Art. 171);

6) Paragraph 7 of Section I of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-714-II dated December 3, 2004 "On Amendments and Additions to, and Repeal of Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2005, No. 1, Art. 18);

7) Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-2 dated May 23, 2005 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2005, No. 5, Art. 152);

8) The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-162 dated July 11, 2008 "On Amendments and Additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Social Protection of Disabled Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2008, No. 7, Art. 353);

9) Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-254 dated September 9, 2010 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with the improvement of the pension provision system" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2010, No. 9, Art. 334);

10) Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-352 dated April 30, 2013 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2013, No. 4, Art. 98);

11) Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated October 7, 2013 No. ZRU-355 "On Amendments and Additions to, and Repeal of Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2013, No. 10, Art. 263);

12) Article 2 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated December 26, 2016 No. ZRU-416 "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2016, No. 12, Art. 383);

13) Article 2 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated June 13, 2017 No. ZRU-436 "On Amendments and Additions to, and Repeal of Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan” (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2017, No. 6, Art. 300);

14) Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated January 3, 2018 No. ZRU-456 "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with Improving the Activities of Individual State Bodies, as well as Taking Additional Measures to Ensure the Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens" (Bulletin of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2018, No. 1, Art. 1);

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other organizations concerned shall ensure the execution of the present Law, its communication to the implementing entities, and explanation of its essence and meaning to the population.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

Bring Governmental decisions into compliance with the present Law;

The republican executive hokimiyat bodies shall ensure the review and revocation of their normative legal acts that are contrary to this Law.

The present Law shall enter into force after three months from the date of its official publication.