No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchivePeople with Disabilities Battled for Equal Access

People with Disabilities Battled for Equal Access

Though 2006 marked 10 years since the Law for Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities was passed, activists this year continued struggling in their seemingly endless battle for access for this sector.

In May, advocates complained of a lack of job opportunities, poor distribution of information about disabled rights and assistance programs, and limited access to public spaces.

Just days after the May 29 10th anniversary of the passage of the equalaccess law, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) rejected the first of 14 lawsuits filed by bus companies against the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) for the announcement authorities would fine buses without wheelchair ramps. The 1996 law gave these companies until 2003 to install the ramps, but most haven’t.

The court ruling allowed Transit Police to start handing out fines of ¢30,000 (approximately $60) to these buses in May, giving them three months to install ramps or face being taken out of circulation. However, bus company owners complained that enforcement of the law could cause a shortage of public transportation.

In June, legislators voted in first debate in favor of a bill to give bus companies an additional eight years to install the ramps. Fourteen legislators sent the text of the bill to Sala IV for review.

In August, the court sent the bill back to the Legislative Assembly, ruling that extending the deadline for the ramps violates the Constitution, which states all people are equal under the law.

Despite the ruling, by year’s end legislators had approved the controversial bill in second debate, according to assembly spokesman Armando Alonso.

Trending Now

The Whale and Dolphin Festival at Costa Rica’s Marino Ballena Park

Marino Ballena National Park gears up for the height of humpback whale watching, drawing visitors to see these massive creatures in action. The park...

Viral Shot at US Open Captures Paolini in Rare Form

A photo from the 2025 US Open has spread quickly online, pulling in views from tennis fans and casual observers alike. Italian photographer Ray...

Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy Filing Puts Budget Travel to Costa Rica at Risk

Budget carrier Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again on Friday, marking its second filing in less than a year. The Florida-based...

Costa Rica Court Rules Uber Driver an Employee, Orders Vacation and Severance Pay

A court in Costa Rica has ruled that Uber must treat one of its drivers as an employee, not an independent contractor. The decision...

Costa Rica’s Cerro Chirripó Ancient Ice Age Legacy Uncovered

Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica’s highest peak at 3,820 meters above sea level, was the focus of a recent lecture at the National University’s Brunca...

Climate Change Could Push Young Latin Americans into Poverty

Climate change will push six million Latin Americans and Caribbeans under the age of 25 into poverty by 2030, according to a report released...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica