Romania

(updated 09/01/2018)

Law and Policy

1. Is there a legal right to habilitation and rehabilitation services in your country? Please describe relevant laws and give links to further information for:
   • a. Health (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
     Yes - Law 448/2006
   • b. Education (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
     Yes - Law 448/2006
   • c. Employment (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
     Yes - Law 448/2006
   • d. Social Services (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
     Yes - Law 448/2006
2. Is there a legal right to assistive technology, aids and equipment? (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons

   Yes - Law 448/2006 but no subsidies

3. Do laws on rehabilitation recognise and support participation in all aspects of community life? (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   Yes
4. Are there policies on habilitation and rehabilitation services for people who are blind or partially sighted?
   • a. For children who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   • b. For adults of working age who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   • c. For older people who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
     There is a national strategy for 2016-2020.
5. Do policies recognise the importance of a personalised multidisciplinary assessment of each individual´s needs and circumstances? Please describe the policies and give web links to more information, for people who are: a. Blind persons b. Partially sighted persons
   No
6. Are there policies on developing peer support for habilitation and rehabilitation?
   • a. For children (please also include policies on family support) who are (i) Blind (ii) Partially sighted
   • b. For people of working age who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   • c. For older people who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
     No
7. Are there resources for peer support services? Please describe these and give web links where possible for people who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   The Romanian Association of the Blind (RAB), through its 35 subsidiaries tries to provide peer support.
8. Do blind and visually impaired people and their organisations fully participate as equal partners in the development of policies and standards for habilitation and rehabilitation services? Please give details for people who are (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   The Romanian Association of the Blind participates in developing policies by presenting its point of view and experience in this area.

Access to Habilitation and Rehabilitation

Support Services

1. Are there dedicated services for both partially sighted and blind people that meet their distinct needs? Are these habilitation and rehabilitation services focussed on supporting independent living in the community living for people who are: (i) Partially sighted persons (ii) Blind persons
   RAB has dedicated services to meet the distinct needs of both blind and partially sighted. We encourage independent living.
2. What is the full range of services in your country, for (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   n/a
3. How is eligibility determined to access habilitation and rehabilitation services for (i) Blind persons (ii) Partially sighted persons
   n/a
4. Who provides habilitation and rehabilitation services (for example, dedicated blindness and low vision rehabilitation and support centres, hospitals (private and public), NGOs)? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   The Romanian association of the Blind has been trying for over 2 decades to build a rehabilitation center for the blind since the state does not provide one. Romanian is the only country in Europe which has no such center.
5. Are services available locally in all parts of the country? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   n/a
6. How are services funded (for example, free, paid for by the user, means tested)? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   n/a
7. If services are not free have any problems of affordability been reported? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   n/a
8. Are services available for all age groups: children, adults and older people? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   n/a

Access to Equipment and Technologies

1. The CRPD states that governments should make sure disabled people know about aids, technology and assistive devices and how to use them. How is this done in your country? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   No. Our organization makes significant efforts to educate the government about the existence, the importance and the necessity of assistive technology.
2. What training is provided in the use of equipment and technology? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   RAB is teaching the visually impaired persons how to use this technology.
3. How is eligibility for equipment, technology and training determined? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   Any visually impaired person with a disability certificate can be trained for free by RAB. There are no subsidies for it.
4. How are aids, equipment and technology funded (for example, free, paid for by the user, means tested)? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   Paid by the user; donations mostly being very expensive.
5. If services are not free have any problems of affordability been reported? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   Yes
6. Are there any limitations on the choice of equipment? What are these? (i) For blind persons (ii) For partially sighted persons
   n/a

Development of the Competence of Professionals

1. Are there training programmes for rehabilitation professionals? Please describe these (If there is accredited training, the qualifications recognised, where people are trained, to what level etc.)
   No
2. Please describe how rehabilitation professionals are trained. Does training emphasise meeting needs on an individual basis?
   n/a
3. Does professional training incorporate human rights perspectives?
   n/a
4. Additional comments on professional training
   n/a

Your Organisation

1. Does your organisation represent both blind and partially sighted people in your country?
   Yes
2. What are the conditions for someone with visual impairment to become a member of your organisation or use its services? Please be as specific as possible both for blind and partially sighted people.

   Any Romanian citizen, any foreign citizen or stateless person with residence in Romania, as well as foreign citizens born in Romania, regardless of their age, with a severe, accentuated and medium visual impairment certified by medical documents recognized in Romania can become a member of the Romanian Association of the Blind (RAB).
   RAB was awarded by the Romanian Government with “Public Utility” status, which means that not only our members but any Romanian resident with a visual disability certificate can use our services.

3. Is this strictly applied, or is there more flexibility in practice?
   Strictly applied.
4. Is there another organisation that a person with visual impairment can turn to if they cannot affiliate to your organisation or if you cannot meet their needs? Please give as many details as possible.
   There are small other organizations.
5. How is your organisation involved in the implementation of the right to habilitation and rehabilitation support services and programmes for both blind people and people with partial sight? Please give as much detail as possible, especially regarding:
   • a. policies and standards
   • b. monitoring of implementation
   • c. actions to ensure that dedicated services are in place that meet the distinct needs of blind and partially sighted people.
   • d. actual provision of services to blind and partially sighted people and the rights that people with visual impairment have to services.
     RAB is involved in developing habilitation and rehabilitation support services for the visually impaired.
6. Is there an officer or expert appointed in your organisation to work on partial sight matters?
   No
7. What actions is your organisation taking to implement the right to rehabilitation services with dedicated, distinct services for blind people and people who have low vision, and to ensure that these services are/will be available in practice? Please give details (examples: lobbying, cooperation with rehabilitation centres, setting up support services, cooperation with universities to develop specific training for rehabilitation experts etc.)
   Lobbying, advocacy, setting its own support services on a small level.
8. How does your organisation inform people with visual impairments and the general public about living with blindness and partial sight? (Examples: a website, a national helpline, information stands in hospitals, campaigns, etc.)
   Through its 35 subsidiaries, websites, campaigns, seminars etc
9. How does your organisation inform others about the available habilitation and rehabilitation and support services for blind and partially sighted people?
   n/a
10. In what way is your organisation working with specialised ophthalmologists, optometrists, rehabilitation centres, and teachers, residential homes for older people etc. to prevent, inform and support people with visual impairment?
    n/a
11. Is your organisation involved in the Vision 2020 initiative in your country?
    n/a
12. Are you familiar with the EBU standards for low vision services in Europe toolkit for implementing the right of partially sighted people to the services they need? How helpful is this resource document?
    We have knowledge of it
13. What, if any, type of support would you like to have to implement UNCRPD article 26 for blind and partially sighted people? Be as specific as possible.
    n/a
14. If you compare the current situation with five years ago, regarding the implementation of the right to rehabilitation services for blind people and for people with partial sight, would you say that in your country:
    • a. nothing has changed (explain )
    • b. The situation has worsened (explain why and how)
    • c. The situation has improved (explain why and how)
      a. nothing has changed
15. Is further action needed in your country? If yes, please explain what needs to be done.
    Yes, the state should finance the building of the rehabilitation center.
16. Please send any articles, material, training, standards, protocols, or links that you feel could perhaps serve your colleagues in other EBU countries aiming at high standards services for everyone with sight loss. n/a