There are around 2,800,000 people with a disability in Chile. For the most part, citizens of Chile largely have a positive view of people with disabilities, though there is still discrimination in employment and other areas based on misconceptions about disability. The country largely uses a social model of disability in its approach to inclusive policies and laws regarding people with disability. Chile ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability in 2008 and has passed several laws which are intended to provide rights and inclusion for people with disabilities. In 2010, Chile created the National Disability Service (Servicio Nacional de la Discapacidad SENADIS) in order to coordinate policies regarding people with disabilities. Accessibility in Santiago is generally very good and the national parks of Chile also work to provide accessibility in natural areas owned by the state.
Demographics
The National Disability Study carried out in 2015 by the Chilean government, found that 16.7 percent of the population, around 2,800,000 people in Chile have a disability of some type. Around 8.3 percent of Chileans have a severe disability with 11.7 percent have low to medium levels of disability. An earlier census, in 2012, found that slightly more women (54.3%) than men (46.6%) had a disability. Also in 2012, the National Foundation for People with Disabilities (FND) found that the most common type of disability in Chile is a sensory disability. The 2017 National Population Census did not include any questions about disability.
Chile has a high level of socioeconomic inequality and people with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty. The Department of Social Development found that "seven out of ten people with disabilities belong to the three poorest quintiles of population." Before the 2018 Labor Inclusion Law, around 12,910 workers with a disability had been hired in the private sector. According to the 2015 National Disability Study, only 39.3 percent of people with disabilities are employed and around 32 percent of these receive lower wages.
During 2019 protests in Chile, more than 200 people involved in the demonstrations received eye injuries due to the use of pellets or rubber bullets by state security agents (Carabineros) on demonstrators. Of these, 50 needed prosthetic eyes and many became blind. On average, those who sustained eye trauma were around 30 years old. On November 7, 2019, a health emergency was declared by health associations due to the eye injuries.
Policy
Chile began to use a social model of disability starting in 1990. This included promoting equal rights for people with disabilities and rights-based programs that advocated for inclusion in the community. In 2010, the National Disability Service (Servicio Nacional de la Discapacidad SENADIS) was created to ensure inclusion of people with disability in public policy and ensure that rights of people with disabilities are protected by law. However, SENADIS is not well funded. The current director of SENADIS is María Ximena Rivas. Individuals wishing to access services for people with disabilities must be certified by the Preventive Medicine and Disability Commission (Comisiones de Medicina Preventiva e Invalidez COMPIN).
There are two types of pensions in Chile. The Invalidity Pension (Pensión de Invalidez PI) is part of the private pension system and can be accessed by people who are unable to work. The poorest individuals can apply for the Basic Solidarity Pension of Invalidity (Pensión Básica Solidaria de Invalidez PBSI). Those who have not contributed to the Social Security system can apply for disability pensions. As of 2015, the pensions only cover around 23 percent of people with disability in Chile.
Non-governmental organizations
The oldest national deaf association in South America was formed in Chile around 1900 in Santiago, later becoming the Chilean Society of Deaf and Dumb in 1913. In October 1929, they reorganized under the name Asociación de Sordos de Chile (Chilean Association of the Deaf ASOCH).
A yearly telethon known as Teletón, is a way to raise money for children with disabilities. Teletón started in 1978 and has remained popular over time. It is similar to the Jerry Lewis telethons in the United States.
Legislation
In 1990, Decree 490 provided the inclusion of students with special needs in the general classroom. The Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities (Law 19.284) was enacted in 1993. This law used a medical model of disability.
Chile signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability in 2007 and ratified it in 2008.