Years ago, people with disabilities were excluded by society and many times by their own families. Some of them were doomed to remain their entire life in their houses because their families felt achamed of them and were seen as useful people who did not have any ability. Besides, these people did not have the opportunity to interact with other people different than their relatives. They did not have access to many places of the community or services.
Regarding education, disabled people did not have access to education since teachers were not trained to work with this population and schools did not have the adequate facilities neither. Fortunately, since some years ago due to groups of people dedicated to the defense of this minority and to scientific researchs about different disabilities, this terrible situation has been changing. Nowadays, the society is more conscious about the fact that people with disabilities are able to learn, to develope themselves as professionals and to become useful and worthy members of their communities.
In Costa Rica, as a result of the efforts of many groups to change discrimination toward disabled people, a law to protect the rights of this people was created. That is why more and more public places have to fullfill some requirements in order to assure the acces of disable people to this places. Besides, it guarantee the right to receive education that takes into account their needs.
