Disability in Armenia

Assistive technology capacity assessment in Armenia:

“Key strengths include the existence of active organizations of people with disabilities, a structured state-supported provision system, and policies facilitating tax exemptions on imported assistive products. Persistent challenges include insufficient funding, limited product availability, lack of integration across health, social and education sectors, and the absence of standards for service provision and personnel training.” (2025, WHO)

Social Protection

Armenia's Disability Assessment Reform. “What Armenia has accomplished is not just a technical upgrade, but an institutional shift in how disability is perceived and addressed.” In particular:

“One of the most frequently cited improvements with the new system was the reduced risk of corruption. Multiple respondents, including OPDs, multilateral actors, and assessment professionals, stated that the digitalization and anonymity of the process have limited the scope for human manipulation and improved accountability. The implementation of a functionality score based on standardized criteria, rather than broad disability categories, was also seen as a major step toward objectivity and fairness”. (2025, Center for Inclusive Policy)

Corruption and disrespect in the process of disability assessment “The disability assessment process has been considered the most corrupt for many years. There were many stories in the media about this and criminal cases have been initiated.” (2023, Jam News)

Transforming lives of children with special needs in Armenia

“As of recent reports, approximately 4,000 children with disabilities are enrolled in special education institutions, while around 2,000 are integrated into mainstream schools with varying levels of support.” (2024, Civilnet)

Work gives me my independence Rafael Martirosyan does charity work and is a senior packer at his family’s bakery business in Armenia. He has Down syndrome:

“Work makes me a better person. As my co-workers will tell you, I am responsible and work hard. The fact that I am working makes me more independent.” (2023, ILO)

Supporting Refugee Children with Disabilities. “UNICEF has provided specialised support to refugee children with disabilities in Armenia.” (2024, UNICEF)

Joint statement on the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Nagorno-Karabakh (2023, IDA)

Creating caring homes for children with disabilities: “While society focuses on accessibility of public spaces, very little attention is paid to the most important space – the child’s own home”. (2025, EU Neighbours East)

Armenia, Italy sign memorandum of cooperation in protection of people with disabilities. (2025, Arm Info)

Court undoes blanket prohibitions on persons who are deaf or blind from becoming judges. (2025, Disability Rights Agenda)

Situation Analysis of the rights of persons with disabilities. (2022, UNPRPD)