March 11, 2010
Report from Carlos - Chile
Dear friends,
I am so sorry to send this paper in spanish, but I did not have time yet to transate it. we must insist that aid and disaster relief
have to be inclusive, people with disabilities have human rights to.
Plan de reconstruccion inclusiva para Chile [ PDF file ]
Carlos Kaiser Mansilla
Posted by jicafriends at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2010
Report from Kassiyet-Kazakhstan
Dear jicafriends,
I'd like to inform you about first steps of implementing project "Join and enjoy"(Barrier-free tourism in Kazakhstan). I called the project in Russian "Open the way".
We started to work with volunteers, we have just one volunteers' centre in Almaty. It is recruiting for us volunteers to build a team by mailing list. There are some articles in newspapers about "Open the way".
We started to talk with Committee of Asian Winter Games. We'd like to train them how to work with tourists with disabilities. Now I'm collecting the information about barrier-free tourism for lectures.
Everything is going by plan. But, unfortunately, I don't know where to raise finance. There are some social foundations, but they stopped their activity temporarily because of crisis. But I do hope to get it.
Kasia
Leadership Development Course 2009
Posted by jicafriends at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2010
Report from Nyunt Nyunt - Myanmar
On 22nd February we had an opportunity to visit Vocational Training School for the Adult Disabled, supervised by Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
Ms. Nyunt Nyunt Win, a former participant of Leaders’ Course 2000, and Deputy Principal of the school gave us a warm welcome at the guest room.
There are only two vocational training schools for persons with disabilities in Myanmar including this training school. Six training courses such as electronic engineering（TV, radio and DVD player repairing,）tailoring, silk screen printing, photography, hair dressing and basic computer skill are provided there for free.
Ms. Nyunt Nyunt takes responsibility for recruiting new trainees, reporting to the government, and supporting Principal. She also works as an instructor for the photograph course. She has been making her tireless efforts to improve the quality of lives of persons with disabilities in Myanmar. We could see her trainees are motivated and encouraged to learn new skills by her.
Two days later we visited JICA Myanmar Office with Ms. Nyunt Nyunt. We met Chief Representative and two Project Formulation Advisors. One of them was in charge of Health and the other person in charge of Human Development including disability issue. We exchanged opinions about the ongoing projects and current situation of persons with disabilities in Myanmar. We promised to keep in contact and work in closer cooperation with each other.
It’s also worth noting that Ms. Nyunt Nyunt belongs to Myanmar Alumni Association of JICA training course.http://www.jica.go.jp/myanmar/english/office/others/alumni.html
She has been working hard for persons with disabilities in Myanmar by cooperating with the other former participants and JICA Myanmar Office.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 05:23 PM | Comments (0)
New Committee to Expedite Disability Bill-Jamaica
The follwoing news reminded us of a Jamaican participant of Leadership Development Course 2009, who works for Ministry of Labour and Social Security. We are quite sure that she made, makes, and will make a great contribution in the disability field in Jamaica. The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
KINGSTON(JIS):
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security says that a new committee has been named to expedite the passage of the National Disability Bill.
The committee was set up two weeks ago by the National Advisory Board on Disability, chaired by Dr. Patricia Dunwell, and comes against the background of renewed efforts by Minister of State, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, to have the proposed Bill brought before Parliament during the current legislative year.
Mr. Gallimore has portfolio responsibility for persons with disabilities in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The committee members are: Dr. Polly Bowes-Howell (chairman); former Senator, Floyd Morrison; Iris Soutar, executive officer of the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD); and Ministry representatives Ann-Marie Dobson, Carla-Anne Harris-Roper and Collette Roberts-Risden.
According to Dr. Dunwell, the National Disability Bill is now in its ninth draft and has taken into account recommendations and suggestions from various stakeholders.
She has assured the community of persons with disabilities that the document has her full support, as well as that of Mr. Gallimore.
She said she welcomes public integration and participation of persons with disabilities into society.
In a release making the announcement, the Ministry said it notes recent comments by Mr. Morrison, regarding delays in completing the proposed legislation, and is assuring the public that seeming delays in consultation are not designed to retard the progress of the Bill, but to allow for full participation by persons with disabilities, so that the final document will genuinely reflect their views and contributions.
The Ministry said it continues to work, assiduously, to expedite this important legislation, "as the country prepares to implement its Vision 2030 National Development Plan, which is based on the principle of people at the centre of Jamaica's transformation."
Posted by jicafriends at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
March 08, 2010
Tidings from Lilian-Chile
Dear JICA Friends:
I'm fine with my family, but was a great earthquake, with many people dead and may increase the number of deaths.
Luckily! I live in the capital and thank God it was possible to resist ....even continuous shaking, but I hope to God that this will stop at some point.
From my town "Peñalolen" we are organizing ways to help the people of southern Chile.
We would like to know if we can count on your help.
How can we turn to connect and build collaboration?
a big hug to everyone and thanks for the encouraging words.
Lilian Garrido Vasquez
Participant of Leadership Development Course 2007
Santiago de Chile
Posted by jicafriends at 03:46 PM | Comments (0)
Urgent request from Carlos-Chile
Dear friends from all over the world,
I humble need to make an important request related to the earthquake and tsunami in Chile. Is a different one, is not about any kind of resources but your expertise and knolwdge.
We are now facing as a country is the first stage: the emergency. this part is about finding people, restablish order, services and so on
but we need to rebuild a country for everyone, to re build universaly and full inclusive. we also need to help many chilean PwD's they lost even wheelchairs and other important elements.
So, we in the Universidad Austral de Chile (Austral University) are working in a full plan for the authorities, we need all support from all of you, your knwoledge, we need you to check our papers correcting adding or anything you thing may be of use. We will full disclose a new methodology we are working on called " Calculation Matrix of Social Inclusion Index " is a new tool for knowing how inclusive a project is for PwDs. Any person or institution that want to help us, please send an e- mail to:
kaiser.carlos@gmail.com or rsuaustral@uach.cl
*Working Plan*
Background.
1) Chile is facing a great earthquake of 8.8 Righter and a tsunami.
2) Communications are not in good shape.
3) People with disabilities have been ignored until now.
4) Deaf people have no access to public emergency communications and news
It is a difficult scenario but it shows we are no equals. PwDs are always last in government agenda even in disasters. The contingency plan we are creating for Chile, my country is not only meant for Chilean PwDs sake it could serve as a new standard and exigency that our community have to issue worldwide, if we have the same rights we have to be protected and attended in the same time not when everything is lost.
The following is just a measurements to be proposed to authorities.
Stage 1: Mitigation
Problems detected
Homeless persons with disabilities (1).
(1) This category refers to all people with disabilities who, along with having lost their home due to total or partial damage, their technical aids (apparatus or devices essential for daily life activities) are damaged or lost.
Proposed solutions
a) to adapt emergency housing (first stage) for PwD’s necessities to give them as much autonomy, safety and dignity as possible. Delivery must be as fast as possible.
b) Make emergency information and communications fully accessible (interpreters in sign language a first rate necessity due to the fact that 80% of deaf people are illiterate, websites of the media in formats readable for reading programs for blind and visual impaired).
c) to replace lost technical aids (wheelchairs, special lenses, rods, adapters, medicines, etc.). To this end, the National Disability Service may reallocate part of the technical aid budget favoring institutional arrangements with the mayors, governors and local authorities so they can expedite the delivery of more generic technical assistance.
d) Give attention to those needing specialized treatments (physical therapy, pharmacological, psychiatric, etc.).
The networks of universities and professional institutes are ready to support the work contained in this phase.
Stage 2: Inclusive rebuilding
Problems detected
Persons with disabilities cannot fully enjoy their human and constitutional rights due to the characteristics of the physical environment (construction, use) of the Information and Communication Technology, .
Proposed solutions
a) to Comply with the law and ordinances regarding accessibility.
b) to Use all recommendations of experts in accessibility such as Accessible City Fundation.
c) Application of the "Calculation Matrix of Social Inclusion Index" it is a new tool for knowing how inclusive a project of any kind is for PwDs' to evaluate how inclusive a physical space, a technology or procedure is.
d) Implementation Mideplan (National Ministry of Planning) power to grant or denay public funds for construction projects if the project does not meet accessibility in its design.
--
Carlos Kaiser Mansilla
JICA participant of Leaders' Course 2003
Social researcher and advicer on Disabilities Issues, Universidad Austral de Chile
Posted by jicafriends at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2010
Disability groups find Pranab's budget heartening-India
We found the name of Mr.Javed Abidi, the former participant of Leaders' Course 1995 in the following information. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, February 26, 2010
First Published: 22:05 IST(26/2/2010)
Last Updated: 22:06 IST(26/2/2010)
Disability groups cheered up when a hike in investment in disabled-friendly schemes and the setting up of the country's first sign language training institute was announced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the general budget on Friday.
"The finance minister's announcement was very heart warming! It is a positive step and in the right direction. We welcome the increase in budget allocations," Javed Abidi, a disability rights activist told IANS.
The allocation in budget 2010-11 for disabled-friendly schemes is Rs.398 crore, a step up from previous year's spend of Rs.243.29 crore.
Investment in schemes for implementation of the Disability Act have been increased manifold to Rs.95 crore from the previous Rs.7.5 crore. The allocation for schemes for employment to disabled persons has been increased by over 50 percent to Rs.7 crore.
Abidi, who is also founder of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), an umbrella organisation for over 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on disability issues across India, said he wished that "the budget was more," to expedite the country's 11th five-year plan assuring freely accessible infrastructure and development for disabled people under the Disability Act.
While presenting the budget, the finance minister mentioned the establishing of the country's first sign language institute, which has been one of the three major demands of the disability rights activists.
"The allocation will also assist in establishing an Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre for the benefit of the hearing impaired. District Disability Rehabilitation Centres are being set up in 50 additional districts along with two composite regional centres for persons with disabilities," Mukherjee said.
Taxes liabilities on those caring for disabled dependents have also been relaxed.
Direct tax deduction with respect to maintenance, including medical treatment, of a dependent who is a person with severe disability has been raised from the present limit of Rs.75,000 to Rs.100,000.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:30 PM | Comments (0)
Report on earthquake from Carlos-Chile
We would like to express our feelings of sympathy to all the victims of Chile who were badly damaged in the earthquake, occurred on February 27, 2010. We heard that more than 700 people are feared dead and many more trapped in rubble.
Mr. Carlos Kaiser, a jicafriend from Chile sent us the following email today.
Let us pray for our friends in Chile.
**************************************************************************
Dear friends,
As you all know, Chile has been devastated by a great earthquake. it's been hell on earth. Many people lost everything, thanks God the bodycount is (by now) not too high considering the power of this earthquake. We shall endure and will rebuild Chile.
Thanks for your friendship
Carlos Kaiser Mansilla former "Leaders of persons with disabilities" kenshu in 2003
****************************************************************************
Earthquake in Chile
February 27, 2010
At 3:34 am local time, today, February 27th, a devastating magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. According to Chilean authorities, over 400 people are now known to have been killed. The earthquake also triggered a Tsunami which is right now propagating across the Pacific Ocean, due to arrive in Hawaii in hours (around 11:00 am local time). The severity of the Tsunami is still not known, but alerts are being issued across the Pacific.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/earthquake_in_chile.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2010
"East Africa: EAC Urges Member States to Form Councils for Disabled"-Uganda
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
22 Feb 2010
Kigali — The East African Community (EAC) has called for the creation of councils for persons with disabilities (PWD) in all partner states as one way of addressing the challenges faced by the disabled.
The call was made over the weekend at the closure of the first ever conference on Persons with Disabilities held in Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting, attended by experts, political leaders, and policy makers, emphasized the need to adequately finance the councils to enable them fully discharge their responsibilities.
In an interview with The New Times yesterday, regional legislator Dr James Ndahiro (Rwanda) said that the meeting also agreed to come up with a legal framework that will put in place a comprehensive EAC Disability Law to serve interests of persons with disabilities.
"The Sectoral Council on social affairs will work on this law which will be presented to the Council of Ministers and later to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)," he said.
Participants emphasized the need to conduct research and provide health services for the prevention, control, early detection, management and support to various human disabilities.
They came up with recommendations on how governments and the EAC secretariat can best address the challenges confronting peoples with disabilities.
"We agreed that the secretariat takes up the responsibility of ensuring that the resolutions are implemented," Ndahiro added.
Among other resolutions, the meeting called for the establishment of a regional disability development fund and for partner states to ratify the UN Disability Convention as a regional bloc.
The meeting also challenged national parliaments to identify weakness in the existing laws, address issues and concerns of PWDs and recommend amendments where appropriate.
Ndahiro revealed that a development partners' conference involving persons with disabilities would be held this year to chart ways on how there can be mobilization of resources to fund programs for PWD.
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201002220849.html
Posted by jicafriends at 07:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 22, 2010
Help disabled kids-South Africa
Securing education of children with disabilities is very important. However in many countries governments push aside that issues, and mothers whose children have disabilities have to take an action. The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
18 February 2010
Nthabisang Moreosele
NEED SUPPORT: D isabled pupils and staff.
NINE mothers joined hands in 1994 and opened a school for disabled children in Sebokeng, Vereeniging.
There were no schools for disabled children and ordinary schools were reluctant to register them. The mothers were advised by a social worker to “do it yourself”.
“Most of our children have profound disabilities. The government and NGOs could not do anything for us, so we came together and founded Boipoloko Stimulation Centre. Ours was the first such school and it is still the only one in our area,” co-founder Maborute Tshabalala said.
She said the school was run on fees of R190 a month per child. There are 22 children who are fed twice a day between 8am and 2pm. Their ages range from two to 18.
The pupils are taught to read and write and count. Pleas to the government for a stipend or grant have fallen on deaf ears.
“We have a five-room school that used to be a government building. We do not pay rent. The social worker who helped us start the school moved and the new ones have not been helpful ,” Tshabalala said.
She said the school struggled to collect food and to pay for the children’s transport.
Mama Angel bought chairs , plates, cups, kitchen utensils, pots and stimulation toys for the centre.
“ We thank you for what you have given us. We hope this will open the doors so that more can be done for the children,” Tshabalala said.
Boipoloko still needs blankets, linen, toys, food and cutlery.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
Report from Karen-Guyana
Hi Friends,
A just realized that time has flown by it has been over a decade I had the pleasure of visiting Japan, its still my favourite country outside of Guyana.
What has been happening in Guyana since 1999 in the disability movement and what have I been involved in?
In 2002 I won an Organisation of American States (OAS) scholarship to study in Canada I did a BA in Disability Studies completed that in 2005. Returned to Guyana to work. I was the Program Officer for the National Commission on Disability, Ministry of Health for the last four years. While there the major projects I worked on was a survey on children and adults with disabilities; the national consultation process on a draft persons with disabilities bill and the formation of a resource centre with accessible internet service and books,videos and other materials on disabilities.
In 2007 I began laying the groundwork to prepare a certificate course in Disability Studies to be offered through Distance Education, University of Guyana. The inaugural course was completed in October 2007 by ten persons from the pubic and private sector.
In 2009 I transfred to the Ministry of Education to work as the National Coordinator on Special Needs Education. In those years I also pursued an MBA in Project Management completed that in 2009 and in June 2010 begin a MSc in Special Education. I have attached a newspaper article that gives some in spite on my current job. It was great catching up with you and reading about all the other countries in the newsletters over the past years.
Karen Hall, participant of Leaders' Course 1999
http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/
Posted by jicafriends at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2010
2010 Winter Paralympics-Canada
The 2010 Winter Paralympics will be held in Vancouver and Whistler British Columbia Canada between March 12 to March 21 2010.
More information can be obtained from the follwoing site,
http://www.disabled-world.com/sports/paralympics/2010/
Posted by jicafriends at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)
Government Launches the First Census for the Disabled-Kenya
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
16 Feb 2010
Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
Nairobi — The first registration of people with disabilities since independence has started in Kenya.
The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) is conducting the registration. The disabled will be identified and details about where they live and work recorded. This will help the government in planning for them.
The documentation of people with disabilities has already been done in Nyanza, Coast and Central provinces.
Speaking during the five-day launch of the counting exercise for people with disabilities in Kakamega, the NCPD accounts assistant, Isaac Manyonge said, Kshs. 200 million has been set aside by the Treasury in this year's budget for empowerment of people with disabilities. The money will also fund business projects for the physically challenged. Manyonge said the disable will also be assisted to form groups through which they will apply for loans.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201002170779.html
Posted by jicafriends at 01:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2010
The 4th Australasian Orientation and Mobility Conference-Australia
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to inform you of an upcoming conference which may be of interest to you and your contacts.
The 4th Australasian Orientation and Mobility Conference (AMC2010) will take place between 24-26 November 2010, and will be hosted by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT at The Women's College within the University of Sydney, Australia.
This is a conference for the professional development of Orientation and Mobility specialists, including Guide Dog specialists and those with an interest in vision impairment.
Full details on the conference will be made available in the coming weeks at http://www.guidedogs.com.au/amc2010
CALL FOR PAPERS
Invitations for the submission of abstracts are now open.
Guide Dogs is also encouraging delegates to sign-up now and register their interest via email at:
mailto:amc2010@guidedogs.com.au?subject=I%20wish%20to%20register%20my%20interest%20for%20AMC%202010
It would be greatly appreciated if you could distribute the above details re: AMC2010 among your networks.
Kind regards, Jenny
Posted by jicafriends at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2010
Training Report : November 13, 2009: Regional Training (Day 6)
In the morning, JICA participants went back to the Peace Memorial Museum to have a lecture by a hibakusha, a survivor of A-bomb.
Even though she became very weak due to a number of surgeries for the after effects of the bomb's radiation, she was very humble and she thanked everyone in the room for giving her this opportunity. She then started explained her unforgettable experience in English.
http://www.hiroshima-spirit.jp/en/index.php
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/1999/00/00_matsubara_spirit-hiroshima.php
Through her sincere message all the participants could learn what was really happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
And then participants moved to the different building in the park, where the International Peace Promotion Department, the City of Hiroshima is located, to learn about the A-Bomb and its damage, and the current status of nuclear weapons in the world.
The Director, Peace Promotion Division gave them brief explanation on the main projects of the City of Hiroshima such as testimonies of the A-Bomb experience, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, A-bomb exhibitions overseas, peace information over the Internet, and Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Courses. The participants also learned the Hiroshima City's effort to abolish nuclear weapons such as Mayors for Peace, 2020 Vision Campaign etc.
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/e/peace.html
Before leaving Hiroshima the participants could meet the Mayor of City of Hiroshima, Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, and they directly learned from him about the Hiroshima's national and international efforts for the nuclear weapon free world.
The three day's visit to Hiroshima gave strong impression to the participants and they surely will bring the “Spirit of Hiroshima” back to home country.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1113.html
Posted by jicafriends at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2010
Japan pledges US $ 73,588 for disabled-Nepal
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of US$ 73,588 to Samaj Sewa Sudhar Yuwa Sangh (Disabled Helping Committee) for the implementation of the project for the construction of a Rehabilitation School for People with Intellectual Disabilities and other Severe Disabilities in Mechinagar Sub-Municipality.
This financial assistance is extended under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan.
A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged recently between Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Tatsuo Mizuno and Dharma Raj Ghimire, President of Samaj Sewa Sudhar Yuwa Sangh, Mechinagar.
The project is to complete a facility to provide opportunities for receiving education and rehabilitation to disabled children. The recipient organization constructed the ground floor, in October 2009, with local supporters including Mechinagar Sub-Municipality. This time, the grant is to be exclusively utilized for the additional construction of the first and second floors, consisting of 13 rooms, furniture, and necessary equipment in the existing building.
The building is to be utilized as a Rehabilitation School, providing education, rehabilitation, and vocational training for 50 children with disabilities. 9 visually-impaired, 10 hearing-impaired, 11 physically-impaired, and 20 mentally impaired children are to be enrolled in the hostel.
The Samaj Sewa Sudhar Yuwa Sangh consists of staff with disabilities who have energetically worked on various programs since 2004 in order to promote the disabled people’s right for a quality life. The leading role that they are playing to provide children with education, rehabilitation, and vocational training - aiming to help them to be socially and economically independent, is highly evaluated.
Speaking at the ceremony, ambassador Mizuno mentioned Japan’s grant aid to Nepal since 1994 in contributing to realization of the goal of the "Education for All by 2015" Program. He also explained the difficult circumstances surrounding disabled people in Nepal and that the project supports the basic rights of children through contributing education to disabled children. nepalnews.com
Posted by jicafriends at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2010
Move to make obtaining disability certificate easier-India
We found the name of Mr.Javed Abidi, the former participant of Leaders' Course 1995 in the following information. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
February 12, 2010-The Hindu
Aarti Dhar
Strange as it may sound, it is true. It is easier to get a passport in India than a disability certificate. For the simple reason that the onus of issuing a passport is with the state, while the differently-abled are required to approach the state for getting their disability certified.
“Getting a disability certificate in India is a nightmare. Even in places like Delhi and Mumbai it is next to impossible, one can only imagine what it must be like in the smaller towns and villages,” says Javed Abidi, Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.
But now, with the Centre announcing amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules, 1996, things are expected to improve. As per the amended rules, the differently-abled will now have to appear before one doctor specialising in the nature of disability instead of a Medical Board, a time consuming process as doctors often skip Board meetings.
Also, now primary health centre (PHC) doctors have been given the right to issue disability certificate in cases of severe disability, while others with partial disability will still have to go to the District Hospital to get one. However, the new rules are yet to be notified.
“While we welcome the amendments, we will fight for empowering the doctors at the PHC level to issue disability certificates of all categories of disability since the present arrangement will leave many people out, thereby depriving them of the benefits,” Mr. Abidi said.
In fact, the XI Plan, approved by the National Development Council, provides for putting the onus of certifying disability on the state as is the case in issuing of a passport, which is delivered at the doorstep once the application has been filed.
The existing arrangement stipulates that a differently-abled person approach a medical board. Sometimes, women have objected to the manner in which the check-ups are conducted before a certificate is issued, Mr. Abidi said. It takes five to six months before a certificate is actually received. But once the new system comes into effect, the least time frame will be reduced drastically.
Announcing the amendments at the Ninth National Meeting of State Commissions for Disabilities, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik asked the States to adopt the amendments and ensure registration of all differently-abled people so that they are under the ambit of government schemes.
Some States have made considerable progress in issuing certificates to differently-abled persons. Andhra Pradesh has covered all, Jharkhand 97. 8 per cent, Goa 89 per cent, Himachal Pradesh 74.8 per cent, Chandigarh 57.5 per cent, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 56.5 per cent, Punjab 53.8
per cent and Karnataka 52.9 per cent.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article105270.ece
Posted by jicafriends at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2010
Don't Overlook People With Disabilities in Haiti
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Even before the earthquake struck, some 800,000 persons in Haiti were living with disabilities, including 200,000 children. An estimated 194, 000-250,000 people were injured in the earthquake, many of whom will suffer long-term disabilities. Handicap International estimates that there are at least 2,000 new amputees.
People with disabilities are often overlooked, neglected and forgotten in disaster relief and humanitarian response. Yet they are among the most vulnerable of the affected, particularly if they have lost their traditional caregivers-extended families and neighbors. The organization I work for, the Women's Refugee Commission, has identified problems faced by displaced people living with disabilities in settings around the world-and proposed solutions. We have outlined some key activities to help the people of Haiti who have sustained disabling injuries.
Humanitarian agencies and others working in Haiti must take these people's needs, concerns and abilities into account when designing and implementing programs and activities in order to promote access, inclusion and the full participation of persons with disabilities. This is true whether providing shelter, food, water and sanitation, health services, education or livelihoods.
Since people with disabilities are often kept hidden out of sight or are unable to reach registration centers, special efforts must be made to locate and register them to ensure they receive the services they need.
Dozens of makeshift camps have sprung up around Port-au-Prince. As the crisis continues, it is likely that more long-term camps will be established. The shelters in these camps -- as well as latrines, water points and bathing areas -- must be accessible to all, and people with disabilities, including women, should be involved in decisions about where they are located. As planning for reconstruction gets underway, people with disabilities should be included, to make sure that permanent shelters, schools, health centers and other public buildings are accessible to everyone.
We saw disturbing pictures of near-riots as desperate people have fought to get food and water at distribution points. In such situations, the likelihood of people with disabilities getting anything is remote. They should be prioritized in food and water distributions, and arrangements should be made to deliver rations to those who are immobile.
Access to health care, including reproductive health services, is critical. Doctors and other health care staff, both those working with humanitarian agencies and Haitians, need to be trained on disability issues, and specialized treatment and assistive devices must be provided.
There will be a great need for prostheses, and experts to fit them.
Many of the newly disabled are children and young people. Temporary and reconstructed schools must be made accessible to them, and it is important that children with disabilities be mainstreamed into regular schools and classrooms whenever possible. Children with specific learning needs should receive special educational services. This will mean providing appropriate training and support to teachers to equip them with the skills to address the learning needs of children with disabilities.
Besides having special needs, people with disabilities have great potential. Taking advantage of their skills, experiences and expertise, they should be tapped as program staff, project resource persons and program participants. They should also be included in skills training, income generation and employment projects, including cash- and food-for-work projects.
Those living with disabilities were underserved in Haiti prior to the earthquake and were often shunned and stigmatized. The emergency response and reconstruction efforts provide an opportunity to amend past neglect and discrimination and assist persons with disabilities to live richer, more dignified lives. Designing interventions that take into account the specific needs and abilities of people with disabilities can have an enormous effect on improving their well-being and their protection.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dale-buscher/dont-overlook-people-with_b_455471.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
Needs of Haiti’s disabled must not be forgotten, says UN expert body
UN peacekeepers assist quake victim in Haiti
9 February 2010 – A group of United Nations experts today stressed that the needs of Haitians with disabilities must be included in the relief, recovery and reconstruction processes following the earthquake that battered the small Caribbean nation last month. Persons with disabilities must not become “the forgotten ones during the emergency response and the reconstruction of the country,” the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stated in a news release.
“While relief workers are struggling to provide aid to the people of Haiti and while the situation remains difficult for everyone, persons with disabilities are particularly affected by the crisis,” said the Committee’s current chairperson, Mohammed Al-Tarawneh.
“The disabled risk being left out unless a disabilities perspective is built in the recovery process from the start.”
The 12 January quake killed up to 200,000 people, injured many others and left one third of the country’s nine million people in need of aid.
“The trauma caused by this disaster cannot be underestimated,” said Mr. Al-Tarawneh, adding that many disabled people in Haiti have been made even more vulnerable, especially if their caregivers have been killed or injured.
The 12-member Committee urged Haiti to ensure that persons with disabilities fully participate in the decision-making process regarding social and economic reconstruction and that their long-term development needs be taken into account.
The experts serving on the Committee, which will hold its third session in two weeks in Geneva, are tasked with monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which so far has been endorsed by 144 countries.
The Convention, which entered into force in May 2008, is the culmination of years of global efforts to ensure that the rights of the world’s estimated 650 million persons with disabilities are guaranteed and protected.
It asserts the rights to education, health, work, adequate living conditions, freedom of movement, freedom from exploitation and equal recognition before the law for persons with disabilities.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33715&Cr=&Cr1
Posted by jicafriends at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)
Disables Council sets up car wash to help disabled students-Fiji
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Fiji Times
THE Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons launched a new activity yesterday which gave its members the opportunity to experience having a paid job.
The new activity was a small car wash centre at Qarase House on Brown Street.
"One of the new directions is to take up such activities for the centre," said executive director Dr Sitiveni Yanuyanutawa.
"This car wash activity will create in these students skills apart from carpentry and sewing (skills which they learn here).
"This is also a popular area because the road is busy almost all the time. The proceeds from this scheme will go to the council."
Dr Yanuyanutawa said there were about 90 students at Qarase House from 13 to 30 years of age.
"It is the place for young men and women who are physically challenged," he said.
"Most of them are drop-outs from mainstream schools as they are visually impaired or have abnormal physical development."
Kavinesh Maharaj, 27, helped his colleague Vinal Patel, 13, to wash their first car.
"The students are running with excitement to get started with business," Dr Yanuyanutawa said.
The council also plans to create a mini-market where the students work in carpentry, joinery, screen painting, book binding, and sewing can be put on display and sold.
photo caption: Vinal Patel (right) and freinds Allen McCaigh (left) and Kavinesh Maharaj washing the first car at the Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons new car wash facility on Brown St in Suva.
Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=139474
Posted by jicafriends at 01:32 PM | Comments (0)
Brunei pioneering member of Asian autism federation
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Rachel Thien Feb 1st, 2010
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI has become one of the five members of the newly established Autism Federation of Asian Region (Afar), formed during the Asia-Pacific Centre for Disability (APCD) conference and workshops held in Bangkok recently.
The federation was established to engage and empower all self-help organisations (SHOs) working to develop an autism-friendly Asian region, said Malai Hj Abdullah Hj Othman, president of Brunei’s Society for the Management of Autism Related Issues in Training, Education and Resources (Smarter).
Malai Hj Abdullah, who represented Brunei during the APCD meetings from January 26 to 29, shared his enthusiasm with Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand in establishing the federation, which aims to cooperate and coordinate in assisting and advocating for rights of all SHOs on autism.
“We are also going to develop an Asean resource centre where we can share expertise and do research regarding autism. We are also going to have our very first meeting soon, and all five member countries have agreed that at the moment, the resource centre where the meeting will be held will be in Bangkok,” he said.
Malai Hj Abdullah added that during the first meeting, the other six Asian countries who are members of APCD will be invited to the meeting.
“What I am hoping for is to also organise back-to-back Afar meetings in Brunei, during (occasions) such as the Asean Senior Ministers Meetings held in Brunei from time to time,” he said.
During the APCD meetings in Bangkok, only nine Asean member countries attended as Singapore and Cambodia could not make it, said Malai Hj Abdullah. Delegates discussed issues faced by every country, such as obtaining support from the government in advocating for SHOs. “It was a lesson learnt for them (government agencies) to try and emulate us. The only way for SHOs is for government agencies to include us by opening doors in areas of accessibility and affordability.”
Malai Hj Abdullah explained that SHOs should not be fighting for things like accessibility (such as infrastructure) from government agencies, and that they should be provided to them.
Also, he encouraged government agencies involved to support SHOs and not to “make policies without involving SHOs”.
“There have been (instances) where people who cater to SHOs had no say in policy making. There should be more dialogue sessions including SHOs in them, held to discuss implementation of policies as SHOs are not just service providers,” he said.
The APCD also agreed that communities should meet SHOs “halfway” in advocating for disabilities and autism.
“We (member countries) talked about inclusive development and we made a 12-point declaration that the community must get involved and meet us halfway,” he said, adding that the APCD agreed that that was what communities should do.
The meeting also suggested Brunei to look into and see what SHOs should “modify and implement” in advocating for their causes.
“Our government has already signed the Charter for Rights of People with Disability (CRPD) in December 2008. Now we need to rectify the agreement by seeing what we can do to modify and implement it,” he said.
Speaking about his overall experience during the APCD meetings, Malai Hj Abdullah said: “As a representative of Smarter, I am pleased to start a new era of organisations such as (Afar) between Asian nations, by helping each other in intervention for autism. Hopefully, we will be a force to be reckoned with in the world.”
He added that he was also pleased to note that Smarter has been recognised by APCD as one of the “leading organisations” in advocating and being a service provider for autism.
Among Brunei’s delegation were Smarter Vice-Secretary Annisa Hj Moksin and Smarter Head of Psychology Committee Nipah Hj Moktal.
The Brunei Times
http://news.brunei.fm/2010/02/01/brunei-pioneering-member-of-asian-autism-federation/
Posted by jicafriends at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2010
Training Report : November 19, 2009 AM: Visit: The Accessible Design Foundation in Japan
In the morning participants visited the Accessible Design Foundation in Japan.
The lecture was started with a question from Section Chief of General Affairs, “All of us use various products, services, and facilities in our daily lives. However, are they really accessible to everyone?” “Can persons with visual impairment distinguish between shampoo bottle and conditioner bottle?” JICA participants nodded no.
And she then continued, “from that point of view, the Accessible Design Foundation (the ADF Japan) started its activities to promote accessibility for all people including older persons and persons with disabilities. In order to promote products, facilities and services that are accessible to every member in the society, the ADF Japan collaborates with other organizations to conduct user surveys and research on the needs of various people. We aim to create a society where each member can live a happy and lively life.”
Some samples of the accessible design products were introduced by her and participants were very impressed to know their efforts to promote accessible designs.
JICA participant started to interest in the concept and asked the following good questions.
“We understood that we could recognize the differences between milk and juice by the notch, however, we still have difficulty to recognize the differences between orange juice and apple juice. Do you have any ideas to distinguish those differences?” “Even if we could recognize the products, how persons with visual impairment get to know the price without any assistance?”
Section Chief was very pleased to hear their opinions and promised them that they will try to solve those problems.
And then a member the foundation who have low vision shared her experience how she developed the accessible designs at her work place.
When she worked for one of the major transport companies in Japan, company faced a problem of the customers with disability. When a customer was not at home, delivery staff left a message card in the post, however, only contact phone number with message was printed on the card, so that the customers with visual impairment could not recognize what it is. Likewise customers with hearing impairment could not contact delivery staff on the phone. In order to solve the problem, the company added fax number on the card. As a result the company decided to notch on both sides of the card enable persons with visual impairment understand what it is.
At the beginning you can start from a small change, then the small change will gradually become bigger, she explained to the participants.
After the lecture, participants had an opportunity to touch and try the accessible products for daily use at exhibition room in the foundation.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1119.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)
UN Enable Newsletter- January 2010
ENABLE NEWSLETTER
January 2010
Our deepest condolences go out to all who have suffered loss from the recent earthquake in Haiti (see section on the Emergency situation in Haiti).
The Enable Newsletter is prepared by the United Nations Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Input has been received from by UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society. It can also be read on-line at: http://www.un.org/disabilities.
Website: http://www.un.org/disabilities
Posted by jicafriends at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)
