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February 27, 2006
Recent News about Pakistan Earthquake -Shafiq ur Rehman
My dear friends,
This is Shafiq in Pakistan. I reported about the situation of Pakistan
Earthquake last October. Today I would like to tell you what we are doing
in these days and need your support.
Now we are concentrating to support women who became disabled by the
earthquake. There is a big challenge for us. We have seven pregnant women
with spinal cord injury who have very severe bed sores. They could not stay
on the back and move. Because of baby they cannot push their belly or
tummy. But they also have to care the bed sores. No doctor and also any
person could not understand what to do. If any of you have any idea to help
them, please share idea with us immediately.
Especially the one who is eight month pregnancy is very serious conditions.
Both mother and baby are in danger. Doctors here don’t pay enough
attention to her. I think that is because she is not married and disabled.
It is a BIG DISCRIMINATION.
I would like to know how to care bed sores.
Please let us know if you have any idea to get them better.
Some time its very pain full to face reality. Need your cooperation in
ideas.
Thanks
Shafiq
Posted by jicafriends at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)
February 24, 2006
KTM Komuter Station's steep ramps spark protest-NG CHUNG CHIAT : Malaysia (2005 Vocational Rehabilitation Course)
Most disabled people who live in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur are unable to fully access the KTM Komuterin their area.
As a result, Malaysia Independent Living Initiative Group had organised "Station's steep ramps spark protest" on 2ndJanuary 2006.
About 130 of disabled gathered at KepongBeautiful Gate centre as early as 8 am to make their way about 3 kilometres to the KepongKTM Komuterstation as a protest against Kepong'sunfriendly infrastructure.
The ramps which provided at the station did not meet the requirements under the legislation because it were too high and there were no railings to support user's balance.
Explained by Federal territories parliamentary secretary that this problem arises maybe because the contractors did not put the disabled people inmind.
Transport Minister's political secretary said that the train doesn't need any modifications but the ramps do and there should also be a lift on both ends of the bridge so that it will be easier for the disabled people to cross to the other side.
He also said, they will make arrangements with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government about this matter and hopefully these adjustments will be completed as soon as possible.
Posted by jicafriends at 02:15 PM | Comments (4)
February 23, 2006
COURT ISSUES NOTICES TO SIX AIRLINES -Aqeel Qureshi
Dear Everyone,
COURT ISSUES NOTICES TO SIX AIRLINES, ASKS AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA TO
LIST FACILITIES IN AIRPORT MODERNISATION PLAN
'Ensure wheelchairs are available in railway stations'
Express News Service
New Delhi, February 20: The Delhi High Court today came out with a set of
directives aimed at making air and rail travel hassle-free for the
physically challenged - ordering the Railways to ensure that wheelchairs
are available at all stations across the country and asking airlines to
list special provisions on their services.
Justices Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma, hearing a PIL filed by the
Disabled Rights Group (DRG), said station masters "would be held
personally liable if they failed to provide wheelchairs for the benefit of
physically challenged persons".
The court also brought six private airlines under its scanner on the issue
after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) submitted that the provision
of special facilities on aircrafts is the responsibility of the airlines.
The court issued notices to Indian, Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Air
Deccan, SpiceJet and Kingfisher Airlines, seeking the provisions available
to the physically-challenged on their aircraft.
Not allowing AAI to wash its hands of the issue, the court directed it to
explain the facilities being created for the physically challenged in its
20-year modernisation plan for airports in the country. An affidavit will
be filed by the next date of hearing.
Similarly, the Railway Ministry too, has been directed to outline a
detailed report on disabled-friendly services ・special coaches, drinking
water and other amenities. It will be placed before the court within four
months.
The DRG's petition had alleged that there are no adequate access and
special facilities for the physically challenged in public areas/spaces,
despite Constitutional guarantees in this regard.
AAI: Providing wheelchairs responsibility of airlines
Asked about the facilities now available for the disabled at the airport,
B N Singh, Terminal Manager of the Airports Authority of India said, "It
is the responsibility of the airlines to provide wheelchairs to disabled
passengers. We do not keep any wheelchairs ourselves. However, we are
responsible for ensuring that the airlines provide these wheelchairs when
required. The airlines are permitted to charge for this service, though
only the low-cost carriers do. We also have ramps and toilets in place for
wheelchair users."
What the airlines say
SPICEJET The company charges an additional Rs 600 per ticket for disabled
passengers. But SpiceJet does not guarantee the availability of
wheelchairs, a booking official said. She said, "We have enough
wheelchairs for a normal day and in case of a problem, we can reach
arrangements for borrowing wheelchairs from other airlines. However, we
can not guarantee that a disabled person will be provided with a
wheelchair, if they haven't mentioned it in advance." Air Deccan According
to Air Deccan's website, a wheelchair user has to pay Rs 500 above the
cost of the ticket and the airline has to be notified at the time of
booking. And, if there are four bookings on a flight, then a fifth booking
is not allowed. A company spokesperson said that in case of group bookings
an "arrangement can be reached," adding, "It is very unusual to have five
people with wheelchairs all on one flight."
Other airlines including Kingfisher provide services like escorting the
wheelchair user to the parking lot and guiding them throughout the
check-in process.
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=170667
REGARDS,
Aqeel
Posted by jicafriends at 03:12 PM | Comments (2)
February 20, 2006
AAR Cambodia -Aiko Baba (JSRPD)
My name is Aiko Baba (Ms.), new staff at JSRPD.
It is my great pleasure to take part in this dialogue
with formar participants and I’d like to contribute
as much as possible.
Recently I had an opportunity to visit the Association
for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR JAPAN) in Phnom Penh,
Camabodia with Ms. Okuhira and today I would like to share
my experience with you.
AAR JAPAN in Cambodia, with the vision to promote
the equal opportunitie and social participation of people with
disabilities in Cambodia, established the Vocational Training
Centre in 1993 and has been supporting people with disabilities since.
This centre carries out sewing course, TV/radio reparing course
and wheelchair production workshop.
The majority of the participants in the wheelchair workshop
are landmine survivors. The apprenticeship programme sends
out trained students to rural areas where they teach people
with disabilities in rural areas so that they can start local
small business．
AAR JAPAN in Cambodia also provides participants with
literacy classes as well as classes on social knowledge
such as human rights, sanitation, nutrition etc.
On our visit, we met a young man with physical disability
on his legs caused by polio. He had dropped out from
high school due to the lack of accessibility, and he resumed
his study at AAR JAPAN in Phunom Penh and now works
as a vocational training teacher there.
The participants of these programmes are people with light
or mild disabilities and persons with severe disabilities
are not included yet. Althought the number of beneficiaries
is limited, like the young man we met, it is certainly benefiting
people with disability in Cambodia to live more independently.
Althought what each of us can do is small, I believe
that accummulation of all of these small efforts in a long run
result in a big delicious fruit.
Warm regards,
Aiko Baba
Posted by jicafriends at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)
Deaf Puppet Theatre-HITOMI -Keiko Nakatani (JSRPD)
Today I would like to introduce you a very unique
puppet theatre in Japan.
I went to see one of their famous puppet play
"Daijobu Daijobu (Don't worry. You are all right.)"
on 12th of this month.
Though I know only few Japanese sign language,
I could understand the story without any problem.
After the play members provided us a short
sign language session with fun.
Deaf Puppet Theatre-Hitomi, is a special theatrical
company for puppet plays established in 1980.
Members of the company consist from both persons
with hearing disabilities and without disabilities, work
together and create beautiful puppet plays.
Japanese sign language is used and verbal communication
cannot be heard during the play.
Even those who don't know the sign language can enjoy
the play and that's why overseas audience also appreciate
its artistic performance.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:07 PM | Comments (1)
Dear participants of 2005 Vocational Rehabilitation Course, -Masako Okuhira(JSRPD)
I visited Cambodia last week and had an opportunity to meet Mr. Doeur Sarath
who was a participant of the course. He told me what he has done after his
coming back from Japan. With his much effort, he has activated his action
plan, “RICE ENDOWMENT PROJECT”. It has just started, but seems that it
has been going smoothly. I believe he will be succeeded.
Sarath san, please introduce us your activity more.
Masako Okuhira
Posted by jicafriends at 10:49 AM | Comments (1)
February 16, 2006
Challenge! -Keiko Nakatani(JSRPD)
At the end of January I went to Niigata Prefecture for skiing
with my friends with disabilities.
They are from Asian and Pacific countries.
They've never seen snow before and of course never tried ski
in their lives.
Specially trained ski coaches taught them how to ski carefully
and all of them enjoyed skiing.
Biski, a special sled was prepared for wheel chair user.
I remembered the words "Nothing is impossible!"
Posted by jicafriends at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2006
ABCDE Tokyo 2006
Participants of JICA Vacational Rehabilitation Course 2006
are going to attend this conference.
ABCDE will be held for the first time in Japan on May 29-30, 2006 at Mita House in Tokyo.
The overall theme of the conference will be “Infrastructure and Development”
and will address several major topics related to infrastructure and growth,
climate change, energy efficiency, rural development, agriculture and
the implications for regional cooperation.
The conference will feature research papers on the following four topics,
as well as working sessions:
- Infrastructure and growth
- Infrastructure and sustainable development: climate change, clean energy, and energy efficiency
- Rural infrastructure and agricultural development
- Infrastructure and regional cooperation
Posted by jicafriends at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
Monthly report from YPSA -Vashkar Vattacharya
Dear all,
Greetings from Bangladesh!
I have attach the Report of DFA Activities Feb.2006 in Bangladesh.
Sincerely yours,
Vashkar Vattacharya
Programe Officer,
Young Power in Social Action(YPSA)
DAISY Focal Point in Bangladesh.
"Report of DFA Activities Feb.2006 "[ PDF, 48 KB ]
Posted by jicafriends at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2006
Dear Friends-Mario F. Abaygar(Leaders' course 1992)
Dear Friends,
I just would like to inform you that we will be having a Convention of the Children with Disabilities Rights on March 13-16, 2006. Organized by the Liliane Foundation - Philippines, in cooperation with the National Council for the Welfare of the Disabled Persons.
Being one of the resource persons to share on the rights of the child to participate. Im asking some comments on what to share. Of cource I have my own experience to share to them but just would like to have other ideas to share to the children with disabilities.
Much as we would like to bring more children with disabilities to attend to this Convention who would become a potential leaders someday, we have limited resources to cover their expenses. I am therefore soliciting for more sponsors for a child with disabilities to join this Convention.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)