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April 23, 2007
URL of LDPA-Laos
Dear jicafriends,
The link below is the web site of LDPA "Lao Disabled People Association"
There is two versions Lao and English. Developed by IT group of Lao Disable People.
We had add new Forum on this web site please give your comment in the forum of this web site or send email directly to feedback.ldpa@laopdr.com .
This is the link of LDPA website: http://www.ldpalaos.org
Thank you
Best regards,
Singxay
Posted by jicafriends at 09:31 AM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2007
Onkyo Essay Competition in Braille for Persons with Visual impairments
COLOMBO: The Asian Blind Union (ABU) the regional wing of the World Blind Union (WBU), will conduct an essay competition sponsored by Onkyo Company Limited and The Mainichi Newspaper Co. Limited, Japan. Contest is open to 12 countries in this region including Sri Lanka.
Competitors are required to write an essay on one or more of the undermentioned themes:
1 Do you prefer the World Brailler or audio devices for gaining information and knowledge. Why? give reasons.
2. Could blind persons become independent by learning music?
3. Give your view point of world peace through the experiences of persons with disability?
The closing date will be April 30.
The results will be announced in December.
i. Winners will receive the Ootsuki award of US$ 1,000 and a souvenir valued at US $ 100.
ii. Excellent Work Award of US$ 500 and a souvenir of US $ 100 will be awarded to the Senior Group.
iii. Two Fine Work Awards for senior group of US $ 200 and a souvenir of US $ 50 each.
iv. Excellent Work Award for Junior Group of US $ 500 and a souvenir of US $ 100.
v. Two Fine Work Awards for Junior Group of US $ 200 and a souvenir of US $ 50 each.
Competitors are requested to submit their entries strictly adhering to the above terms and conditions on or before April 30, 2007 to: The General Secretary, 74, Church Street, Colombo 2. Fax: 2437768. Tel: 2305256. e-mail: slfvh@mail-ewisl.net
Terms and conditions
Essays should be written in Braille either in one’s mother tongue or English and should be around 800 words and should not exceed 1,000 words. They should clearly indicate the name, address, age designation, telephone and fax No., e-mail address.
The essay competition is in two groups, that is, Junior Group: under 25 years of age. Senior Group: 26 years and above.
Students, undergraduates and others below 25 years of age should have their entries certified by the head of the respective institution of Justice of the Peace.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/04/20/news32.asp
Posted by jicafriends at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2007
Railways to become disabled-friendly -Sri Lanka
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Ceylon Daily News
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Nadira Gunatilleke
COLOMBO: All existing public buildings and public places where common services are available should be made accessible to persons with disabilities by October 10, 2009.
As a first step, the Railway will soon provide special facilities for disabled persons. An electronic train timetable display will be set up at the Maradana Railway station at a cost of Rs.235,000. This will be particularly useful for the deaf who do not hear announcements of train schedules, M.D.C. Jayamanne, Acting Deputy Director, Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry said.
The Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry will also fund the Railway to provide special toilets for the disabled. Each toilet will cost Rs.300,000 and funds have already been granted to the Maradana Railway station to built the facility.
`Sethsiripaya' and other State-owned institutions will also be given special access facilities that will be useful for disabled persons.
Under this project, entrances, vehicle parks, toilets and many other places will be equipped to facilitate disabled persons.
An allocation of Rs.445,000 had been granted to the Tower Hall Theatre to build special access facilities for the disabled, he added.
A minimum of five percent of houses should be built with access facilities for the disabled persons in all housing schemes which have a minimum of 20 units according to new regulations. The State should provide a minimum ten percent of public transport accessible to people who have disabilities in accordance with the regulations.
Some public places located in the heart of Colombo city do not have access facilities for the disabled. They are Viharamahadevi Park, Elphinstone Theatre, public toilets, Osusala and central dispensaries, libraries, community halls, public telephone booths, supermarkets, cinemas, post offices, banks and municipal councils of Dehiwala, Kotte and Mount Lavinia.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/04/18/news03.asp
Posted by jicafriends at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)
New Nepali blog information about disabled people in Nepal
Dear Ex-participant of JICA and APCD,
Greetings from VAD NEPAL
We are pleased to inform you to we just launch one new Nepali blog information about disabled people in Nepal
Posted by jicafriends at 02:28 PM | Comments (4)
April 17, 2007
Peru's disabled citizens to march for equal rights
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Destination: The Peruvian Congress
(LIP-jl) -- According to Peru 21, more than 1,500 disabled citizens will march on the Parliamentary building today to demand equal rights, as well as to shed light on the general lack of support they receive from the Peruvian government.
Peru's National Confederation of Disabled People has threatened to seek international assistance
if they are not heard today.
The march, dubbed "The Sensitizing March for the Rights and Dignity of Disabled People" will begin its route in downtown Lima's University Park (Parque Universitario) and continue along Abancay Avenue until they reach the grounds of the Peruvian Congress.
The President of the National Confederation of Disabled People, Wilfredo Guzman Jara, charged that the Peruvian government has produced actions against the rights of Peru's disabled people during the past months.
Jara strongly criticized the recent closures of schools that catered to disabled students. He also charged that severe budgets cuts have unfairly targeted one of Peru's most neglected populations and called on government authorities to enforce the labor protection law which grants
equal hiring opportunities to disabled job hunters.
http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3597-lima-perus-disabled-citizens-march-equal-rights
Posted by jicafriends at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2007
JICA Volunteer has arrived -Ghana-
Do you still remember Mr. Michael Ocran from Ghana, a former participant of Leaders' Course 2004?
He struggled with some income generating programs after returning to his home country. Due to lack of cooperation, he could not implement his plan. So he requested JICA to dispatch a JICA volunteer. JICA coordinator visited his place and decided to send a community development adviser. We've received the following message from Michael.
Dear jicafriends,
JICA volunteer has arrived in Ghana. He is now with me in the Cape Coast.But after two weeks he will go back to Accra, capital of Ghana for two weeks and then come to continue his work.He is very happy. He is learning the local language.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2007
International Exchange Programme in Ha Noi, Vietnam
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Duc from National Coordinating Committee on Disability of Vietnam sent us the following information on the program of vocational training and employment of people with disabilities.
Contact address: hoaiduc84@gmail.com
proposed agenda for June 2007 - EN 04 April
Posted by jicafriends at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)
April 11, 2007
Mongolian National Rehabilitation Center
I had a great opportunity to visit Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from March 30 to April 3, 2007.
And there it was observed that buildings, transportations and any other public places were not accessible even the office of orgnization of persons with disabilities.
For example, there are at least ten of steps in front of the most of the doors or entrances.
As is mentioned by a Mongolian wheelchair user, these environmental barriers were the major obstables for persons with disabilities to participate in the society.
I had the chance to visit several organizations which related to person with disability.
National Rehabilitation Center provides prosthetic and orthopedic, medical rehabilitation in-patient sevices, vocational trainings for the persons with disabilities.
Inspite of deligent work of doctors and staff at the NRC, the center faces some serious problems such as lack of trained staff and appropriate clinic facilities. To cover the lack of skilled staff, a Jica Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) is being sent there as an occupational therapist and his work and contribution to the center is being much appreciated.
I hope that the environmental accessibility will be improved as soon as possible so that people with disbailities in Mongolia can go out and participate more in the society and that the public services for persons with disabilities such as NRC will be improved through grassroots cooperation between Monglia and Japan.
Kana Kumai
Posted by jicafriends at 03:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2007
Kolkata disabled group running a factory-India
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Source:DailyIndia.com
By Soma Mitra
Kolkata, April 6: Setting a motivational example for a lot of people about how to overcome one's disabilities, a factory located in Kolkata's Kausba Industrial Estate, is being run by a group of physically challenged people.
The workers that comprise 35 differently-abled members, many of them having speech or hearing disabilities, manufacture Soyabean nuggets at the Bengal Food Products.
According to Subrata Saha, the factory's owner, the manufacturing unit being operation for the last four months works more efficiently than the one employing able-bodied workers.
"As far as efficiency is concerned I have another factory where physically fit workers work. I think this unit is more efficient than it. There is no sound pollution in my factory. Very good work happens here and almost 35 people work here in two shifts. There is a minimum two tons of production working in two shifts in a day," said Saha.The differently-abled workers are involved in the production process, starting from running the machines to packing material.
The workers too are happy that their talents have been meaningfully utilized by the factory owner instead of considering them useless or setting them aside on the fringes of life.
"I make a decent money working here ... I can do something, make a living despite being a handicapped," said Madhai Bairagi, a differently-abled worker.
According to a government estimate about two per cent of the population has physical or sensory disabilities that include visual, speech, hearing and movement problems but volunteers working in the field put the figure at five to six percent of the population, or 50 to 60 million people.
As per the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995, the disable in India are entitled to a host of rights that would go a long way in enriching their lives, already harassed by nature's follies.
But it has been widely noticed that even after a decade after the Act was passed, they still face discrimination in employment, even in state-run enterprises.
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/131454.php/Kolkata-disabled-group-running-a-factory
Posted by jicafriends at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2007
Intellectually impaired persons can deliver if given opportunities
Ms. Swee Lan YEO sent us the following article about members of the United Voice appeared on the newspaper, "Star Metro."
The article was written by VIVIENNE PAL
Women at work: Yeong (standing) supervising Eleanor as she works on the Saori loom.
We are all guilty of it – we have, at least once in our lifetime, underestimated the capabilities of the intellectually impaired. Some of us still do. But, given the chance, these people will amaze you with how they can fit in the “normal” working world.
FILING documents in sequence leaves Eddy Koh in a bind, but the 31-year-old has an impeccable sense of direction, and despatches documents and passports to the various embassies and agencies punctually and efficiently – unsupervised.
He remembers the different closing times for the banks around his office and always checks the banking slips for mistakes before dropping them off.
Personnel at the banks, airlines and embassies know him by name and are extremely fond of him.
He is downright honest, and loitering during working hours is a sacrilege for him.
He hopes to continue his studies in Information Technology because “nowadays everything also IT mah...”
Unimpressed? Think again, for Koh is intellectually impaired.
A high-functioning slow learner, Koh is a valued employee at World Discovery Travel (M) Sdn Bhd, and has worked there for seven years.
The article is continued, so click below,
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/5/central/17065267&sec=central
Posted by jicafriends at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2007
Seminar on Self-Adovocacy in the Lives of Persons with Learning Disabilities
Ms. Yeo Swee Lan, a former participant of Vocational Rehab. Course 2006 sent us the following information about the seminar, which was held on this February.
Good turnout for Seminar on Self-Advocacy
UNIMAS - A seminar on “Self-Advocacy in the Lives of Persons with Learning Disabilities” received an overwhelming response from participants from various government departments, NGOs, academicians, students and parents of children with learning disabilities held at the Crowne Plaza Riverside on February 8, 2007.
The one-day seminar was jointly organised by Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the State Social Welfare Department, with the collaboration of several local NGOs.
The seminar in Kuching was one of a series of programmes on the same topic initiated and sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Malaysian Social Welfare Department and United Voice (UV), a self-advocacy group of persons with learning disabilities based in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
The Self-Advocacy movement started in Europe and the US in the late 60’s. It has proven to be an effective approach for assisting persons with learning disabilities to be independent. The components of Self-Advocacy include: speaking up for oneself; standing up for one’s rights; making choices; and taking responsibility for oneself.
The Self-Advocacy Movement of Persons with Learning Disabilities in Malaysia was established in 1993 by Dignity and Services, a non-governmental organisation. To date, there are only eight self-advocacy groups throughout Malaysia. Lack of awareness about the importance and impact of self-advocacy in improving the quality of life of persons with learning disabilities is one of the key reasons for the small number of such groups in Malaysia.
The speakers of the seminars were Dr Dan Goodley from Sheffield University, Dr Kenji Kuno from JICA, Esther Moo and Yeo Swee Lan from United Voice.
In his keynote address, Dr Dan urged participants to promote self advocacy of person with learning disabilities in order to challenge prevalent views of disability to work towards an inclusive society.
Dr Ling How Kee, the co-organising chairperson of the seminar in her opening address said that the seminar would go a long way in facilitating the formation of self-advocacy groups not just for people with learning disabilities but also groups that are excluded in the mainstream society.
Date: 8th February 2007
Venue: Crown Plaza Riverside Kuching
Jointly Organized By:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak.
The State Social Welfare Department.
Several Local NGOs.
Guest Speakers: Dr. Dan Goodley (Sheffield University, UK), Dr. Kenji Kuno (JICA, Malaysia), Ms. Yeo Swee Lan and Ms. Esther Moo (United Voice).
Source: University Malaysia Sarawak
http://www.fss.unimas.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119&Itemid=43
Posted by jicafriends at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2007
Access to Final Reports-Vocational Rehab. 2006
We've received five final reports from participants of Vocational Rehab. Course 2006. And you can find three reports on the following page.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2006/reports/final/index.html
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2007
82 Countries Sign UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability News India" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Aqeel Qureshi
82 Countries Sign UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities A Record Number Countries Ever to Sign During Opening Ceremony
WASHINGTON, 31 March, The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities opened for signature and ratification today at United Nations Headquarters, in New York. This human rights treaty, the first in the 21st century and the fastest negotiated in history, will protect and promote the rights of 650 million persons with disabilities, 10% of the world's population.
An unprecedented 82 countries signed the Convention and 44 signed the Convention's Optional Protocol, a monitoring mechanism that addresses individual violations. During this opening ceremony Jamaica both signed and ratified the Convention.
Among countries that signed today were those in which Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) has a significant presence, including Colombia, El Salvador, and Jordan. Adnan Al Aboudy, LSN-Jordan director, served as a member of the Jordanian delegation that signed the Convention.
During discussions following the signing ceremony, the Australian delegations highlighted the link between the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In response, Ambassador Don MacKay, permanent representative of New Zealand and chair of the UN Ad Hoc Committee, noted the significant contribution of Landmine Survivors Network to both treaties.
The disability community has waited for this Convention for decades. "This Convention indicates disability rights are no longer a 'little special rights' or charity," said Jerry White, LSN co-founder and executive director. "The Convention is comprehensive in the provisions it sets for the rights of persons with disabilities," continued White. At its core, the Convention sets provisions to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else, and are able to lead their lives as full-fledged individuals who can make valuable contributions to society.
Procedurally, once a country signs the Convention, the national representative will then take the treaty to his/her country for ratification. Once ratified by 20 countries the Convention will enter into force for those countries. White says, "LSN will continue its work on the Convention by committing to a global push to secure country ratifications to ensure that the treaty becomes international law by 2008." LSN has prepared tools to help advocate for ratification. Find them at http://www.landminesurvivors.org.
About Landmine Survivors Network
Landmine Survivors Network is the only international organization of survivors dedicated to helping mine victims recover from trauma, reintegrate into their communities, and advocate for their human rights.
Source: www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news
Posted by jicafriends at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
Powerful earthquake shakes Solomon
A powerful earthquake hit the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific today but there were no reports of injury or damage.
Mr. Edwin Peter BABANISI, a former participant of Leaders' Course 2004 is from Solomon Islands. We hope the earthquake won't cause any damage to the beautiful South Pacific islands.
The following new was downloaded from ABC News Online.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200411/s1240451.htm
The US Geological Survey said the quake registered 6.9 on the Richter scale and hit at 9:58am local time. It was 10 kilometres deep and 205 kilometres from the nearest settlement, the regional capital of Kira Kira on San Cristobal Island. State-owned Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, which maintains a two-way radio service around the scattered island nation, said no one had reported feeling the quake. The Solomon Islands, 2,575 kilometres east of Australia has just under 500,000 people living on dozens of islands. Part of the Pacific "ring of fire", the Solomons frequently reports volcanic and seismic activity.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 11:31 AM | Comments (1)