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September 28, 2007
Intenational Conference for Accessible Tourism 22-24 November 2007
Conference Date: November, 22-24, 2007
Conference Venue: UNCC, UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand
Invitation: Download GI and registration form www. dpiap.org
We will organize the Conference along with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, UNESCAP and Disabled Peoples’ International Asia Pacific (DPI-AP).
The Conference aims at the promotion of accessible tourism in the region as a way to enhance the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights –based Society for Persons with Disabilities (BMF), Biwako Plus Five and the Plan of Action for Sustainable Tourism Development in Asia and the Pacific (phase II 2006-2012) focusing on access to built environments and public transport and training and employment including self-employment. Besides, tourism is often considered as a valuable alternative for diversifying the economy in the areas dependent on only one maritime activity (e.g. fisheries). Quality tourism can contribute to the development of coastal areas by improving the competitiveness of businesses, meeting social needs and preserving the natural and cultural heritage. However, to be simultaneously successful in all these areas at the level of the tourist destination requires a global approach, called integrated quality management, focused on tourist satisfaction and based
on the principle of sustainable development. Tourism clearly requires not only an attractive environment but also its accessibility.
Furthermore, barrier free tourism is also alternative choices for elderly and persons with isabilities travelers that the numbers of them gradually increasing. However, those travelers face man barriers for traveling planning information such as accessible accommodation, transportation barriers and any kinds of discrimination e.g. [1] Disability Travel on the Rise Despite Barrier to Access research found that numbers of American travelers with disabilities have been increasing 50 percent since year 2005. [2]The numbers of European travelers with disabilities increase to 134-267.9 million. UN survey also found that by year 2050, the numbers of ageing population will rise to 2,000 million and 54 percent of them live in Asia region.
The Conference objectives are to contribute to processes of change and development lines of tourism businesses to ensuring a favorable environment for attracting tourists and travelers with disabilities and retired, ageing people toward the implementation tourism sustainability initiatives, dissemination recommendations about Promoting Sustainable Tourism towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society.
[1] The research is in cooperation between the Open door Organization (ODO) and Travel Industry Association of America (TIA)
[2] Accessorily Market and Stakeholders Analysis, University of Surrey, UK.
Secretariat: Mr. Wansao Chaiyakul Disabled Peoples’ International Asia Pacific (DPI-AP)
29/486 Moo 9 Soi 12 Muangtongthani Pakkred, Bangpood, Nontaburi 11120 Thailand
Tel: 66 2 503 4268 Fax 66 2 503 4269 Email: wansao@truemail.co.th
Posted by jicafriends at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2007
HIV/AIDS Patients to Get Medical Benefits -Korea
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Patients with HIV and AIDS are expected to be designated as ``disabled'' and will receive medical and welfare benefits from the government.
Under the current law, the government designates the mentally and physically challenged as disabled and categorizes them in various grades depending on their symptoms.
But the Seoul Metropolitan Government will propose a bill to extend the scope of the ``disabled'' to include patients with HIV and AIDS.
``If you get infected with the virus, you have to deal with as many difficulties as the disabled do,'' a city official said. ``It is difficult to get a job, the disease is very expensive to treat and you
become very isolated from society. You need help.''
To come up with a revision of the standing law, city authorities have been conducting research involving some 500 patients and medical experts since May.
The results will be delivered to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Assembly in November, the official said.
If people infected with the virus are designated as disabled, they will receive financial support for their medical expenses and reductions on essential costs such as transportation fares and fees for using public facilities.
As of June of 2007, a total of 4,051 patients were diagnosed with HIV or AIDS nationwide and 1,565 of them, or 38 percent, live in Seoul alone. They are under the supervision of the government, which offers regular immunity check-ups and support for medical expenses.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/09/113_10604.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
September 20, 2007
From Sheraz-Pakistan
I want to discuss the difficulties which I am facing. In Governmental organizations the students are getting some money as stipend but due to limited funds the NGO can not give any stipend so the parents are reluctant to send their childern. With great concern I am writing that 3 students have left the class. Moreover they are also keen for the future job opportunities after getting the training.
The teacher also got the 3 days training in Governmental institute.
The good thing is that the program is running successfully with remaining students.I will send photographs of the class activities soon.
Best regards
Sheraz Anwar Cheema
(Vocational Rehab. Course 2007)
Posted by jicafriends at 04:00 PM | Comments (0)
September 18, 2007
Message form Cecilia-Malaysia
Hai, I am glad to hear that the leardeship course will be held in september 25th. All the best to them
Cecilia
Vocational Rehab. Course 2005
Posted by jicafriends at 06:07 PM | Comments (0)
Asia-Pacific Assesses Progress Towards a Barrier-free Society for the Disabled
The following information was downloaded from UNESCAP website.
High-level UN Meeting Takes Place in Bangkok 19 – 21 September
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- The Asian and Pacific region has made great progress over the past few years in creating an inclusive and barrier-free society for millions of disabled people; but many challenges remain, according to reports to be presented to a high level regional meeting in Bangkok next week.
Out of the world’s 650 million disabled people, nearly two-third -- about 400 million -- lives in Asia-Pacific region. They are often among the poorest of the poor, with limited or little access to education, employment, housing, transportation and health services.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has initiated two regional decades (1993 – 2002 and 2003 – 2012) ) to promote the basic human rights of disabled people.
A High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Midpoint Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, will be convened by UNESCAP from 19 to 21 September. Ministers and high-level officials from over 20 member governments will gather in Bangkok to take stock of the progress made in the past five years and formulate supplementary strategies to reach set targets by 2012.
The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society in Asia and the Pacific, adopted in 2002, serves as the region’s guideline for policy development and action. It encompasses seven priority areas and 21 time-bound targets.
Print
..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services
Date 14 September 2007
Press Release No. N/43/2007
Asia-Pacific Assesses Progress Towards a Barrier-free Society for the Disabled
High-level UN Meeting Takes Place in Bangkok 19 – 21 September
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- The Asian and Pacific region has made great progress over the past few years in creating an inclusive and barrier-free society for millions of disabled people; but many challenges remain, according to reports to be presented to a high level regional meeting in Bangkok next week.
Out of the world’s 650 million disabled people, nearly two-third -- about 400 million -- lives in Asia-Pacific region. They are often among the poorest of the poor, with limited or little access to education, employment, housing, transportation and health services.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has initiated two regional decades (1993 – 2002 and 2003 – 2012) ) to promote the basic human rights of disabled people.
A High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Midpoint Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, will be convened by UNESCAP from 19 to 21 September. Ministers and high-level officials from over 20 member governments will gather in Bangkok to take stock of the progress made in the past five years and formulate supplementary strategies to reach set targets by 2012.
The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society in Asia and the Pacific, adopted in 2002, serves as the region’s guideline for policy development and action. It encompasses seven priority areas and 21 time-bound targets.
According to Midpoint Review documents, various positive developments have taken place in the region. Governments are paying increasing attention to the rights of disabled people and the formulation of disability-sensitive policies. About 20 countries have the rights of disabled people enshrined in their constitutions. At least 14 governments have enacted a comprehensive disability law. Seven governments have a disability-specific anti-discrimination law, including the Republic of Korea which adopted it most recently, in April 2007. At least 21 governments have a national plan of action on disability; among those, 11 have developed it during the last five years.
Many governments, however, face challenges in securing sufficient resources to implement and monitor law-enforcement.
In addition to actively promoting human rights of the disabled in the region, ESCAP, with the concerted efforts of governments, organizations of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders, has also played an instrumental role in the drafting of the first ever Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006.
The high level meeting will be inaugurated by Mr. Paiboon Wattanasiritham, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, on Wednesday 19 September at 9:00 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC).
A recital by an award-winning young pianist, Ms. Ubolwan Piakaew, will take place on 19 September at 17:30 in the Reception Hall of the UNCC, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue. Ms. Ubolwan is blind and uses Braille musical scores.
continue: http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2007/sep/n43.asp
Posted by jicafriends at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2007
7th DPI World Assembly-Korea
The7th DPI World Assembly in Korea started from September 5, 2007 at KINTEX in Gyeonggi Province. More than 2,700 leaders with disabilities from 71 countries gathered at one hall.
A wide range of the current issues of persons with disabilities in the world, such as Human Rights, Inclusive Education, Sexual Abuse/Exploitation, International Monitoring Mechanism, Participation in Political Life, and Community Development and DPO'S Roles were discussed at the workshops and Seoul Declaration was adopted on September 8, last day of the Assembly.
http://www.dpi-japan.org/english/Seoul%20Declaration.doc
New members of the International Organizing Committee for DPI were selected as follows;
Chairperson-Disabled Peoples' International: Mr. Wilfredo Guezman (Peru)
Deputy Chairperson for Human Rights: Mr. George Daniel (Trinidad and Tobago)
Deputy Chairperson for Development and under represented groups: Ms. Rachel Kamchacha Kachaje (Malawi)
Information Officer: Mr. Giampiero Griffo (Italy)
Treasurer: Mr. Shoji Nakanishi (Japan)
Secretary: Mr. Abdus Sattar Dulal (Bangladesh)
Posted by jicafriends at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 13, 2007
Amend laws to ensure rights of persons with disability-Bangladesh
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The Daily Star-Dhaka, Bangladesh
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Experts at a policy dialogue yesterday underscored the need to bring amendments to the existing laws related to the rights of the persons with disability in line with the UN convention.
They also called for promoting rights-based approach towards empowerment of persons with disabilities instead of charity-based approach.
Actionaid Bangladesh and Advancing Public Interest Trust (APIT) organised the policy dialogue titled 'Rights of the disabled persons: Coherence between reality and international policy framework,' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
The dialogue was organised ahead of the inter-governmental ministerial meeting on the 'Mid Point Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled persons, 2003-2012' to be held in Bangkok from September 19 to 21 to review the progress and challenges in the implementation of Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF).
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) had adopted the resolution of 'promoting an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons with disability in the Asian and Pacific region in the 21st century'.
Bangladesh as well as 50 other countries of the region will submit a review study at the inter-governmental ministerial meeting.
Actionaid Bangladesh and APIT jointly prepared an alternative research paper highlighting the challenges and recommendations in the light of the BMF priorities.
Presenting the research paper, Maliha Shahjahan, director, Research and Policy Audit, APIT, criticised the role of the authority with regard to budget allocation for the development of physically challenged persons and highlighted the vulnerable condition of women with disability.
"The state remains apathetic to the fundamental requirement of women with disabilities to create equal opportunities," she said.
Although the 'National Disability Welfare Act 2001' emphasised the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, the present state of rehabilitation infrastructure remains weak with unskilled medical
personnel and inadequate medical rehabilitation services, she observed.
National ICT Policy has no transparent stand on the ICT-related accessibility issues for physically challenged persons to turn them into human resources, she maintained.
However, Mosharraf Hossain, country representative of Action on Disability and Development, appreciated the government's role as the first ever country to enact a law to establish the rights of persons with disability.
Social Welfare Secretary MA Hai Hawladar, Secretary General of Asia Pacific Disabilities Forum Ryo Matsui, Deputy Director of Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability Etsuko Ueno and Chairperson of National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled Mansur Ahmed Choudhury also spoke.
Posted by jicafriends at 05:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2007
From Sarin Chan
A House Full of Hope and Smiles
Srey Leap is a playful, smiley and energetic little girl who loves to learn. Every morning she reminds her father that, ‘Its time for me to go to the House of Smiles school Dad!’ and every afternoon she asks her teacher for more homework.
Srey Leap was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that permanently affects body movement, posture and muscle coordination. Srey tried to take her notebook and start at the government school but the principle sent her home saying they had no methodology to train her. Educational opportunities for Srey were nearly impossible until House of Smiles found her.
Opportunities for children with disabilities in Cambodia are very limited and they are often severely discriminated against. Many people and children in Srey’s community do not want to speak or play with her and refer to her as the crazy kid. Many Cambodians believe that disabilities are contagious and a deserved karmic consequence of wrongs committed in a previous life.
When Hagar staff told Srey’s Mother and Father about the House of Smiles they were happy and interested. Even though they are very poor, Srey’s father sacrifices part of his small income to pay for her transportation to and from the House of Smiles.
Srey’s parents also participate in monthly parent community training sessions held at the House of Smiles to facilitate better community understanding and parental care of children with disabilities. Srey’s father comes every month and gives feedback, he comments on Srey's achievements in school work as well as her improvements in personal hygiene and life skills.
Today Srey Leap is part of a loving and friendly community. She is thriving, learning and making friends with other community children. She loves playing dress-up, smiling with lipstick and would like to have her own beauty salon when she grows up.
House of Smiles is one of the few organizations in Cambodia that provides physical therapy, emotional development, and life skills vocational training for children with disabilities. Hagar assesses each child's needs and challenges them to reach their full potential through a combination of specialized care and engaging the community to fully integrate and support their lives.
Currently the House of Smiles facility is very old, frequently flooded and crammed with overlapping demands of educators, therapy, respite care, administrative and residential functions. Hagar has designed a new facility and is raising funds for its construction. This is a purpose built facility for the recovery, therapeutic, educational and respite care of children with multiple or severe disabilities as well as the administrative and training center for a network of community centers around Cambodia.
Join the House of Smiles family and partner with us in helping more children like Srey Leap grow, learn and thrive in their community.
Click Here --- To make a donation for needed HOS school materials, books, computers, desks and a program vehicle.
http://www.hagarinternational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=36
Click Here --- To learn more about what you can do to support the construction of the new House of Smiles Center.
http://www.hagarinternational.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=14&func=fileinfo&id=32
Posted by jicafriends at 12:22 PM | Comments (0)
September 10, 2007
From Jack-Indonesia
We've received the following reply to Shalika from Jack, a former participant from Indonesia.
http://www.jicafriends.net/archives/2007/08/from_shalikasri.html
Regarding to Braille in Indonesia. So far, the district goverment of Jakarta, Bandung and several
cities in Java island, are supporting the braille materials for visually impaired student. This program
is done with the support of Indonesian national library in cooperation with Mitra Netra. They are
supporting with almost 1000 books in braille, however, the audiobooks if prefereable by the student so some are being converted to audio.
In some public transportation sevices such as train station, in cooperation with Indonesian isabled Women Association, they made a ticket price list in braille a couple of years ago. But today, the price lists was never renewal because the un intensive supervising.
The district goverment of Banten, west Java, they have put Quran (Islam Holly Book)braille printing in their yearly govermental budget. and for the central goverment budget, is still in progress of hearing sessions.
Well I think that's all I can share with you, if you have any further question, please don't hasitated to ask. And I'm bery sorry for the later reply since now I don't open my e mail daily. But I 'll be in touch as much as posible.
Blindman Jack
(Leadership Development Course 2005)
Posted by jicafriends at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 04, 2007
From Rama - Nepal
Dear Jica Committee
i am Rama Dhakal from nepal Disabled Women Association. According to my Action Plan i am talking with Government Affilated organisation about computer training for women with disabilities. and they are agree with me . we are going to start this program within the november. All of you know the situation of our country . our country are going to do constitutional assembly in november. so we decided to do after finishing that. i will let you know you. Thanking you.
Rama Dhakal
Nepal
Posted by jicafriends at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)