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September 29, 2008
Breaking barriers in disability -Philippines
I found the news about Ms. Adela Kono, former participant of Leaders'Course 1989. Ms. Adela Avila-Kono received the 2008 Apolinario Mabini Outstanding Woman with Disability Award.
I am very pleased and honored to share the following information with all jicafriends.
The secreatriat of jicafriends
By Hi-D Palapar
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 11:24:00 09/28/2008
A hero’s story always begins with a tragedy that would prod him or her to pursue selfless goals to correct inequalities in the status quo.
In the case of Adela Avila-Kono, recipient of the 2008 Apolinario Mabini Outstanding Woman with Disability Award, it all started in school.
Adela is a tetraplegic. She was two and half years old when she contracted polio, a condition that left her legs almost totally useless.
The disease forced her into a life of leg braces, crutches and wheelchairs.
Despite this, Adela said she never felt different at home in Cebu City and she pursued her studies just like her siblings.
But school life brought her many frustrations.
Without the aid of her yaya or classmates, Adela found it difficult to go up from one floor to another in a building with no ramps.
It was even tougher using restrooms because the floors were often wet and dangerous for one using crutches.
Adela recalled the many times she slipped and fell and even urinated on the floor when there was no one to help her stand up.
But it was these experiences that drove Adela to persevere and finish school so she would not stick out like a sore thumb among her accomplished siblings and relatives.
These same experiences, she said, would later give purpose to her life.
In 1987, Adela went to the United States with her mother and saw the amenities available to people with disabilities (PWDs) like ramps and handle bars in toilets.
She said it was her first encounter with “accessibility”, barrier-free or “non-handicapping environments” in its real sense.
Adela later urged groups like the Organization of Rehabilitation Agencies (ORA) and the Regional Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (RCWDP)-7 to pursue accessibility monitoring and implementation of their major programs in Cebu.
In 1989, she was chosen to participate in JICA's (Japan International Cooperation Agency) “Leadership Training Course for Disabled Persons” in Japan by the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, now the National Council for Disability Affairs.
Today, she is the Adviser of the Accessibility Monitoring Committee under the RCWDP-7.
She said the committee examines buildings to determine if they are disabled-friendly.
Today as an acessibility specialist, Adela gives advice on the “International Standards of Accessibility” to architects and civil engineers.
Batasang Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law stipulates that public and private buildings, streets and highways, public transport vehicles and public utilities should be available and convenient for PWDs.
The irony, however, is that the Accessibility Law has become inaccessible, Adela said. She said there are still architects and owners who resist following the law, thinking that it would be expensive.
“It is expensive, but not if the building is planned well (from the start)... They have not internalized the issue... Our cause is more on an appeal basis, there are no ordinances yet,” Adela said.
Adela said accessibility in structures is not only for the disabled but also for the elderly, the pregnant women and the children.
Adela and her supporters usually do without funding and dig into their pockets to finance their activities.
For her efforts, Adela was given the award by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at Malacanang Palace last Aug. 6.
While there are no monetary rewards for her work, Adela said the “little joys” are enough return, like infecting “normal” people to be more senstive to issues of accessibility.
Adela said she sees the award as a way of allowing her to advance the cause of a barrier-free society.
Posted by jicafriends at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2008
Infotech firms to employ the visually-impaired-Philippines
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
MANILA, Philippines - Information and communications technology (ICT) companies are planning to employ persons with disabilities (PWDs), helping fill up positions in an industry that is expected to produce a million jobs by 2010.
Organizations such as IBM Philippines, Inc., Resources for Blind, Inc. (RBI) and Adaptive technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (Atriev) and the Asia Pacific College are helping visually-impaired individuals to secure employment in the ICT industry.
IBM and RBI launched on Monday its 7th training program for the blind nicknamed “Computer Eyes."
The week-long training aims to equip 19 blind students from all in high school and college levels in basic computer applications, such as keyboard skills, word processing, and web page creation.
More than 150 blind students from all over the country have already been trained under the program since its introduction in 2001, said IBM Philippines country manager and president James Velasquez.
Continue...
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/122605/Infotech-firms-to-employ-the-visually-impaired
Posted by jicafriends at 06:27 PM | Comments (0)
Pakistan signs disability rights pact
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25 (APP): Pakistan on Thursday signed an international convention which is designed to protect the rights of the estimated 650 million people worldwide who have disabilities.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi put his signatures on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan during the annual United Nations event designed to increase participation in global pacts.
Qureshi was received at a conference room especially set up for the event by Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Patricia O’Brien.
The annual treaty event, held at UN Headquarters in New York since 2000, seeks to promote the increased participation of countries in the more than 500 multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, and by so doing, to strengthen the rule of law.
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53987&Itemid=1
UN webpage regarding signatories and ratifications:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/countries.asp?navid=12&pid=166
Posted by jicafriends at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)
September 24, 2008
International Deaf Day
The International Deaf Day falls on the last Sunday during September of every year all over the world.
This day is held to create awareness among the public to show how much the deaf could contribute to society and the country’s economic growth.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:39 PM | Comments (0)
People With Disability Derserve Our Attention-Zambia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
EDITORIAL
22 September 2008
Posted to the web 22 September 2008
For a long time, the rights and plight of children with disabilities have not been given the due attention they deserve and, in fact, for most institutions, people living with disabilities are at the bottom of their priority list.
There are many reasons for this scenario, but top on that list are the historical cultural attitudes that remain deeply rooted in our customs and traditions.
Unfortunately, many parents in society still regard having a child with disabilities as a form of misfortune and in some extreme cases, some believe that it is a curse or punishment.
As a result of such beliefs, both parents and children are generally stigmatised and isolated from many social activities.
But the situation is especially worse for children whose parents feel ashamed and want to keep their children away from public sight, including denying them education.
As a result, many people have grown to be dependent on their parents or believe that they cannot engage in any activities because of their disabilities and sadly, such kind of people end up as beggars on the streets.
We are, therefore, glad that the ministry of Education is taking practical steps to halt this practice and ensure that children with disabilities access education.
But apart from provision of specially trained teachers, there must be a deliberate move that infrastructure in these learning institutions is designed in such a manner that it caters for those with disabilities.
There must be a well thought plan to ensure that children with disabilities are given an environment that will positively impact on their socialisation and development process.
There must be minimum situations where institutions are specifically built for them away from able-bodied children because this creates a sense of isolation and stigmatisation.
In fact, these situations must not even arise in the first place because other than their physical challenges, disabled children are human beings who must not at any given time be discriminated against and isolated from society.
Let us strive to uphold and even double the kind of love and care that disabled children receive from their own family members - brothers, sisters and parents in their various homes, or we will be failing in our duty to do according to the dictates of the Holy Bible. It is not impossible.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
September 22, 2008
Distinguished Disability Advocate Venus Ilagan Appointed as New RI Secretary General
We would like to congratulate Ms. Venus Ilagan, former participant of Leaders' Course 1994 on her inauguration of Secretary Genreal for Rehabilitation International. Please refer to the following information.
(New York, New York, US, July 14, 2008)
Rehabilitation International
(RI) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Secretary General, Venus Ilagan of the Philippines. As a woman with a disability from the South, Venus has worked tirelessly to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly during the negotiations for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Venus is expected to commence this important new role in September 2008, subject to resolution of visa and contractual arrangements, and Venus will be based at the RI headquarters in New York City, New York.
Venus is a well-known advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities for years. As a leader in the National Organization of Disabled Peoples’ of the Philippines (KAMPI) and the Differently-Abled Women’s Network (DAWN) of the Philippines, as well as holding various positions, including Chairperson, of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), Venus has promoted disability rights at the national, regional and international levels. Her vast experience with UN agencies and other international organizations includes her consultancy work with the Asian Development Bank and the World Health Organization.
As a representative of DPI, Venus has strong links within the International Disability Alliance (IDA), a coalition of 10 international and regional organizations of persons with disabilities, and served as IDA Chair from May 2004 -May 2005. She is well regarded within IDA and the newly created IDA CRPD Forum, of which RI serves as the Secretariat.
RI President Michael Fox remarked, “We are extremely pleased that Venus will be joining the RI team. She will be leading the RI Secretariat at a critical time in our growth, with the focus on implementation of the UN Convention and growth of the RI Foundation. We very much look forward to working with her and sharing her insights and experience.”
RI will formally welcome Venus as our new Secretary General during the RI World Congress, to be held in August 2008 in Quebec City, Canada. For more information about this event, please visit
Posted by jicafriends at 04:37 PM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2008
Big challenge (Regarding Paralympics)-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Wheel Power: By Anthony Thanasayan
For the disabled participants at Beijing's Paralympics Games, the event is often regarded as the highlight of their lives.
As you read this, as many as 4,000 disabled athletes (including a dozen Malaysians) are taking part in Beijing's Paralympics Games.
The event, held once every four years, traditionally takes place about three weeks after the Olympics. It is also held in the same country that the Olympic Games took place.
To the disabled sportsmen and sportswomen involved, the Paralympics is often regarded as the most important event in their lives. (From left) Oscar Pistorious of South Africa, Heros Marai of Italy and Christoph Bausch of Switzerland in the heats of the men's 100m T44 classification race at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
To me, the event is not only about who wins what and how well they performed. That is important, of course. But what is more important is how a particular sporting event has contributed to the people, and how it will continue to change their lives.
How will life change for the disabled community after major sporting events are over? BBC Online's web page gave a peek into the lives of the handicapped in China.
The online page's reporter followed an Olympic volunteer who used a wheelchair and travelled across Beijing by bus and subway, before the Games. The exposure made him realise how serious disability issues are in the country.
Although ramps and lifts were newly added for the Paralympics, this wasn't so in other towns and villages in China.
The 82.7 million people with disabilities in China still face discrimination and prejudice, which make their daily lives difficult.
Universities in China are still reluctant to take in students with handicaps.
Human Rights Watch based in New York says that "8.58 million employable people with a disability in China did not have jobs last year."
This even though the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities laws had been enacted and ratified not long ago.
"So far these protections have meant little to (disabled) persons (and) their advocates in China to be able to fairly compete for employment," the organisation pointed out.
Despite this dismal outlook, the BBC says the good news is that the Chinese government has made a big effort to educate its citizens on how to talk to the disabled athletes during the Paralympics.
One pamphlet advises locals to be helpful, but not too pushy. It also suggests they should be more sensitive to those with disabilities.
Over here in Malaysia, it was announced that we had won the bid to host the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) world general assembly in Kuala Lumpur. The event will be held in November next year.
Even though this is joyous news for the disabled community, many of us are concerned about the issue of accessibility for the international disabled guests when they arrive in KL.
We know what a nightmare it is for a wheelchair user to move around in the capital.
Will the respective local councils be able to tackle these problems by the time our overseas guests arrive next year?
Or will our disabled visitors be restricted in their movements and told where they can go in the city?
Will they stay in posh hotels (with accessible shiny toilets) during their stay or will they be allowed to mingle with the rest of us and have a chance to see what Malaysia is really like?
If nothing is done from now until November next year, will our disabled guests want to come to Malaysia again?
And how would our disabled citizens benefit from such a visit? That is what I really like to know.
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/9/11/lifefocus/1977248&sec=lifefocus
Posted by jicafriends at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)
Training Report : July 10, 2008, PM: Local Vist (Day 4)

It was a beautiful day.
Six participants were very excited and ready to work with users of Samegawa Tanpopo-no-ie.
Their first task requested by Ms. Yaeko Shiraiwa, Director of the facility, was picking up fruits from Japanese apricot (ume) trees. They left the facility together with users and staff by car to perform their morning duty. Apricot yard belongs to the director of the post office and he kindly allowed them to get apricot fruits for free. Though woolly bears often welcomed them, they never stop working.
Tanpopo-no-ie is going to produce the salad dressing by using those apricot fruits.
At lunch time, Japanese noodle “Udon” produced in Tanpopo-no-ie was served. As you can see Udon became the participants’ favorite dish.
After lunch, the second task was waiting for all the men. They went to the pumpkin field to cover it with straw. The participants from China, Fiji, and Lao PDR worked so hard that they could accomplish their task very quickly. Meanwhile lady team was in charge of removing stems of apricot fruits inside the facility. They also visited the pumpkin field to observe how the other participants were working together with the users.
Before leaving Tanpopo-no-ie, “question and answer” session was specially arranged by Ms. Shiraiwa. The users asked many questions to the participants and of course they were very happy to answer all of them.
It is happy to say “hello”, but so hard to say “good-bye” to all the friends at Samegawa Tanpopo-no-ie.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2008/training/v0710.html
Posted by jicafriends at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)
Training Report : July 9, 2008, PM: Local Vist (Day 3)

At lunchtime, six participants enjoyed Japanese noodle “udon” at Madeini-ya, a noodle shop run by Samegawa Tanpopo-no-ie. It is located in a big shopping mall. Two users with intellectual disability was working there as waiters. Their attentive service to the customers had proved that persons with intellectual disability could be efficient workers when the working environment was arranged. The participants were very impressed to observe how they worked and had to change their views towards persons with intellectual disabilities. Udon, which was served there, was produced at Tanpopo-no-ie. And it became popular among the community people.
After lunch, they visited one of the supporters of Kokoron, Oki Daikichi Honten, a microbrewer of Japanese rice-wine (Sake), where three persons with disabilities were employed. Oki Daikichi Honten was established in 1865. The shop faces the old Oshu-Kaido Highway, one of the five main highways constructed during Edo Period (1603-1867). Mr. Daikichi Oki, the fourth-generation and Mr. Daikichi Oki, the fifth-generation showed them around the brewery to observe how persons with disabilities were working there as well as the process of making sake. Mrs. Oki and her daughter welcomed and entertained the participants with home-made dishes.
They stayed at the Oki Daikichi Honten longer than they planned, and had to hurry to the Samegawa Village Office to have a courtesy visit to Mr. Katsuhiro Daikura, Village Mayor. They had a one-hour fruitful meeting with the mayor and he promised them to work harder for persons with disabilities living in Samegawa Village.
At night all the staff from Samegawa tanpopo-no-ie came to their lodging “Hot House Samegawa” to eat dinner together with the participants. It was a great opportunity to get to know with each other.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2008/training/v0709pm.html
Posted by jicafriends at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2008
Disneyland work is just magic for disabled-Hong Kong
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Nickkita Lau
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hong Kong Disneyland has worked its magic on disabled employees Jenny Lam Man-shan and Chloe Liu Lai-to by restoring their confidence and putting smiles back on their faces. Lam and Liu joined the park's first apprentice program for the disabled in June last year, and since then have waved goodbye to the unhappy drudgery of working for fast-food chains.
Liu, 25, who has Down syndrome, works in the staff restaurant after graduating from a nine-month apprenticeship.
Now she enjoys her work, a far cry from being yelled at by her previous boss.
"I'm always in a good mood. I get to meet so many people and make so many friends."
Fellow apprentice Lam, 23, has a septal defect - a hole in the partition separating the left and right sides of the heart - and used to see the doctor every month.
But after the tonic of working at the park she now sees the doctor only once a year.
Secondary Four-educated Lam said she did not think the park would hire her when she was referred by the charity Caritas.
She now works four days a week at Fantasyland. Director of staffing and human resources Greg Morley said the park has been hiring the disabled on an ad hoc basis since opening three years
ago for tasks that include making calls and packing.
In 2006, the park hired 80 disabled people through regular recruitment.
Last year, the park began recruiting by referral and so far 15 people have been employed through the scheme.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=71630&sid=20554639&con_type=1
Posted by jicafriends at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)
September 08, 2008
Training Report : July 9, 2008, AM: Local Vist (Day 3)

In the morning six participants met Ms. Kumada, director of Kokoron, at Kokoroya, a direct sales store which mainly sells local agricultural products and local specialties. They also run Café at the back of their shop to serve 500 yen-lunch. This lunch became very popular among community people as they can buy it just with one 500 yen coin. At present 23 users with mental disabilities work at Kokoroya and prepare for working in open labor market.
After looking around the shop, Ms. Kumada gave the participants a brief lecture at Café. She explained why she started Kokoron and chose the place Izumizaki and how she manages all the facilities such as Kokoron, Kokoroya, Nagomino-Ie and a group home named Kokoron House. What Ms. Kumada is doing now is not just the employment promotion of persons with disabilities, but she aims to enliven Izumizaki Village and to overcome barriers between community people and people with disabilities.
Then the participants visited Tsuburaya-Kinoko-En run by Mr. Yasuo Tsuburaya. He cultivates Shiitake (Japanese mushrooms) and sells them at Kokoroya.
His Shiitake received the Award of Minister from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry. He could sell mushrooms at good price, however he sells them at low price at Kokoroya. Mr. Tsuburaya told them that he was happy about contributing to persons with mental disabilities. Six participants were impressed by the attitude of Mr. & Mrs. Tsuburaya.
Before leaving, the participants were called by a couple of a tomato farm next to Tsuburaya-Kinoko-En. They picked up and gave so many fresh tomatoes to the participants. Can you imagine how happy they were!
http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2008/training/v0709am.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)
Free Toolkit for Persons with a History of Mental Health Issues and Child
The following informaion was found from Disabled Peoples' International's (DPI) E-news
and downloaded in cooperation with its publisher.
The UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration has developed a free tool
kit for parents with serious mental illness. Research indicates that mothers
with serious mental illnesses are almost three times more likely than
mothers without such illnesses to be involved in the child welfare system;
many have lost custody of their children.
The tool kit
・ Helps parents who have lost custody or are at risk of losing custody of their children
・ Helps parents in recovery from mental illnesses with parenting issues
・ Offers guidance for professionals on the above
The tool kit titled, "Helping Behavioral Health Clients with Parenting &
Child Custody Issues," can be downloaded at
http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=185
Posted by jicafriends at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)
September 04, 2008
Professor gets relay going-China
The opening ceremony of Paralympic is going to be held on September 6, 2008. http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Song Wenwei
China Daily Staff Writer
Updated: 2008-09-03 10:02
NANJING: The sun shone as the Paralympic torch relay arrived Tuesday in the capital of Jiangsu province, the latest stop along its "ancient China" route.
The first torchbearer of the Nanjing leg of the Paralympic relay, Hou Jingjing, holds the torch September 2, 2008. The college teacher is a role model having earned herself a PhD at Nanjing Normal University. [Xinhua]
The 3-km, 90-minute run began at Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and involved 60 torchbearers, six of them disabled.
University professor Hou Jingjing, who has been confined to a wheelchair since losing her legs to polio at the age of 11, was the first to carry the torch.
"I feel really happy and honored to be the relay's first torchbearer," she said.
Despite her physical disability, Hou, a native of Ma'anshan in Anhui province, has always had a passion for life, and a love for the English language, which she began studying as a young girl.
In 1997, she completed a bachelor's degree in English and followed that a year later with a master's in the same subject from Nanjing Normal University. In 2004, she completed her PhD to become China's first wheelchair-bound doctor.
"I always felt I could achieve the same things as able-bodied people because I have confidence in myself, and have always received strong support from both my family and society as a whole," Hou said.
She has given back to society by working with young people at delinquency prisons, as well as donating the money she was awarded for being a model worker to poor students and orphans across China.
Running the last leg of yesterday's relay was local sports coach Zhou Zengfu.
He said six athletes from Nanjing will take part in the Beijing Games and he expects them all to do well.
"I am confident that Nanjing athletes will win about 10 medals at the Paralympics," he said.
Over the past 20 years, 67-year-old Zhou has trained several Paralympic champions.
"The Paralympics is a not only a sporting event, but also a chance for disadvantaged people from around the world to get together and learn from each other and get to know more about the world," Zhou said.
Mu Guiying, president of the Nanjing Disabled People's Association, said that over the past several years, local authorities have done much to improve the lives and working conditions of Nanjing's 441,500 disabled residents, who account for more than 6 percent of the city's total population.
The proportion of disabled people in work has risen from 60 percent in 2003 to 80 percent last year, while 99 percent of all disabled children now receive compulsory education.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/03/content_6993724.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2008
Feat at 200 kilometers length-Kyrgyzstan
On August, 18 from Balykchy city has started an unusual (pedestrian) marathon called "For equal opportunities": Rinat Janaliev, vice-president of Issykkul Union of people with disabilities and four volunteers who are Occupational Therapists from Japan accompanying him should overcome (216)
two hundred and sixteen kilometers for two weeks. This marathon is organized in support of the rights of disabled people. Besides we can call on people with disabilities once again to make them to believe in themselves.
Most part of the way is already behind. He had to replace even tyres on the wheel-chair as they were rubbed out. At the end of the route the group is planning to take part in the celebration of Independence Day in Karakol, the capital of Issykkul oblast. But for Rinat and people accompanying him this day will be the day of small but memorable victory.
http://www.stan.tv/news/6798/Taken from Stan.TV: Information videoportal
Posted by jicafriends at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
UN convention on disabled takes effect in China
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Source: CCTV.com | 09-02-2008 08:53
Special Report: Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
The United Nations convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities became Chinese law on Sunday.
The United Nations convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities became Chinese law on Sunday. The convention aims to protect the right of all disabled people to enjoy fundamental freedoms fully and equally, also promoting respect for their dignity. It was approved by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006.
China notified the UN's Secretary-General of its ratification of the convention on August the 1st. Starting August 31st, the convention took effect in China, including Hong Kong and Macao.
Editor:Zhang Ning
http://www.cctv.com/english/20080902/100846.shtml
Posted by jicafriends at 02:43 PM | Comments (0)
September 01, 2008
New guidelines released on wheelchairs to support use rs in developing countries-WHO
On the occasion of the 21st World Congress of Rehabilitation International, WHO, the US Agency for International Development, the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics and Disabled Peoples' International have launched an important new document: Guidelines on the provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced settings.
The wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing the personal mobility of people with disabilities. An estimated 1% of the world's population, or just over 65 million people, need a wheelchair. In most developing countries, few of those who need wheelchairs have access, production facilities are insufficient and wheelchairs are often donated without the necessary related services. Providing wheelchairs that are appropriate, well-designed and fitted not only enhances mobility, but also opens up a world of education, work and social life for those in need of such support.
The guidelines, developed for use in less resourced settings, address the design, production, supply and service delivery of manual wheelchairs, in particular for long-term wheelchair users. The guidelines and related recommendations are targeted at a range of audiences, including policy-makers; planners, managers, providers and users of wheelchair services; designers, purchasers, donors and adapters of wheelchairs; trainers of wheelchair provision programmes; representatives of disabled people’s organizations; and individual users and their families. By developing an effective system of wheelchair provision, Member States support implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the May 2005 World Health Assembly resolution A58/23 Disability, including prevention, management and rehabilitation.
You can also order the full document via the online order form
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/orderform/en/index.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
Resource on Disability Rights and Policy
We found the following informaion from Disabled Peoples' International's (DPI) E-news.
Handicap International is proud to present the “Disability Rights and
Policies” CD. This CD contains key reference documents and resources
around the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is
invaluable to international organizations working in human rights,
development, capacity-building, and emergency relief.
The contents are grouped by the following themes:
1. Understanding disability
2. Human rights and disability
3. The rights-based approach to relief and development
4. Mainstreaming disability
5. Disability and development policy
Free download in French or English at
http://handicap-international.fr/bibliographie-handicap/
Or email info@handicap-international.us
Posted by jicafriends at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)