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July 31, 2009

Deaf school wins Games basketball competition-Fiji

We found the following information related to Suva special school in Fiji. Now deputy head teacher of the shcool is attending "Realization of Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities 2009."
It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.

By Josefa Makaba
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Fiji Times

GOSPEL School for the Deaf was yesterday crowned the inaugural winner
of the 2009 Central Eastern Disabled Regional Games basketball
competition at the Tattersal National Gym.

For their win, Gospel took home the Fiji Paralympic Committee/Mark Secombe Trophy. Tournament organiser Saimoni Nainoca said this was an historic occasion for the games as it was the first time they included basketball.

Nainoca said he was impressed by what he saw at the courts as the kids played with a lot of confidence and skills. "We have only three schools playing basketball this year but we hope to increase this number next year," Nainoca said.

"The basketball competition kicks off our 2009 Central Eastern Games and from tomorrow (today) we will play the other sports."

Eight special schools from Suva, Nausori and Levuka are competing in the two-day event. The games started with basketball and today competition for the other games will be held in Nausori. Nainoca said for the first time in the history of the games, they have invited primary schools from the Nausori area to be included. "We have done this because we want our kids to integrate with able bodied kids from primary schools," Nainoca said.

"Previously we've always kept kids from special schools separate from other kids but now we want to change that viewpoint.

"We want to see that kids from Special Schools and those from Primary Schools are brought together so that we don't segregate some because of their disabilities but give them the opportunity to play sports in unity," Nainoca said.

In the basketball competition, Suva Special School took home the second place while Hilton Special School was third. The games will start with a march through Nausori Town to Ratu Cakobau Park. Competition will be played in various grounds around Nausori.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=126450

photo caption: Suva Special School's Sepo Rakesa dripples the ball against Hilton Special School

Posted by jicafriends at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)

July 30, 2009

Training Report : July 1 2009 AM : Visit to Swan Bakery

In the morning five participants visited “Swan Bakery Akasaka shop,” with one of the committee member, a professor of Kanagawa Institute of Technology. The President lectured how Swan Bakery was established.

Swan Bakery is corporation that the late Mr. Masao Ogura, founder of the Kuroneko-Yamato Home Delivery Service, established in cooperation with the Yamato Welfare Foundation and the Yamato Transport Co., Ltd.

The number of persons with disabilities in Japan is estimated to account for about 5% of the population, or approximately 6 million people. The majority of them are working in more than 6,000 joint community workshops and small scale sheltered workshops scattered throughout Japan. However, their wages are as low as less than 10,000 yen monthly and under this situation they are far from becoming independent.

The late Mr. Ogura was amazed to know the fact and started to think how it is possible to pay more than 100,000 yen in monthly salaries. Then he got the idea of establishing shops selling “delicious bread fresh from the oven.”

Mr. Ogura gained the understanding and cooperation of Mr. Seiichi Takaki, President of the Takaki Bakery Co., Ltd., which has developed a nationwide network of famous bakery chains “Andersen” and “Little Mermaid”. After finding that it is possible for persons with disabilities to bake bread from the frozen bread dough that Takaki Bakery developed, Mr. Ogura immediately put this into practice. In June 1998, a shop in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, opened as the Swan Bakery's first shop. It was the late Mr. Ogura who named “Swan Bakery”. He took his clue from the work of Hans Andersen, the Danish writer of storybooks, who told the story of what seemed an ugly duckling was in fact a “swan.”

Presently, Swan Bakery shops are scattered across the nation and now there are over 20 outlets employing more than 200 people with disabilities. They have become economically independent and achieved participation in the society through their jobs.

The participants could learn lots of keys to success of business from the President today. Then the participants visited the bakery shop to observe how people with disabilities work. The participants could not distinguish employees with disabilities and without disabilities.

Everyday more than two hundred office workers come to Akasaka Shop to buy breads or to eat lunch during lunch time. The participants of JICA training course, of course tried the popular breads!

http://jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0701.html

Posted by jicafriends at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)

July 29, 2009

A Happy email from Miiro san-Uganda

Dear All friends,

Greetings from all Persons with disabilities here in Masaka Uganda

I have finally and successfully received my certificate from JICA.
When i got it all my memories of Japan a rose again and i remembered every one of you and every thing that was amazing in Japan, the lessons we had, the tours and above all how empowered PWDs in Japan are!

I wish to say THANK YOU again for all the support you gave me and i learnt a lot.
I promise to continue sharing what i am doing in Masaka and in Uganda at large that is targeting PWDs and i also call upon for your continues support in lobbying for all PWDs in the World to have equal opportunities just like any other person, "as one first becomes a human being before having a disability.

So dear friends, the purpose of this communication to share with you the good news of the reciept of this Certificate in Leadership Developmet for Persons with disabilities.
For God and My Country

Aligato
Miiro San
Senior Rehabilitation Officer-Masaka

Posted by jicafriends at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)

July 27, 2009

Only nine disabled folk land jobs through Welfare Dept-Malaysia

The following information related employment situation in Malaysia was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.

Wednesday July 8, 2009

ONLY nine disabled people have found jobs through the Welfare Department, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun. She said as of May this year, 431 disabled people had registered themselves with the department to look for jobs. "The public sector allocates 1% of its jobs to the disabled," she told Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh. Chew said the department was also upgrading its registration system to electronically issue the disabled with cards.

She said an advocacy programme for the Persons with Disabilities Act had also been put in place to focus on the accessibility of buildings and public places for the disabled.

"A national council for the disabled was also set up in July last year to supervise the implementation of policies and action plan," she said.

Chew said that among others, the Govern-ment had received various suggestions on issues relating to the disabled, such as support service, care, shelter and rehabilitation.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong told Wan Ramlah Wan Ahmad that the ministry found it difficult to post male teachers to remote areas. "There is a lack of male teachers in certain options but at the same time, schools in rural areas need teachers in these subjects. There are too few male teachers," he said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/8/parliament/4275259&sec=parliament

Posted by jicafriends at 07:57 PM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2009

Training Report : June 30, 2009 AM: Visit to Isetan Soleil

Five participants learned the special subsidiary system on June 26 and today they visited Isetan Soleil, Co., Ltd., a special subsidiary of Isetan Co., Ltd. which runs one of the most famous department stores in Japan, Isetan.

When they arrived at the company at 9:45 am, twenty eight employees with disabilities were asked to get together for the morning assembly. They first watched a video to get the latest information of Isetan Department Store. Participants saw each employee sat down and tried not to miss even a single word from the video. President then asked them several questions related to the contents of the video. They looked up and answered his questions imposingly.

After the assembly they cleaned up their workplace to start work.

Not only them but also all employees were very much concentrating on their own tasks and their works were perfectly done.

Since they are employed by Isetan Soleil, Co., Ltd, the minimum wages are secured.

There are more than 80 kinds of works done at Isetan Soleil, President explained. They are supplementary tasks which used to be done by sales staff at a shop in Isetan Department Store such as folding wrapping papers, making gift bags, sorting credit card sales slips etc.

The participants could also observe various devices created by Isetan and used by employees with disabilities. For example, a paper mould which has a cut in a shape of a gift sticker indicates where the sticker should be pasted and thus anyone can paste a sticker on a gift bag easily and accurately. The participants tried some tasks which looked easy, but they felt to do it accurately and repeatedly was not as easy as it looked.

Participants could meet two job coaches, one from the sheltered workshop and the other from Employment Support Center. They visited Isetan Soleil to see how their former users were working. Actually they already got used to all the works.

After the observation of workplace, President of Isetan Soleil showed them a video of a program broadcasted by a big TV company which took up the employment promotion of persons with disabilities at Isetan Soleil.

The participants could learn that if the environment is appropriately arranged and the appropriate jobs are provided, persons with intellectual or mental disabilities can also work.

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0630.html

Posted by jicafriends at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2009

Dao Reuang - First Group of Self-Advocates in Thailand

The following information was downloaded from APCD website.
http://www.apcdproject.org/publications/2009/newsletter27/Dao.html

Thai persons with intellectual disabilities decided to set up their own self-advocacy group at the workshop held at APCD on 18th-19th March 2009. It's the first self-advocacy group of persons with intellectual disabilities in Thailand. The group was named Dao Reuang (Marigold in English) and the members selected 6 committee members, agreed on the annual membership fee and listed activities they would like to conduct together in the future. The list included supporting other persons with disabilities, helping homeless pets and playing sports.

The workshop organized by APCD in collaboration with the Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability of Thailand and the Association for Parents for Thai AutisticPersons brought together 15 persons with intellectual disabilities and 16 family members from Bangkok as well as from other provinces.

The workshop provided an opportunity for them to share their experiences, and learn from the Thai and Japanese resource persons. Five resource persons (2 of whom were self-advocates) who had attended a one-week training in Japan presented their learning concerning support systems and self-advocacy efforts. In addition, 3 Japanese resource persons (one self-advocate, one family representative and one supporter) shared their experiences and encouraged the formation of a self-advocates' group as well as support by family members.

The formation of Dao Reuang marks a very important first step in the promotion of self-advocacy in Thailand. APCD believes that with the eagerness of the self-advocates and effective support from others, Dao Reuang has the potential to become an active and sustainable group. APCD would like to watch how the group will grow and support its activities. In the near future, perhaps, Dao Reuang may become a role model for self-advocates with intellectual disabilities in other countries.

Posted by jicafriends at 06:32 PM | Comments (0)

July 23, 2009

Reunion in Cambodia

Dear jicafriends,

The President and Vice President of United Voice and I were privileged to be invited by FASID (Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development) to give talks on Learning Disabilities and Self-Advocacy at a workshop for Government Officials of Myanmar and Cambodia held in Yangon and Phnom Phen recently. When I was in Phnom Phen, Cambodia, I am so glad to have the opportunity to meet up with Mr Borinsak whom I met in JICA Training in 2006 in Tokyo. We had great time catching up with one another and reminiscing the good time we had in Japan. We also updated one another about members of the team whom we are still in touch with. It was nice of Borinsak to bring me to meet his family. He also brought me to visit some places, including the Historical Palace in Phnom Phen.

I am grateful to JICA for sending me to Japan for training and for teaching me so many valuable knowledge and skills that has helped me improve in the work that I am involved in amongst people with disabilities. Since that training in 2006 I have had many more opportunities to collaborate with other Japanese organisations recommended by JICA Malaysia, Japanese experts and JOCVs in creating more awareness about people with learning disabilities, self-advocacy and employment through conferences, trainings, dialogues and workshops in Malaysia and in other Asian Regions. Thank you JICA!

Regards

Swee Lan

Posted by jicafriends at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)

July 22, 2009

Training Report : June 24 & 25 AM, 2009 : Participatory Workshop: Facilitator Skills

Today five participants had the first day of four-day participatory workshop.

As most of jicafriends know, the facilitator for this training program is very popular among former participants. Once you participate in this workshop, you will be fascinated by him.

In this workshop everybody in the lecture room has to participate and each participant is encouraged to give his/her opinion and comment.

It is not only to learn about how to “facilitate,” but also to learn communication and empowerment skills by using simple materials and exercises.

Participants chose their own topics and each participant is requested to facilitate a session in the latter part of the participatory workshop. Hopefully they can facilitate the topics by making use of the skills which they acquired today.

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0624.html

Posted by jicafriends at 08:04 PM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2009

Training Report : Lecture on Current Situation of Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Japan

Although five participants prayed for their course leader, they could still not hear his voice.

However the participants were very pleased that he could come to JICA Tokyo to lecture on the current situation of employment of persons with disabilities in Japan. His presence is the most important!

He started the lecture on why realization of “Decent Work” is essential to persons with disabilities and explained the difference between open employment and welfare employment. Becoming employees at the private companies means they can be secured the minimum wages, on the other hand people who work at the welfare facilities are not recognized as workforce, but they are service users and not secured the minimum wages.

They also learned the history of the quota schemes and its present issues and Necessity of collaboration and integration of welfare policies and labor policies for the promotion of employment of persons with disabilities.

All the participants could get the basic ideas regarding employment/work of persons with disabilities and could be ready for site visits next week.

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0626pm.html

Posted by jicafriends at 07:50 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2009

Training Report : June 26, 2009 AM : How to Write Project Plan Ⅰ

Five participants are requested to write their own Project Plans by the end of the training course.

Two and half days workshops are programmed for them to acquire skills of how to write a project plan and how to make an effective presentation.

In the morning they had the first half-day lecture to grasp the basic idea of writing a REALISTIC AND CONCRETE plan including 12 topics, such as 1. Name, 2. Title of the plan, 3. Background, 4. Overall goals, 5. Concrete Objectives, 6. Beneficiaries, 7. Impact on beneficiaries, 8. Project Implementation Plan, 9. Monitoring and Evaluation, 10. Possible obstacles to project plan implementation, 11. Budget needed, how to raise funds, and 12. Impact of this training.

The lecturer suggested participants to plan something which they can implement upon return to their home country and use the ideas what they got from her workshop plus the other parts of the training.

Five participants also discussed the meaning of decent work, which is a key word for this training program.

By July 21, each participant has to prepare the first draft.

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0626am.html

Posted by jicafriends at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)

July 14, 2009

Newsletter from United Voice-Malaysia

Dear jicafriends,


One of participants of "Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities" is such a hard worker!
She is attending the lectures in Japan, at the same time she is working for her organization and she uploaded the following newsletter.

We are happy to be with such a decent person!

Would like to invite you to read United Voice latest newsletter. Just click:
http://www.unitedvoice.com.my/newsletter/2009JuneNewsletter.pdf

The secretariat of jicafriends

Posted by jicafriends at 08:50 PM | Comments (0)

The King signed the disability law - Cambodia

We have received the following media release of Cambodian Disabled People's Organization from Mr. Sarin, Program Manager of HAGAR-CAMBODIA.

The King signed the disability law

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 9, July 2009 - Currently, there are over 550,000 people with disabilities in Cambodia. They are one of the most disadvantaged groups in this society – discriminated against in employment, in health and education services, by their local communities, and so suffer from poverty, exclusion and the lack of basic human rights. Today we, the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisations are very pleased to learn the King of Cambodia signed the National Disability Law on 8 July after the National Senate passed on 16 June, and Parliament of Cambodia discussed and passed on 29 May.

Ngin Saorath, Executive Director of Cambodia Disabled People’s Organisation (CDPO) felt “Having this law is what our members and people with disabilities of all types need, this law will protect and promote the full participation of us and will ensure that a person with disability will not be isolated and lonely.”

Leng Sakhorn, Director of Women with Disabilities Forum Prey Veng, Sok Moa, Udormean Chey Disabled People's Organisation (DPO), Ros Sam Oeun, Kampot DPO, said the Law will give equal oppornities for persons with disabilities to participate in social development and recognizes the dignity and justice of persons with disabilities.

Yi Veasna, Executive Director, National Centre for Disabled Persons (NCDP) said “We, the NGOs who provide services to people with disability, believe that this will help all persons with disability to have an equal standard of living as non-disabled people and it shows us that the government will take care about the welfare of people with disability more in the future.”

Handicap International, who have been providing services and supporting advocacy for the rights of persons with disability in Cambodia since 1982, said ”We are very pleased to see that the Cambodian Government is taking seriously its responsibilities to protect and promote the rights of persons with disability in this country. This legislation is a landmark accomplishment that will serve to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Cambodian persons with disability and, by extension, improve the lives of all Cambodian people.”

Tan Monivann, Deputy General Director of Mong Rethy Group Co.,Ltd said " I am very happy to hear that Cambodia has the law to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. He added that without the law people with disabilities are associated with discrimation."

We are grateful to Samdech Preah Boromneat Morodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Thormak Porthisal Chea Sim, Chairman of the Senate, Samdech Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin
Chairman of the National Assembly, Samdech Akkak Moha Sena Padei Techo Sun Sen, Prime Minister, and H.E Ith Samheng, Minister of Ministy of Social Affaires, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation for their attention paid to the disability law. We would respectfully suggest to the Parliament of Cambodia they now need to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability after this adoption of the national law. The UNCRPD has real importance to be able to successfully implement the spirit of the National Disability law in Cambodia.

Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO)

CDPO is an organization of people with disabilities whose mission is to develop the networks of people with disabilities so as to support, protect, serve and promote their rights, achievements and interests, in order to bring about their fuller participation and equality in society.

****************************************************************
Chan Sarin
Program Manager
HAGAR-CAMBODIA
Web : www.hagarinternational.org

Posted by jicafriends at 08:09 PM | Comments (1)

July 10, 2009

Graduated from Georgetown University - Global Leadership 2009

This email to share with all of you my proud for being another member of the group graduated from Georgetown University last June on LEADERSHIP FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAM 2009.

An academic semester of high level training, meeting very important people (presidents, former presidents, ministers, vice-presidents, ambassadors, regional leaders, writers, very experienced teachers ... attending conferences in many organizations / places about all kind of subjects ... an amazing experience in close contact with global power.

I saw President Obama in a NBA bascketball game and then, months later, Senator McCain coming out from an elevator in the offices building of US congress, besides other very important or interesting people, both formally and informally. That's Washington DC. So, I cannot complaint but to be very happy for the great opportunity. Thanks very much to Ardila Lulle Business Group, the Colombian sponsor.

My project is related with something that I have been doing on recent years: motivating people and generating positive changes. That's one of the things I love to do and now I want to take it seriously as a business and also as an instrument to promote worthy social initiatives. So, if you need an Inspirational speaker or instructor not only on Leadership but also in Personal growth and development, Projects Management and work safety, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Your Colombian friend sending warm hugs from Brazil,

Fabio Padilla
Engineer, wheelchair tennis player and Inspirational Speaker

Posted by jicafriends at 07:47 PM | Comments (0)

Thailand REPORT

Thailand REPORT
(Regional Training on Gender Disability, Bangkok, Thailand)

Philippines
2009 March 2 - 14

Different countries from ASIA - Pacific such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan and Philippines participated in the annual regional training on Gender Disability (GD) held in Bangkok, Thailand.
GD training tackled many issues about　the different problems concerning women with disability, social interactions EXCLUDING SEXUAL IDENTITY, building-up equality, woman as part of economy, international situation, advocacy program, South-to-south collaborations on UN Convention issues, empowerment, etc... The training also means that the issues considered not only the point of view of being a woman but also the men together with the women.

Along with many issues I will discuss three (3) topics.
(1) First, our experienced within the South-to-South Collaboration at the UN ESCAP;
(2) Second, our experienced within the GD Training;
(3) Lastly, Tum San's and I special activity.

It is a very good experienced of this year’s GD trainees for we were able to attend the South-to-South Collaboration of the UN Convention at UN ESCAP.
On the first day, different presentations’ reported the latest updates of their countries initiatives following the UN Conventions plan of actions.
Announced the latest information’ and updates of UN Convention for persons with disability (PWD)by the experts.
On the second day, the GD trainees made their own countries presentation on gender disability. While on the other side, the government officials and leaders of their own respective countries made their South-to-South collaborations meeting.
In view of the two days activities, presentations and discussions focused on gender disability. Problems on women's domestic violence, discriminations, unemployment, educations, social and psychological situations are common topics. In my own opinion, the said issues remain unsolved. I think not only the laws that must be amend but individual itself must changed. What is the meaning of a strong law if the people are weak? Or, what is the strength of one or two persons if the scale is out of balance? Even if they don't like their current situations they keep their mouth zipper, their ears seems like can not hear at all and their eyes are blindfolded. What else you can do if the people surrounds’ you are trying to judge you improperly? What will be the choice, but no otherwise, to keep silent so that you can go out without those judge mental eyes, or, to lost people respect and be unemployed? Most of this women are encountering psychological problem. More over, persons being abused are hesitant to express their problem within the family so they look for someone who they think they can keep their secret. Are they really trustworthy? Further more, anywhere in the world people are very scared with the term {PUBLIC SCANDAL}. With this term we can not say who will gain benefits or later lost at all. Well, we can not just say so. Until you find yourself into the highlights of the public scandals.
Therefore I think, we should foresee the situations by developing women with confidence, and strength to fight for their rights.
It is necessary to consider the social, emotional and psychological conditions. Conducting seminars and training for women　with the mission to strengthen personality development, social interactions, public awareness programs, public protections against abuses, ignorance, etc...Women whether with disability or not must be knowledgeable of their own rights as a human being and part of the world.
Ｏｎ　the　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｈａｎｄ, Biwako concept is good, but think that the individual principles and philosophy must also be change. Changes must come from both sides. Chopstick can not be use if it is only one stick. It will be no meaning if only one will worth. The said issues and problems are not the problem of women sides only, I think it is the problem of society to make the world equality. It is not the issues of who are impaired. It is an issue about how to have equality as a human being. Let us think what we are as human beings who have responsibility to take care of each other.

Second, experienced within the GD Training. Our study tackled building- up equality, empowerment, advocacies, research, leadership, making national project proposal, making good presentation, etc. We also did role- playing and group discussion where the topics are free. We also visited and studied the independent living services in Pataya, Thailand. As I heard, Pataya group of persons with disability have a strong voice to stand for their rights and privileges. The accessible beach is one of the evidences. They also have good services for severe disability persons where the supports commonly came from IL Center’s fishery projects. I was surprised with their 30 baht hospitalization program. They also received 500 baht support for their monthly cost of living. Well, I think, this is one of the results of their strong unity.
The training was very short but very meaningful. However, I felt sad because I wasn’t able to communicate with all participants for many consequences. Participants came from different countries so without interpreter we always encountered conflicts of languages. I can only communicate with friends who can speak or understood English. Anyhow, I wish I can do sign language very well so that I can also communicate with hearing impaired friends. I want to make friendship to everybody.

In view with many lessons we learned, I wish to consider one point of view wherein the differenced of giving rights as a human being like an ordinary individual or giving equality for the sake of bitterness and self-pity. I think that this is a problem how the world accepts a persons with disability or with impairment with their own willingness and with the idea of equality. This thinks coordinates with building- up equality disregarding whether with impairments or not. I think it is not the solution of the issue of who is handicapped person in a true meaning, as far as a handicapped person is receiving pity and an object of relief.　Well, may be I will just ask all of you. Do you care for persons with disability for the sake of obligations as part of your job? Or, because you wanted to be a good person in a view of doing well to handicapped person? Or, do you find yourself as same as the persons with differently - able bodies? ，

Indeed, for any reasons of disability we shouldn’t think it as an object of relief. It is not only the weak side that we should look up. See and recognized the strong sides, the talents, expertise, skills that we can use to improve our personality. Furthermore, we should also consider what an individual wanted to do and wanted to be. What will make us happy? What will make and makes us hurt and felt deprived? What will make us strong and weak? There are so many threats but we should always come to think of giving opportunities and chances to experience what we wanted to understand and understood.

(3) Finally, My special experience with my best friend Tum. Inside the UN ESCAP a new toilet for persons with disability was created. Tum San (electric wheelchair user) and I together with Akeyama San , UN ESCAP expert, made a barrier- free check of the said toilet. The door was so heavy and very hard to open. Inside the toilet the emergency button seems like the push button so for the blind it is very confusing. Making toilet for PWD really needs to consider many ASPECTS like the size, FLOOR AREA AND HEIGHT of the door, BOWL, LABATORY, HANDRILL ARE accessible for ANY KIND OF DISABILITY? Etc...…Honestly speaking, we have many laws for considerations of accessible facilities for PWD. However, please observe that even the facilities of government agencies where it should and must be the model of accessible building. Most of the government offices or establishments are not actually accessible for PWD. Commonly for visually impaired persons, it is very hard to mobilized inside the building: for physically impaired friends, their main barrier is how to get inside the building. Most of the buildings are design as stairs and slope are not really even friendly. For hearing impaired, if they will not come with their own interpreter the communications are really very hard. Also, please observe that most of the government offices for PWD are far from town or city proper. Most of the offices are placed where transportation are very hard. Who should first implement the ratified law for PWD?

Another experienced of ours was the Elephant and crocodile show. We also went to Sunday market and have shopping while experiencing how hard for the PWD to have recreation. Our whole day activity was so adventurous. First, the problem of transportation; Second, how we can ask for assistance.
It is very hard for us to use the public transportation because sometimes the taxi driver doesn't want us. This is may be because my best friend is using wheelchair and they are getting tired of fixing the wheelchair. Tum San needed to have a quite long conversation with the driver for us to be able to use the taxi. I was so worried for Tum San's daily transportation because she needed to use taxi to commute going to her activities. I never saw the accessible bus. Or may be near to Tum San's house they don't have an accessible bus terminal. Can you imagine how rich those wheelchair users because without taxi it is very hard for them to commute to go to other place.
Anyway, after the long way run going to elephant show we felt happy and comfortable for we found the zoo as accessible. Except the toilet again! I wonder how the engineers think when they are making toilets. More so, I think before giving permit on establishing any recreations or any establishments as provided by the law, staff or employees must have at least knowledgeable on how to assist persons with disability. Anyway, we enjoyed the day very much.
On that day we remember our days when we were Duskin trainee in Japan. We also have the same experience when we were in Tokyo Disney Sea. We wanted to enjoy the horror hotel but because the staff don't have any knowledge or may be she don't like the PWD enjoyed the days with Tokyo Disney Sea... My best friend Tum wasn't able to get inside the horror hotel. It is funny how that I also have disability and I was able to experience the life inside the said hotel. We made so many discussions with the staff but still at the end she insisted that the hotel is dangerous for the PWD in times of emergency. Well, in my idea if they can not secure our safety in times of emergency whether with disability or without disability it must be close because it is not safe. Ops! Sorry for the very frank message. Anyway, this is a long way story.
Finally, I will just say that Tum's San and I friendship started when we were Duskin trainee in Japan but the friendship never end even if the training have finished. In spite of, we strengthens our friendship as in like a real sisters. I think, it should be a model for all trainees that we should not make friendship only inside the training and after the training we just lost contacts and communications until we just found out that it was just a memory. Well, I will left my final line as: We should make friendship because we want to have a real friend. We shouldn't have friendship because we have intention of having something
Thank you so much.

Posted by jicafriends at 07:20 PM | Comments (0)

July 03, 2009

Kuniko wants to help out-Fiji

One of the participants of Decent Work Course is Deputy head teacher of Suva Spcial School and we found the following information about JICA volunteer who was dispatched to the school from the mailing list of "Disability and Development."

Thursday, July 02, 2009
Fiji Times

SHE is here to impart a very rare knowledge - to help disabled children with their speech.
And so far, Japanese speech therapist volunteer Kuniko Kobayashi is enjoying her stay.

"I have been a speech therapist at Tsu City Hospital and have worked with children and adults -- this has been part of my life," she said. Ms Kobayashi is here on a two-year stint under a Japan International Cooperation Agency program. She had never heard of Fiji until an internet search of its culture and people. She was very happy with what she learned.

"The culture is in a way similar to ours and that is something really good and I'm so excited about learning it and the language," she said.

Ms Kobayashi and another Japanese volunteer will be based at the Suva Special School. Head teacher Bishwa Sidal said speech therapists were rare in Fiji, with qualified ones having migrated overseas.

"This will really help the children and she will be able to bring to us a lot of new ideas and skills," Mr Sidal said.

He said speech therapists were also needed for stroke patients and accident victims, adding the school was lucky to be have them.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=124645
photo caption: JICA volunteer Kuniko Kobayashi

Posted by jicafriends at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)

Japanese persons with visual impairments enjoy Sound Table Tennis

Once two month, persons with visual impairments get together to practice Sound Table Tennis (STT) at Ogikubo gymnasium in Suginami Ward, Tokyo.

Suginami Ward provides the facility and they cover the expense for the trainers and referees. So members can enjoy playing STT for free!

Every time 10 to 20 people come not only from Suginami Ward, but also the other part of Tokyo and other prefectures.

The eldest member is 73 years old. They teach and learn with each other regardless of age, gende, or differences. And anyone can join them anytime! We can easily become friends throuth STT games.

Posted by jicafriends at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)

July 02, 2009

Training Report : June 23: PM The Right to Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities

In developing countries, 80% to 90% of persons with disabilities of working age are umemployed. They are frequently not considered potential members of the workforce. Most of those who have jobs receive little or no monetary remuneration. Perception, fear, myth and prejudice continue to limit understanding and acceptance of disability in workplaces everywhere. Many countries do not have legislation to promote and protect the rights of workers with disabilities.

The primary goal of the International Labour Organization (ILO) today is to promote opportunities for man and women to obtain decent work and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity.

http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/WhatisDecentWork/lang--en/index.htm

The lecturer, Professor of Hosei University, a former Vocational Rehabilitation advisor for Asia and Pacific region of ILO lectured on the rights to decent work of persons with disabilities. He explained major international conventions, recommendation, declaration etc. related to the employment of persons with disabilities including Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml

All the participants knew some of the conventions or recommendations, however it was their first time to know about international efforts to eliminate the discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment field. Today they understood that everyone, with or without disabilities, without any exception, has the right to work. Not just to work but decent work!

http://jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0623pm.html

Posted by jicafriends at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)

July 01, 2009

Training Report : June 23, 2009 AM : Welfare Services for persons with disabilities -from perspective of persons with disabilities

Yesterday five participants received the lecture on the Japanese welfare services from a special advisor for the disability issues at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Today participants learned the welfare services from the users' viewpoint.

Lecturer is a special advisor for the INAX Corporation, who is a disability certificate holder and uses the welfare services regularly. She came to JICA Tokyo with her personal assistant by a taxi equipped with a lift.

She was born in Hokkaido. She contracted diseases when she was a senior high school student. Her life was completely changed but she never gave up her life.

“I had to live, in order to live, I needed to work,” she said.

So she tried to look for the place where she could learn design, and she found the interior design course at the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities and moved to Tokyo. She experienced uncountable difficulties, prejudices and discriminations, however she overcame one by one and as the result of her hard work, she could find an appropriate job at the private company through employment support services.

Her lecture helped five participants understand how Japanese persons with disabilities use their welfare services and live independently in the community. Although she succeeded in living independently. It is still not easy for persons with disabilities to access necessary information, unless they go out and look for it by themselves.

For the participants, the morning session was not only to know the Japanese welfare services, but also to aware of the meaning of “Decent Work” for persons with disabilities.

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0623am.html

Posted by jicafriends at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)