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February 23, 2010
"East Africa: EAC Urges Member States to Form Councils for Disabled"-Uganda
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
22 Feb 2010
Kigali — The East African Community (EAC) has called for the creation of councils for persons with disabilities (PWD) in all partner states as one way of addressing the challenges faced by the disabled.
The call was made over the weekend at the closure of the first ever conference on Persons with Disabilities held in Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting, attended by experts, political leaders, and policy makers, emphasized the need to adequately finance the councils to enable them fully discharge their responsibilities.
In an interview with The New Times yesterday, regional legislator Dr James Ndahiro (Rwanda) said that the meeting also agreed to come up with a legal framework that will put in place a comprehensive EAC Disability Law to serve interests of persons with disabilities.
"The Sectoral Council on social affairs will work on this law which will be presented to the Council of Ministers and later to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)," he said.
Participants emphasized the need to conduct research and provide health services for the prevention, control, early detection, management and support to various human disabilities.
They came up with recommendations on how governments and the EAC secretariat can best address the challenges confronting peoples with disabilities.
"We agreed that the secretariat takes up the responsibility of ensuring that the resolutions are implemented," Ndahiro added.
Among other resolutions, the meeting called for the establishment of a regional disability development fund and for partner states to ratify the UN Disability Convention as a regional bloc.
The meeting also challenged national parliaments to identify weakness in the existing laws, address issues and concerns of PWDs and recommend amendments where appropriate.
Ndahiro revealed that a development partners' conference involving persons with disabilities would be held this year to chart ways on how there can be mobilization of resources to fund programs for PWD.
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201002220849.html
Posted by jicafriends at 07:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 22, 2010
Help disabled kids-South Africa
Securing education of children with disabilities is very important. However in many countries governments push aside that issues, and mothers whose children have disabilities have to take an action. The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
18 February 2010
Nthabisang Moreosele
NEED SUPPORT: D isabled pupils and staff.
NINE mothers joined hands in 1994 and opened a school for disabled children in Sebokeng, Vereeniging.
There were no schools for disabled children and ordinary schools were reluctant to register them. The mothers were advised by a social worker to “do it yourself”.
“Most of our children have profound disabilities. The government and NGOs could not do anything for us, so we came together and founded Boipoloko Stimulation Centre. Ours was the first such school and it is still the only one in our area,” co-founder Maborute Tshabalala said.
She said the school was run on fees of R190 a month per child. There are 22 children who are fed twice a day between 8am and 2pm. Their ages range from two to 18.
The pupils are taught to read and write and count. Pleas to the government for a stipend or grant have fallen on deaf ears.
“We have a five-room school that used to be a government building. We do not pay rent. The social worker who helped us start the school moved and the new ones have not been helpful ,” Tshabalala said.
She said the school struggled to collect food and to pay for the children’s transport.
Mama Angel bought chairs , plates, cups, kitchen utensils, pots and stimulation toys for the centre.
“ We thank you for what you have given us. We hope this will open the doors so that more can be done for the children,” Tshabalala said.
Boipoloko still needs blankets, linen, toys, food and cutlery.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
Report from Karen-Guyana
Hi Friends,
A just realized that time has flown by it has been over a decade I had the pleasure of visiting Japan, its still my favourite country outside of Guyana.
What has been happening in Guyana since 1999 in the disability movement and what have I been involved in?
In 2002 I won an Organisation of American States (OAS) scholarship to study in Canada I did a BA in Disability Studies completed that in 2005. Returned to Guyana to work. I was the Program Officer for the National Commission on Disability, Ministry of Health for the last four years. While there the major projects I worked on was a survey on children and adults with disabilities; the national consultation process on a draft persons with disabilities bill and the formation of a resource centre with accessible internet service and books,videos and other materials on disabilities.
In 2007 I began laying the groundwork to prepare a certificate course in Disability Studies to be offered through Distance Education, University of Guyana. The inaugural course was completed in October 2007 by ten persons from the pubic and private sector.
In 2009 I transfred to the Ministry of Education to work as the National Coordinator on Special Needs Education. In those years I also pursued an MBA in Project Management completed that in 2009 and in June 2010 begin a MSc in Special Education. I have attached a newspaper article that gives some in spite on my current job. It was great catching up with you and reading about all the other countries in the newsletters over the past years.
Karen Hall, participant of Leaders' Course 1999
http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/
Posted by jicafriends at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2010
2010 Winter Paralympics-Canada
The 2010 Winter Paralympics will be held in Vancouver and Whistler British Columbia Canada between March 12 to March 21 2010.
More information can be obtained from the follwoing site,
http://www.disabled-world.com/sports/paralympics/2010/
Posted by jicafriends at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)
Government Launches the First Census for the Disabled-Kenya
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
16 Feb 2010
Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
Nairobi — The first registration of people with disabilities since independence has started in Kenya.
The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) is conducting the registration. The disabled will be identified and details about where they live and work recorded. This will help the government in planning for them.
The documentation of people with disabilities has already been done in Nyanza, Coast and Central provinces.
Speaking during the five-day launch of the counting exercise for people with disabilities in Kakamega, the NCPD accounts assistant, Isaac Manyonge said, Kshs. 200 million has been set aside by the Treasury in this year's budget for empowerment of people with disabilities. The money will also fund business projects for the physically challenged. Manyonge said the disable will also be assisted to form groups through which they will apply for loans.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201002170779.html
Posted by jicafriends at 01:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2010
The 4th Australasian Orientation and Mobility Conference-Australia
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to inform you of an upcoming conference which may be of interest to you and your contacts.
The 4th Australasian Orientation and Mobility Conference (AMC2010) will take place between 24-26 November 2010, and will be hosted by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT at The Women's College within the University of Sydney, Australia.
This is a conference for the professional development of Orientation and Mobility specialists, including Guide Dog specialists and those with an interest in vision impairment.
Full details on the conference will be made available in the coming weeks at http://www.guidedogs.com.au/amc2010
CALL FOR PAPERS
Invitations for the submission of abstracts are now open.
Guide Dogs is also encouraging delegates to sign-up now and register their interest via email at:
mailto:amc2010@guidedogs.com.au?subject=I%20wish%20to%20register%20my%20interest%20for%20AMC%202010
It would be greatly appreciated if you could distribute the above details re: AMC2010 among your networks.
Kind regards, Jenny
Posted by jicafriends at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2010
Training Report : November 13, 2009: Regional Training (Day 6)
In the morning, JICA participants went back to the Peace Memorial Museum to have a lecture by a hibakusha, a survivor of A-bomb.
Even though she became very weak due to a number of surgeries for the after effects of the bomb's radiation, she was very humble and she thanked everyone in the room for giving her this opportunity. She then started explained her unforgettable experience in English.
http://www.hiroshima-spirit.jp/en/index.php
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/1999/00/00_matsubara_spirit-hiroshima.php
Through her sincere message all the participants could learn what was really happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
And then participants moved to the different building in the park, where the International Peace Promotion Department, the City of Hiroshima is located, to learn about the A-Bomb and its damage, and the current status of nuclear weapons in the world.
The Director, Peace Promotion Division gave them brief explanation on the main projects of the City of Hiroshima such as testimonies of the A-Bomb experience, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, A-bomb exhibitions overseas, peace information over the Internet, and Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Courses. The participants also learned the Hiroshima City's effort to abolish nuclear weapons such as Mayors for Peace, 2020 Vision Campaign etc.
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/e/peace.html
Before leaving Hiroshima the participants could meet the Mayor of City of Hiroshima, Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, and they directly learned from him about the Hiroshima's national and international efforts for the nuclear weapon free world.
The three day's visit to Hiroshima gave strong impression to the participants and they surely will bring the “Spirit of Hiroshima” back to home country.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1113.html
Posted by jicafriends at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2010
Japan pledges US $ 73,588 for disabled-Nepal
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of US$ 73,588 to Samaj Sewa Sudhar Yuwa Sangh (Disabled Helping Committee) for the implementation of the project for the construction of a Rehabilitation School for People with Intellectual Disabilities and other Severe Disabilities in Mechinagar Sub-Municipality.
This financial assistance is extended under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan.
A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged recently between Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Tatsuo Mizuno and Dharma Raj Ghimire, President of Samaj Sewa Sudhar Yuwa Sangh, Mechinagar.
The project is to complete a facility to provide opportunities for receiving education and rehabilitation to disabled children. The recipient organization constructed the ground floor, in October 2009, with local supporters including Mechinagar Sub-Municipality. This time, the grant is to be exclusively utilized for the additional construction of the first and second floors, consisting of 13 rooms, furniture, and necessary equipment in the existing building.
The building is to be utilized as a Rehabilitation School, providing education, rehabilitation, and vocational training for 50 children with disabilities. 9 visually-impaired, 10 hearing-impaired, 11 physically-impaired, and 20 mentally impaired children are to be enrolled in the hostel.
The Samaj Sewa Sudhar Yuwa Sangh consists of staff with disabilities who have energetically worked on various programs since 2004 in order to promote the disabled people’s right for a quality life. The leading role that they are playing to provide children with education, rehabilitation, and vocational training - aiming to help them to be socially and economically independent, is highly evaluated.
Speaking at the ceremony, ambassador Mizuno mentioned Japan’s grant aid to Nepal since 1994 in contributing to realization of the goal of the "Education for All by 2015" Program. He also explained the difficult circumstances surrounding disabled people in Nepal and that the project supports the basic rights of children through contributing education to disabled children. nepalnews.com
Posted by jicafriends at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2010
Move to make obtaining disability certificate easier-India
We found the name of Mr.Javed Abidi, the former participant of Leaders' Course 1995 in the following information. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
February 12, 2010-The Hindu
Aarti Dhar
Strange as it may sound, it is true. It is easier to get a passport in India than a disability certificate. For the simple reason that the onus of issuing a passport is with the state, while the differently-abled are required to approach the state for getting their disability certified.
“Getting a disability certificate in India is a nightmare. Even in places like Delhi and Mumbai it is next to impossible, one can only imagine what it must be like in the smaller towns and villages,” says Javed Abidi, Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.
But now, with the Centre announcing amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules, 1996, things are expected to improve. As per the amended rules, the differently-abled will now have to appear before one doctor specialising in the nature of disability instead of a Medical Board, a time consuming process as doctors often skip Board meetings.
Also, now primary health centre (PHC) doctors have been given the right to issue disability certificate in cases of severe disability, while others with partial disability will still have to go to the District Hospital to get one. However, the new rules are yet to be notified.
“While we welcome the amendments, we will fight for empowering the doctors at the PHC level to issue disability certificates of all categories of disability since the present arrangement will leave many people out, thereby depriving them of the benefits,” Mr. Abidi said.
In fact, the XI Plan, approved by the National Development Council, provides for putting the onus of certifying disability on the state as is the case in issuing of a passport, which is delivered at the doorstep once the application has been filed.
The existing arrangement stipulates that a differently-abled person approach a medical board. Sometimes, women have objected to the manner in which the check-ups are conducted before a certificate is issued, Mr. Abidi said. It takes five to six months before a certificate is actually received. But once the new system comes into effect, the least time frame will be reduced drastically.
Announcing the amendments at the Ninth National Meeting of State Commissions for Disabilities, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik asked the States to adopt the amendments and ensure registration of all differently-abled people so that they are under the ambit of government schemes.
Some States have made considerable progress in issuing certificates to differently-abled persons. Andhra Pradesh has covered all, Jharkhand 97. 8 per cent, Goa 89 per cent, Himachal Pradesh 74.8 per cent, Chandigarh 57.5 per cent, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 56.5 per cent, Punjab 53.8
per cent and Karnataka 52.9 per cent.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article105270.ece
Posted by jicafriends at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2010
Don't Overlook People With Disabilities in Haiti
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Even before the earthquake struck, some 800,000 persons in Haiti were living with disabilities, including 200,000 children. An estimated 194, 000-250,000 people were injured in the earthquake, many of whom will suffer long-term disabilities. Handicap International estimates that there are at least 2,000 new amputees.
People with disabilities are often overlooked, neglected and forgotten in disaster relief and humanitarian response. Yet they are among the most vulnerable of the affected, particularly if they have lost their traditional caregivers-extended families and neighbors. The organization I work for, the Women's Refugee Commission, has identified problems faced by displaced people living with disabilities in settings around the world-and proposed solutions. We have outlined some key activities to help the people of Haiti who have sustained disabling injuries.
Humanitarian agencies and others working in Haiti must take these people's needs, concerns and abilities into account when designing and implementing programs and activities in order to promote access, inclusion and the full participation of persons with disabilities. This is true whether providing shelter, food, water and sanitation, health services, education or livelihoods.
Since people with disabilities are often kept hidden out of sight or are unable to reach registration centers, special efforts must be made to locate and register them to ensure they receive the services they need.
Dozens of makeshift camps have sprung up around Port-au-Prince. As the crisis continues, it is likely that more long-term camps will be established. The shelters in these camps -- as well as latrines, water points and bathing areas -- must be accessible to all, and people with disabilities, including women, should be involved in decisions about where they are located. As planning for reconstruction gets underway, people with disabilities should be included, to make sure that permanent shelters, schools, health centers and other public buildings are accessible to everyone.
We saw disturbing pictures of near-riots as desperate people have fought to get food and water at distribution points. In such situations, the likelihood of people with disabilities getting anything is remote. They should be prioritized in food and water distributions, and arrangements should be made to deliver rations to those who are immobile.
Access to health care, including reproductive health services, is critical. Doctors and other health care staff, both those working with humanitarian agencies and Haitians, need to be trained on disability issues, and specialized treatment and assistive devices must be provided.
There will be a great need for prostheses, and experts to fit them.
Many of the newly disabled are children and young people. Temporary and reconstructed schools must be made accessible to them, and it is important that children with disabilities be mainstreamed into regular schools and classrooms whenever possible. Children with specific learning needs should receive special educational services. This will mean providing appropriate training and support to teachers to equip them with the skills to address the learning needs of children with disabilities.
Besides having special needs, people with disabilities have great potential. Taking advantage of their skills, experiences and expertise, they should be tapped as program staff, project resource persons and program participants. They should also be included in skills training, income generation and employment projects, including cash- and food-for-work projects.
Those living with disabilities were underserved in Haiti prior to the earthquake and were often shunned and stigmatized. The emergency response and reconstruction efforts provide an opportunity to amend past neglect and discrimination and assist persons with disabilities to live richer, more dignified lives. Designing interventions that take into account the specific needs and abilities of people with disabilities can have an enormous effect on improving their well-being and their protection.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dale-buscher/dont-overlook-people-with_b_455471.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
Needs of Haiti’s disabled must not be forgotten, says UN expert body
UN peacekeepers assist quake victim in Haiti
9 February 2010 – A group of United Nations experts today stressed that the needs of Haitians with disabilities must be included in the relief, recovery and reconstruction processes following the earthquake that battered the small Caribbean nation last month. Persons with disabilities must not become “the forgotten ones during the emergency response and the reconstruction of the country,” the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stated in a news release.
“While relief workers are struggling to provide aid to the people of Haiti and while the situation remains difficult for everyone, persons with disabilities are particularly affected by the crisis,” said the Committee’s current chairperson, Mohammed Al-Tarawneh.
“The disabled risk being left out unless a disabilities perspective is built in the recovery process from the start.”
The 12 January quake killed up to 200,000 people, injured many others and left one third of the country’s nine million people in need of aid.
“The trauma caused by this disaster cannot be underestimated,” said Mr. Al-Tarawneh, adding that many disabled people in Haiti have been made even more vulnerable, especially if their caregivers have been killed or injured.
The 12-member Committee urged Haiti to ensure that persons with disabilities fully participate in the decision-making process regarding social and economic reconstruction and that their long-term development needs be taken into account.
The experts serving on the Committee, which will hold its third session in two weeks in Geneva, are tasked with monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which so far has been endorsed by 144 countries.
The Convention, which entered into force in May 2008, is the culmination of years of global efforts to ensure that the rights of the world’s estimated 650 million persons with disabilities are guaranteed and protected.
It asserts the rights to education, health, work, adequate living conditions, freedom of movement, freedom from exploitation and equal recognition before the law for persons with disabilities.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33715&Cr=&Cr1
Posted by jicafriends at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)
Disables Council sets up car wash to help disabled students-Fiji
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Fiji Times
THE Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons launched a new activity yesterday which gave its members the opportunity to experience having a paid job.
The new activity was a small car wash centre at Qarase House on Brown Street.
"One of the new directions is to take up such activities for the centre," said executive director Dr Sitiveni Yanuyanutawa.
"This car wash activity will create in these students skills apart from carpentry and sewing (skills which they learn here).
"This is also a popular area because the road is busy almost all the time. The proceeds from this scheme will go to the council."
Dr Yanuyanutawa said there were about 90 students at Qarase House from 13 to 30 years of age.
"It is the place for young men and women who are physically challenged," he said.
"Most of them are drop-outs from mainstream schools as they are visually impaired or have abnormal physical development."
Kavinesh Maharaj, 27, helped his colleague Vinal Patel, 13, to wash their first car.
"The students are running with excitement to get started with business," Dr Yanuyanutawa said.
The council also plans to create a mini-market where the students work in carpentry, joinery, screen painting, book binding, and sewing can be put on display and sold.
photo caption: Vinal Patel (right) and freinds Allen McCaigh (left) and Kavinesh Maharaj washing the first car at the Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons new car wash facility on Brown St in Suva.
Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=139474
Posted by jicafriends at 01:32 PM | Comments (0)
Brunei pioneering member of Asian autism federation
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Rachel Thien Feb 1st, 2010
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI has become one of the five members of the newly established Autism Federation of Asian Region (Afar), formed during the Asia-Pacific Centre for Disability (APCD) conference and workshops held in Bangkok recently.
The federation was established to engage and empower all self-help organisations (SHOs) working to develop an autism-friendly Asian region, said Malai Hj Abdullah Hj Othman, president of Brunei’s Society for the Management of Autism Related Issues in Training, Education and Resources (Smarter).
Malai Hj Abdullah, who represented Brunei during the APCD meetings from January 26 to 29, shared his enthusiasm with Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand in establishing the federation, which aims to cooperate and coordinate in assisting and advocating for rights of all SHOs on autism.
“We are also going to develop an Asean resource centre where we can share expertise and do research regarding autism. We are also going to have our very first meeting soon, and all five member countries have agreed that at the moment, the resource centre where the meeting will be held will be in Bangkok,” he said.
Malai Hj Abdullah added that during the first meeting, the other six Asian countries who are members of APCD will be invited to the meeting.
“What I am hoping for is to also organise back-to-back Afar meetings in Brunei, during (occasions) such as the Asean Senior Ministers Meetings held in Brunei from time to time,” he said.
During the APCD meetings in Bangkok, only nine Asean member countries attended as Singapore and Cambodia could not make it, said Malai Hj Abdullah. Delegates discussed issues faced by every country, such as obtaining support from the government in advocating for SHOs. “It was a lesson learnt for them (government agencies) to try and emulate us. The only way for SHOs is for government agencies to include us by opening doors in areas of accessibility and affordability.”
Malai Hj Abdullah explained that SHOs should not be fighting for things like accessibility (such as infrastructure) from government agencies, and that they should be provided to them.
Also, he encouraged government agencies involved to support SHOs and not to “make policies without involving SHOs”.
“There have been (instances) where people who cater to SHOs had no say in policy making. There should be more dialogue sessions including SHOs in them, held to discuss implementation of policies as SHOs are not just service providers,” he said.
The APCD also agreed that communities should meet SHOs “halfway” in advocating for disabilities and autism.
“We (member countries) talked about inclusive development and we made a 12-point declaration that the community must get involved and meet us halfway,” he said, adding that the APCD agreed that that was what communities should do.
The meeting also suggested Brunei to look into and see what SHOs should “modify and implement” in advocating for their causes.
“Our government has already signed the Charter for Rights of People with Disability (CRPD) in December 2008. Now we need to rectify the agreement by seeing what we can do to modify and implement it,” he said.
Speaking about his overall experience during the APCD meetings, Malai Hj Abdullah said: “As a representative of Smarter, I am pleased to start a new era of organisations such as (Afar) between Asian nations, by helping each other in intervention for autism. Hopefully, we will be a force to be reckoned with in the world.”
He added that he was also pleased to note that Smarter has been recognised by APCD as one of the “leading organisations” in advocating and being a service provider for autism.
Among Brunei’s delegation were Smarter Vice-Secretary Annisa Hj Moksin and Smarter Head of Psychology Committee Nipah Hj Moktal.
The Brunei Times
http://news.brunei.fm/2010/02/01/brunei-pioneering-member-of-asian-autism-federation/
Posted by jicafriends at 11:44 AM | Comments (1)
February 09, 2010
Training Report : November 19, 2009 AM: Visit: The Accessible Design Foundation in Japan
In the morning participants visited the Accessible Design Foundation in Japan.
The lecture was started with a question from Section Chief of General Affairs, “All of us use various products, services, and facilities in our daily lives. However, are they really accessible to everyone?” “Can persons with visual impairment distinguish between shampoo bottle and conditioner bottle?” JICA participants nodded no.
And she then continued, “from that point of view, the Accessible Design Foundation (the ADF Japan) started its activities to promote accessibility for all people including older persons and persons with disabilities. In order to promote products, facilities and services that are accessible to every member in the society, the ADF Japan collaborates with other organizations to conduct user surveys and research on the needs of various people. We aim to create a society where each member can live a happy and lively life.”
Some samples of the accessible design products were introduced by her and participants were very impressed to know their efforts to promote accessible designs.
JICA participant started to interest in the concept and asked the following good questions.
“We understood that we could recognize the differences between milk and juice by the notch, however, we still have difficulty to recognize the differences between orange juice and apple juice. Do you have any ideas to distinguish those differences?” “Even if we could recognize the products, how persons with visual impairment get to know the price without any assistance?”
Section Chief was very pleased to hear their opinions and promised them that they will try to solve those problems.
And then a member the foundation who have low vision shared her experience how she developed the accessible designs at her work place.
When she worked for one of the major transport companies in Japan, company faced a problem of the customers with disability. When a customer was not at home, delivery staff left a message card in the post, however, only contact phone number with message was printed on the card, so that the customers with visual impairment could not recognize what it is. Likewise customers with hearing impairment could not contact delivery staff on the phone. In order to solve the problem, the company added fax number on the card. As a result the company decided to notch on both sides of the card enable persons with visual impairment understand what it is.
At the beginning you can start from a small change, then the small change will gradually become bigger, she explained to the participants.
After the lecture, participants had an opportunity to touch and try the accessible products for daily use at exhibition room in the foundation.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1119.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)
UN Enable Newsletter- January 2010
ENABLE NEWSLETTER
January 2010
Our deepest condolences go out to all who have suffered loss from the recent earthquake in Haiti (see section on the Emergency situation in Haiti).
The Enable Newsletter is prepared by the United Nations Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Input has been received from by UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society. It can also be read on-line at: http://www.un.org/disabilities.
Website: http://www.un.org/disabilities
Posted by jicafriends at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)
Internet access for visually impaired is focus of UN workshop
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
5 February 2010 – Nearly 200 cyber experts and other stakeholders seeking access to the Web for scores of millions of people with visual and other disabilities wrapped up a four-day United Nations workshop in Geneva today, stressing the need for universal access despite handicaps.
“The key to the information society is universal access and no one should be denied the potential benefits of ICTs [information and communication technologies], not least because they are hampered by their disabilities,” UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré said, noting that an estimated 650 million people live with disabilities worldwide.
“ICTs have the great merit of serving as a powerful equalizer of abilities, empowering persons with disabilities to fulfil their potential, realize their own dreams and ambitions, and take their place as active members of society.”
ITU, which co-organized the workshop with the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), focuses on a series of strategic issues ranging from the rights of the disabled to making technical design standards accessible to providing education and training on accessible ICTs.
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry underlined the importance of accessibility in general and reaffirmed his agency’s commitment to establishing an accessible web environment that promotes easy access to intellectual property information in line with its visually impaired persons (VIP) initiative launched in 2008 to explore ways to facilitate and enhance access to literary, artistic and scientific works for the VIP community.
Mr. Gurry, noting that only 5 per cent of all published works are currently available in formats accessible to the VIP community, said WIPO and its member states are actively seeking to improve this situation. WIPO’s copyright committee is currently considering a draft treaty that would create an enabling legal environment to address exceptions and limitations to international copyright law.
A first workshop was hosted by WIPO last May, and the forums are in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities which entered into force in 2008, which requires that accessibility be taken into account in the design of new information technologies and systems.
This week’s meeting brought together experts from the World Wide Web consortium, Mobile web initiative, Yahoo!, Adobe Systems Incorporated and the British Royal National Institute for Blind People. Participants agreed on the need for an annual workshop to keep abreast of technological developments and to share knowledge and experience of the issue within the UN system.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33682&Cr=internet&Cr1
Posted by jicafriends at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2010
Newsletter from YPSA, Bangladesh.
YPSA, the organization which Ms. Sadia Tajin, a former participant of Vocational Rehab. Course 2008 belongs to sent us their newletter for February.
Posted by jicafriends at 06:36 PM | Comments (0)
Good news from Lilian-Chile
03/02/2010
Governor of CHILE, enacts Disability Law:
He stressed that "to achieve full equality of respect to our human rights legislation must recognize the differences that affect people with disabilities.
Santiago, 3 February 2010. In a mass ceremony in the courtyard of the Camellias of the Currency, the President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, accompanied by Minister of Planning, Paula Quintana, Maria Olivia Recart, the Finance Minister (S), Roberto Cerri, Executive Secretary the National Disability Fund, highest political authorities, representatives of organizations of and for persons with disabilities, among others, became a reality the promulgation of the new law, after four years of discussion in Congress.
The President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, issued this morning that Law No. 20,422 establishes rules on equal opportunities and social inclusion for people with disabilities, modifying existing law since 1994. "What we're saying with this bill just enacted, to attain full equality with respect for our human rights legislation must recognize the differences that affect people with disabilities," said the governor.
On the occasion, Minister of Planning, Paula Quintana said "we have this new law will take effect from now, but certainly, they will present new challenges in the implementation phase and at that stage, all of us Chile deeply committed to an inclusive and respectful of diversity, we must be vigilant and help push these changes so that all of society's assume ownership.
The President of the Republic pointed out that in the country, "more than 2 million people (12.9%) have some level of disability, and of that group, nearly half have a significant reduction in its functionality or serious difficulties autonomously perform essential activities of daily living.
In that vein, he explained that the new legal framework promotes public-private cooperation, "understanding that disability is an issue that affects all of society" and therefore stated that progress is needed in providing care, services, access to information and institutional support.
He added that "this project has a different look and sees disability not as a health problem or a disease but as a set of conditions that are often created by the context or social environment," adding that the new legislation attempts "ensure the full exercise of their rights and non discrimination," stating "compensatory mechanisms that effectively equalized opportunities for all."
In this regard, the Head of State said that "we have placed in the center of our government social policy, with the idea based on the right of each of the Chileans or all people living in our country to access the same opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, age, physical condition, economic or the place where born ", remarking that" care for people that is behind this new law. "
Recalled that the country has signed various international instruments on the matter, "being the most emblematic of which the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," adding that it was necessary to "revise our legislation, the tools we had and what all we need, eliminating the criteria and practices that, in fact, end up denying equal opportunities. "
In this context, President Bachelet announced the establishment of "a modern public institutions to relieve the disability as a central aspect of public policy, with the creation of the National Disability Service," the current heir Fonadis, but with more powers and representation at regional level ", adding that there will be other government agencies responsible for the item as a Committee of Ministers and a Disability Advisory Council.
He reported that the processes will be streamlined qualification and certification of disability by extending the system of tariff exemptions for imports of equipment, prostheses, medicines and a host of other requirements to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
Along with that, he said that "ensuring full access for persons with disabilities to public and private buildings," while "being perfected preferential parking rules" and "incorporate measures to facilitate access for people with disabilities to the educational system and labor market.
The governor said the new law recognizes sign language as a means of communication of people with hearing disabilities, stating that in a period to be determined by the regulations, "the television channels should generate opportunities for access to its programming to deaf people ".
He also stressed that legal action will be created especially for disabled persons "because of an act or omission suffered arbitrary or unlawful threat, disruption or deprivation in the exercise of these rights", reaffirming that "each of these measures is a contribution not only to people living with disabilities, but for all Chileans. "
Finally, the Head of State said that "it is necessary in this and in all areas of social protection, going well beyond the handouts or mere protectionism," emphasizing that "true integration of all people living with disabilities effective is to promote equalization of opportunities for them to really integrate into the community. "
Major benefits of the new law
According to statistics Fonadis in Chile more than two million people have disabilities, representing 12.9% of the total population. Of these, nearly one million have severe difficulty in performing essential activities of daily living such as dressing, movement and overcome the barriers posed by the environment.
Among others, the new legislation into law the following:
The media must use closed captioning and sign language in public service campaigns, electioneering, presidential debates and national chains.
Medicines, medical foods and cosmetics must have Braille signage to inform the product name, date of manufacture and expiry.
All the public transport will make the necessary adjustments to ensure disabled access.
It enshrines the duty of the Ministry of Education to consider special needs students in measures of quality of education such as SIMCE and PSU. To this end, states that the authority must have the tools to enable these students to participate in these processes.
All public buildings existing on the date of publication of the Law must be accessible to persons with disabilities, within 3 years since their regulation is issued.
All selection processes to access education, training or employment examinations must have been adapted for people with disabilities.
The Ministry of Housing shall provide special grants to purchase homes and to enable people with disabilities.
Educational establishments should make curriculum adjustments, infrastructure and support materials for the enrollment and retention of persons with disabilities.
In the process of recruitment of the State Administration and its agencies, municipalities, the National Congress, the organs of the judiciary and the Public Prosecutor of equal merit should be selected preferably to people with disabilities.
Other matters of interest
Among the most relevant measures establishing a modern and robust public institutions intended to relieve the disability as a focus of public policies, creating institutions and instruments, such as the Committee of Ministers of Disability, the National Disability and an Advisory Board.
Similarly, reinforcing the measures that promote public-private cooperation, stressing that disability is an issue that affects all of society and it is the duty of all to help overcome the barriers that prevent or hinder the full integration of these people
Posted by jicafriends at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2010
Bangla Sign language Day - Bangladesh
Dear jica friends
Plz see the pictures. It was 1 February, 2010 in front vashkar of Chittagong Press Club. People were gathered to observe Bangla Sign Lanuage Day. Amra Alor Pathe a Deaf Circle was organized this program in association with Songshoptaque, Chittagong Society for the Disabled(CSD), Society of the Deaf & Sign Language Users(SDSL). As the part of commemorating the day they organized Human chain & mass gathering. And after this they submited a memorandum to Honorable Deputy Commissioner, Chittagong to ensure the rights and dignity of persons with hearing impairment. The prime demand of the persons with hearing impairment is to declare and observed 1February ,Bangla Sign Language Day by the Government.
Almost 2.6 million deaf people are living in Bangladesh. Bangla Sign Language is the first language of these people. Instead of verbal communication deaf people use sign language to express themselves and share information with others. Bangla sign language users community is the largest community among the language based minority communities in Bangladesh.
Express your solidarity and raise your voice to ensure the rights & dignity of persons with hearing impairment in Bangladesh.
Thanks
Santanu Dey
Coordinator
Society of the Deaf & Sign Language Users (SDSL)
Posted by jicafriends at 01:10 PM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2010
Nasscom’s disabled-friendly initiative gets ecstatic welcome-India
We found the name of Mr.Javed Abidi, the former participant of Leaders' Course 1995 in the following information. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Ramya Kannan
CHENNAI: Earlier this week, through the contemporary media for newsbreaks, @javed_abidi tweeted about the constitution of Nasscom’s disability advisory group (DAG).
Mr. Abidi, a vociferous campaigner for the rights of the disabled in the country, could scarcely contain his excitement. “It is phenomenal,” he said later, over telephone. “In fact, I think the word should be ‘historic’. We have been lobbying with the Nasscom for more than one-and-a-half yars now. It is good to see they have finally understood the issue of disability and its connect with IT.”
The disability sector is ecstatic with the DAG finally put in place. It is headed by Pradeep Gupta of Cyber Media, who has been sensitive to the requirements of the disabled. Ten members from the disability and IT sectors and a couple of representatives from the Nasscom Foundation, including Som Mittal, are part of the DAG. They are scheduled to meet on Monday.
In using technology, there are a number of issues disabled users face which others cannot even perceive. Text size, contrast and audio-video formats, and assistive devices are considerations. “The group’s agenda is to focus on accessibility, employability and assistive technologies, ” said Nasscom Foundation CEO Rufina Fernandes.
The aim is also to leverage the members’ strengths to translate policy into tangible action. “We already have members who, as part of the industry, have been at the forefront of disabled-friendly initiatives,” Ms. Fernandes said. Besides more access, both to websites and technology, the broader goals of advocacy and imparting skills that facilitate employability will be pursued.
Easy websites
Web Content Access Guidelines (WCAG) were evolved to make the worldwide web more accessible to all. Working on the principle, as Tim Berners-Lee, Director, World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and inventor of the WWW, put it: “The power of the web is in its universality. Access by every one regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”
The WCAG drew up the initial guidelines for site developers and web designers that would take care of the needs of older users and people with disability. The guidelines focus on aspects that will make websites easy for all, not merely special groups, to access. WCAG 1.0 claims that following the guidelines “will also make Web content more available to all users, whatever user agent they use [e.g., desktop browser, voice browser, mobile phone and automobile-based personal computer] or constraints they may be operating under [noisy surroundings, under or over-illuminated rooms, in a hands-free environment]. Following these guidelines will also help people find information on the Web more quickly.”
In December 2008, W3C announced a new set of standards, WCAG 2.0. It is more broadly applicable to different technologies and has clearer criteria, and tools available to tell if your design fits the mould. Apart from increasing the font size, providing higher contrasts and incorporating text into voice components on any site, there is the need to develop hardware (such as special keyboards) and software with local customisation to benefit a large number of disabled users and facilitate
their employability.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/31/stories/2010013155381200.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 04:09 PM | Comments (0)