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December 30, 2011
Thank You
Dear Friends,
We are almost reaching the end of 2011. "Jicafriends" has received so much support this year - and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has been involved with us.
We would like to say "thank-you"to all of you - including our participants in the training courses, the lecturers and workshop conveners involved in the courses, our former participants for keeping us updated, our training coordinators and interpreters, the organisations/individuals who have hosted our participants, those who have sent us heartfelt messages after the earthquake and tsunami, and, indeed, our many anonymous readers all over the globe.
We wish you a very happy new year !
Warmest wishes,
Secretariat of Jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)
December 26, 2011
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - November 24
November 24, 2011 : Workshop : Facilitator Skills II
It was the second day of the workshop. In the morning, the class discussed in detail a couple of terms that would be a key to acting as “facilitators”. They also looked at one drawing, and discussed how it could be interpreted. All these exercises were to develop a facilitator way of thinking and how to approach issues. Again the convener used a set of simple words and pictures, to illustrate something very important and substantial.
In the afternoon, the participants learnt key principles of leadership. The convener gave them the first five, but asked the participants to think about what could follow next.
Indeed throughout the two-day workshop, the participants kept thinking about facilitator skills. In reflecting the workshop, participants commented that they had gained substantial understanding on the role of facilitator. Some also said that tit had been an eye-opening experience.
Many thanks to the workshop convener…!
Posted by jicafriends at 08:11 PM | Comments (0)
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - November 23
November 23, 2011 : Workshop : Facilitator Skills I
November 23 is a public holiday (Labor Thanksgiving Day) in Japan. But in Seminar Room 18, the seven participants spent the day actively involved in a workshop entitled "Developing Facilitator Skills”. It is a two-day session and today is Day One.
The purpose of this participatory workshop was twofold: to enable the participants to explore their "self" whereby to discover their power and potential as leaders; and to transmit them skills to organize a workshop of this kind back in their own countries.
The workshop convener arrived from Nagoya, and started a nice and friendly chat with the participants. He asked everyone questions to get to know them, and then introduced himself.
The workshop went on in a very friendly manner. The convener used a number of pictures and spoke in a very simple and straightforward way, so that everyone could have a clear understanding.
The workshop is to continue tomorrow..!
Posted by jicafriends at 08:08 PM | Comments (0)
News from Bangladesh
Greetings!
I am delighted to inform you that on 3rd December in International Disability Day I have given a presentation to honorable Prime Minister on ICT and accessibilities. Especially I have demonstrated Bangladesh web portal’s accessibilities feature. Fortunately Bangladesh web portal one is the most accessible web site which I could navigate through my screen reading software. And Prime minister have enjoyed a lot. She added in her speech “ I am amaze to see a Visual Impaired Gentlemen expertly using laptop computer” I have asked several question by the PM and answered accordingly, specially I have talked about accessibility feature of National content Repositary. Status of Bangla Screen reading software, regarding DAISY for All and my involvement with A2i.
My sincere gratitude to all of you selecting and seminar subject making Life Productive for Persons with Disabilities using ICT in E-Asia 2011. Where I was one of the speaker.
Another good news Federation of DPO's Sitakund and YPSA jointly conducting a survey to Develop a Disability Data base. As a model very soon data base will be hand over to the Bangladesh Government.
Orientation on Disability survey held in Chandpur
YPSA and DPO Federation arranged orientation on disability survey at Upazilla conference room, Shahrasti in Chandpur on 17th December with support from Actionaid Bangladesh.Mr. Moajjem Hossain, UNO of Shahrasti upzilla was Chief Guest while Md. Arifur Rahman, Chief Executive of YPSA presided program. 99 ward surveyors from different words and 11 Union Supervisors from Union Parishad of Shahrasti Upzilla participated in the orientation. An online database for the PWD's will be developed after the completion of the survey as decided in the program.
Mr. Rasheduzzam Chowdhury, Upzilla Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Nuruzzam Upzilla Project Implementation Officer, Mr. M.A.Awal majumder, Ex Principal and Chief of Shahrasti Community Police were present in the program.
Best regards,
Vashkar, YPSA
Posted by jicafriends at 02:43 PM | Comments (0)
December 25, 2011
Mobile Phones Soon To Be More Accessible
The following information was retrieved from the website of the European Disability Forum (EDF - http://www.edf-feph.org/default.asp).
WORKING ON THE SMARTPHONE REVOLUTION: SOON TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
6 December 2011
The mobile internet is central to the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world as an increasing number of consumers turn to smartphones for messaging, social networking, access to information and entertainment and many other services.
Smartphones offer significant benefits for the more than 1 billion people who live with some form of disability. Applications targeting the specific challenges faced by disabled and older people - for example, text-to-speech services for the visually impaired - can directly enhance quality of life. However, relatively few mobile application developers focus on the potential that smartphone apps have to help people with disabilities play a more active and independent role in society.
The Vodafone Foundation partnered with AGE Platform Europe and the European Disability Forum (EDF) to devise and deliver the Smart Accessibility Awards: an international competition which rewards developers who have the creativity, vision and social commitment to harness the power of smartphones and the mobile internet in support of disabled and older people’s needs.
The winning smartphone apps whose developers will share the 200 000 euros prize fund are:
Help Talk (Wellbeing category)
Help Talk is designed for people who are unable to communicate by speech, whether permanently or temporarily, such as those recovering from strokes. The application presents a set of commands represented by icons which when tapped ‘speak’ the basic need or desire - such as ‘I’m thirsty’ or ‘I feel pain’ - and goes on to allow the user to provide further detail in the same way.
Wheelmap (Mobility category)
Wheelmap helps people with impaired mobility who may literally face obstacles as they go about their everyday life. Crowdsourcing lets users of the application rate and review the accessibility for wheelchair users of public places including cafes, museums, hotels and shops. In one month 1200 users registered for the app, and 180,000 places were reviewed.
Zoom Plus Magnifier (Independent living category)
Zoom Plus Magnifier app allows people with visual disabilities including colour blindness and long or short-sightedness, as well as some forms of dyslexia, to easily read text by applying a magnifier, sharpening the focus, or adjusting font and background colours.
BIG Launcher (Social participation category)
BIG Launcher is an alternative customisable Android homescreen, for elderly or visually impaired users who often struggle to use the small keyboards on most devices. It uses big buttons and large fonts to represent all the basic functions of the phone – telephone, SMS messages, camera, gallery, SOS button and installed apps.
Rodolfo Cattani, EDF Executive Secretary said, “Accessibility and interoperability of communications devices are vital to making possible the professional and cultural inclusion of people with disabilities. At the same time, when not accessible, the technology can create new obstacles and can lead to new forms of discrimination.”
“Mobile technology has an important role to play in the context of the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations which aims at supporting older people to be active in all areas of their lives and live independently for longer”, observed Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary-General. “In a society driven by new technologies, it is essential to make sure new applications are accessible to all, in order to avoid increasing the digital divide and the social exclusion of the most vulnerable groups of the population.”
Vittorio Colao, Vodafone Group CEO said, "Vodafone is committed to doing all we can to empower consumers of all ages and abilities: we want to extend the smartphone revolution to as many communities as possible."
Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Digital Agenda said, “We need relevant smartphone apps for all our communities. I congratulate the winners of the Smart Accessibility Awards and the Vodafone Foundation for helping bring the benefits of smartphones to all Europeans. Everyone can gain from the digital revolution. "
Winning applications will be available to Vodafone customers using Android smartphones.
For more information about the awards or mobile accessibility, visit http://developer.vodafone.com/smartaccess2011 or http://www.guardian.co.uk/smart-accessibility
>BACKGROUND
1. AGE Platform Europe is the European network of around 160 organisations of, and for, people aged 50 or older. www.age-platform.eu
2. The Vodafone Foundation worked with Vodafone Developer to engage mobile application developers across Europe. The programme encourages and supports mobile innovation by working with developers and start-ups across multiple technology platforms and sectors to bring their ideas and businesses to market and help them flourish.
3. The World Report on Disability from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank (2011) estimated that there are now more than 1 billion people around the world who experience some form of disability, with 110-190 million of them encountering significant difficulties.
Posted by jicafriends at 06:23 PM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2011
Activities in Nepal
Disabled New Life Center(DNC), Nepal Newsletter is Here!
Click here Download file
to read about their various activities and so much more!
DNC is working with physically challenged children (DNC) was established in 1998 with the purpose of providing support to the physically challenged children in Nepal.
The objective is to give these children who requried special attention in the growing years with the required care, medication in the form of corrective surgery and support in the form of education and accomodation.
Posted by jicafriends at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2011
Students Organized a Seminar on Education for the Visually Impaired - Oman
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
Focus on education of visually impaired
Wed, 07 December 2011
MUSCAT — The Disability Group (Ibdah al Baseera), a subsidiary student group of the Society of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University recently organised a symposium on ‘Educational institutions and the visually impaired’ under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyida Aliya bint Thuwaini al Said. The sessions shed light on the role of educational institutions in Oman in supporting students with visual impairment.
The event featured presentations by experts from within and outside Sultan Qaboos University and introduced some of the important technologies for people with visual disabilities. Dr Najma al Zidjaly, Assistant Professor in the Department of English of the College of Arts and Social Sciences at SQU, who is the superviser of the student group, said that the seminar was aimed at examining the status of education of the visually challenged in Oman and to shed light on the services provided by educational institutions to the visually impaired.
“It also analysed the weaknesses in the current educational system in catering to the needs of the visually challenged and shed light on the experiences of other countries in supporting the visually impaired students." Dr Najma added that some of the symposium sessions were earmarked for listening to the real life experiences of the visually challenged. It also showcased the capabilities of those students. Seven working papers were presented in the symposium.
The student group for the visually impaired was founded in 2008. Since its inception, the group has played a significant and effective role in highlighting the needs of those with disabilities in general and the visually challenged in particular, within and outside the university. Among the most prominent activities undertaken by this group are training sessions in the basics of computers, and advanced courses on the Internet and Braille system for the university students with disabilities and members of the Al Noor Association for the Blind.
Oman Daily Observer - http://main.omanobserver.om/
Posted by jicafriends at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2011
November 21-22, 2011: Workshop : Organizational Management
November 21-22, 2011: Workshop : Organizational Management
The participants spent two days in gaining knowledge that is necessary for sustainable organizational management. The purposes of this session are shown below:
• To understand the meaning of sustainability
• Identify main three areas which contribute to the sustainability of an organization
• Identify underlying issues which obstruct the operation of an organization
• Learn some tips for tackling issues that an organization may face
At the beginning of the lecture, the lecturer mentioned three key words; communication, networking and funding.
The lecturer emphasized that among the communication is most important.
In order to understand the importance of communication, the participants shared their own experiences, discussed their opinions and did some role-play exercise.
For example, they were divided into two groups to do a role-play. The groups performed a role-play with the following scenarios.
• Your organization is Department of Social Welfare. But your boss is making organizational strategy which is not reflecting the reality of persons with disabilities’ needs in your opinion. How do you talk to you boss to reconsider?
• Your organization is an umbrella organization for all DPOs in the region. There is a conflict of interests among DPOs of different disabilities over one pot of funding. How do you intervene/mediate?
All participants came from different courtiers and backgrounds, however the skills and knowledge that they gained could be universally applied. Also, these skills were useful not only for office management but also in their personal daily lives.
Posted by jicafriends at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2011: International Networks in the Field of Disability
November 28, 2011: International Networks in the Field of Disability
There are many international organizations of persons with disabilities in the world.
Today, we invited two Japanese persons with disabilities who took important roles in those organizations to learn about the mission, vision and activities.
DPI Japan http://www.dpi-japan.org/english/index.html
World Blind Union http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/Pages/default.aspx
At the very end of the training porgram in Japan, participants were reminded that the importance of forming networks across differents kinds of disabilities.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:43 AM | Comments (1)
Activities in Tajikistan
Activities in Tajikistan
The report by ex trainee of Duskin Leadership Training in Japan.
After coming back from Japan I had so many ideas how to improve the situation of PWDs in my coutry but after some attempts of negotiations with the Government I realized that people here are not ready for changings and for changing the environment for PWDs.
Though the signing the UN CRPD is under the process now...
So now as you may know I'm working with Japanese NGO called AAR JAPAN (Tajikistan office). Currenlty we are conducting 2 projects for PWDs.
One is aimed at the reconstruction the facility which produces whe elchairs.
The term of the project is 1 year.
The 1st step is reconstruction of the building and making it barrier-free for wheelchair users who are the workers of this facility, the 2nd step is inviting Japanese specialist for a training of how to make good quality wheelchair. It is supposed to produce 100 wheelchairs during the project and distribute it to persons in need free of charge.
The purpose is to teach people how to make wheelchairs so that they can do it by themselves after completion of the project. As MLSP (Ministry of Labour and Social Protection) is importing 700 wheelchairs yearly from China (for distributing it to PWDs) there is a big possibility that MLSP will sign an agreement with the facility and will buy wheelchairs from them rather then to import it from China.
The 2nd project is a workshop for Women with Disabilities.
It is an 8 month profes sional sewing course. The purpose is getting income and become financial independent through teaching the participants how to sew so that in the future they can sew, have customers, get orders from them and make money.
According to the needs assesment sewing is the most popular job among housewives in Tajikistan.
So these are current activities in Tajikistan.
There are lots of things left to inform you, but may be naxt time :-)
Sincerely,
Ms. Olesya NARMURATOVA, Duskin 11th trainee
Posted by jicafriends at 09:20 AM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2011
2011 Leadership Training Report - November 8
November 8, 2011 : Training in Hiroshima : Hiroshima Peace Museum and Listening to the Story of a Survivor
Today was the second day in Hiroshima. In the morning, they went to the Hiroshima Peace Museum and Park. Divided into three groups, they were guided by Peace Volunteers and looked around the museum, learning the history of Hiroshima.
In the afternoon, they watched a video about the 1945 incidents Hiroshima and Nagasaki (the other town that was hit by an atomic bomb). This seemed to give them a strong impact and made them imagine what it must have been like to be a victim of a nuclear disaster.
The Hiroshima City offers a number of learning opportunities to tourists visiting the place. This is all aimed at enhancing people’s understanding on what drastic damages an atomic bomb could cause and also at promoting peace all over the world. We should never repeat this history, we need to work on peace together – this is the message from Hiroshima.
This has been a both educational and emotional experience for many of the participants. Their multifaceted training in Hiroshima on the whole has been evaluated positively.
Posted by jicafriends at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
No Budget Allocated to Disability Issues - Sierra Leone
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
All Africa.com The Concord Times (Freetown)
Alusine Sesay
7 December 2011
Sierra Leone: Disabled Cry Foul Over Budget Allocation
Freetown — Members of the disabled community have cried foul over the 2011 budget allocation saying they were left out in the whole process.
President of the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues SLUDI, Kabbah Franklyn Bangura, said that unlike last year when Le600 million was allocated for disability programmes in the budget, the 2011 budget mentioned nothing about the disabled.
"Last year 2010, the national budget showed Le 600 million. In this year's budget, nothing was mentioned specifically for disability issues or programmes," he said adding that they only received Le100 million out of Le 600million budget projected for them in 2010. He then raised a rhetorical question: "Why is the begging industry increasing within the disability communities and who is responsible?"
Bangura commended their effort in the ratification of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disability and the enactment of the 2011 disability act and called on the government to implement the Disability Act of 2011 and also to establish the disabled commission.
Reacting to the statement made by the SLUDI president, Member of Parliament, Hon. Nye Kofi who is also a person with disability said budget allocation for the disabled community goes through the Ministry of Social Welfare and Gender Affairs and the government has increased their budget to meet the needs of all vulnerable communities.
He said the government has the disabled community at heart and that they will try to meet their needs and aspirations.
Posted by jicafriends at 09:23 AM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2011
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - November 7
November 7, 2011 : Training in Hiroshima : Peace-development Work and Barrier-freeing Historical Buildings
Yesterday the seven participants flu to Hiroshima, about 680 kilometers away from Tokyo. Today their two-day training in Hiroshima started.
In the morning, they first attended a lecture on peace education in Hiroshima City. They gained knowledge on when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima in 1945 and how the city has been working on peace development and campaigning against nuclear weapons. They asked a number of questions about nuclear weapons and energy and shared their thoughts.
Following the courtesy visit to the deputy mayor of Hiroshima City, the participants made a visit to Miyajima, where they experienced “barrierfree tourism”.
Miyajima is a beautiful sightseeing sport famous for Itsukushima Shrine, which is offshore. Tourists need to take a ferry to get to the shrine, but all facilities are wheelchair-friendly and they wandered around in their wheelchairs and white canes. They had a nice, relaxing time by the sea and enjoyed traditional Japanese architecture.
In the evening, they went back to their hotel. Their Hiroshima training is to continue tomorrow…
Posted by jicafriends at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
New Accessibility Rules Introduced in Jakarta - Indonesia
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
New Rules Offer Fresh Hope For Jakarta’s Disabled Citizens
Dofa Fasila & Fidelis E. Satriastanti | December 08, 2011
Jakarta on Wednesday unveiled a new regional regulation that requires buildings and transportation facilities to accommodate the disabled and assures them access to health services and jobs.
“With the issuance of the regional regulation number 10 of 2011, Jakarta has become the first province with a regional regulation for the disabled,” Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said. “Hopefully this step can be followed by other provinces.”
Speaking at a gathering of 2,000 people with disabilities at the Ancol recreational park in North Jakarta to mark the unveiling of the new regulation, Fauzi said all offices and institutions under him must begin to meet the requirements of the new regulation.
“This all must be contained in programs set to be undertaken in 2012,” he said.
He called on all institutions to involve organizations of people with disabilities in the process of preparing the programs.
He said that in 2012, all buildings, especially public ones, and public transportation should be able to accommodate the disabled.
“In the health sector, authorities are also providing facilities,” he said, adding that it had already begun the work by addressing the needs of blind people.
Dimas, 24, who was present at the event, welcomed the governor’s plan.
He said he hoped more measures would be taken by city authorities to help people with disabled even more.
“Hopefully the government will continue to assist efforts by the disabled to progress,” said Dimas who is blind, citing various life skills as an example of what the government could help to provide.
Aria Indrawati, a spokeswoman for Yayasan Mitra Netra, a foundation for the blind, said she hoped that the government follow up on putting the regulation into effect by monitoring and evaluating its effectiveness.
“Its implementation has to be supervised,” Aria said. “The regulation should carry punishment and sanctions.”
Attention should also be given to organizations that provide services to the disabled, Aria said. Equipment required by people with disabilities should also be addressed, she said.
“For the blind, for example, the issue of books is not covered,” she said.
“They come to us to get books; we raise funds for them.”
The capital is estimated to have among its population at least 21,000 people with disabilities, with about 19,000 of them living in poverty.
According to Triwisaksana, deputy chairman of the city council, the regulation requires companies in Jakarta hire people with a disability for at least 1 percent of its workforce. No further details of the regulation were given.
“Now, there will no longer be companies rejecting disabled citizens applying for work. ... They have to abide by the law,” Triwisaksana said.
The city will also form an agency for the protection of the disabled, he added.
Sri Utami, who heads the Social Affairs Ministry’s social rehabilitation department, said her agency had entered into cooperation with at least 50 companies to provide employment under their corporate social responsibility programs.
On Sunday, first lady Ani Yudhoyono said all companies throughout the country should provide more opportunities for disabled people.
Posted by jicafriends at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2011
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - October 20 & 21
October 20 & 21, 2011 : Workshop : Peer Counseling
The two-day worship on “Peer Counseling” was held on October 20th and 21st. The participants learned a new method to empower other disabled people as well as themselves.
“Peer” means a fellow and a person who has the same experience as you. In this training course, the seven participants are “the peers” as they share having a disability.
Peer counseling usually takes place between two individuals. It involves listening to each other and disclosing emotions. But it is not about seeking (or giving) advice – in fact, participants sit and listen to each other on an equal basis. Everyone said during a counseling session must be kept confidential, so that a safe environment can be created.
Peer counseling started in the US in the 1970s, and was introduced to Japan in the 1980s. Peer Counseling in Japan comes from Co-counseling (also called Re-evaluation Counseling) that took place in the US. It is characterized by giving equal time and by exchanging each other's roles as indicated in the prefix “Co-.” Since Peer Counseling eventually became a mandatory government project, its importance became widely recognized and it spread throughout the country. It is now practiced at over 120 CIL Centers in Japan, as well as in other Asian countries such as Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Nepal, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
For many of the participants, it has been the first time to try peer counseling. However, they seemed to understand its purpose and mechanism fairly quickly, and appeared to enjoy conducting peer counseling sessions with each other.
Posted by jicafriends at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - November, 30
November 30, 2011 : Presentation : Action Plans
In this training course, participants are required to submit three reports. First, they produce “Personal and Organizational Report”, which introduces their home organization and work background, at the beginning of the training course. As they carry on, they get some ideas on how to help the disabled in their own countries. Such ideas are developed into a feasible project proposal, which is called “Action Plan”. Their projects are to be implemented upon their return to their home countries.
Today the seven participants presented their respective Actions Plans. All of their reports and presentation materials are available here.
Each presenter received feedback from the audience, which they will reflect on their final Action Plans. They are required to submit their “Progress Report”, reporting on how their project is going on.
All the Action Plans presented were unique and interesting. All the best to the seven participants in their respective projects....!
Posted by jicafriends at 09:26 AM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2011
November 4, 2011 : Visit : Choral Taito (DPO of Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities)
November 4, 2011 : Visit : Choral Taito (DPO of Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities)
“You are the master of your life!”
The Choral Taito is the only DPO of persons with psychiatric disabilities in Japan. It was established in 1998 with the concept of creating beautiful harmony by all members.
Ther Choral has unique and outstanding charactoristics. For example, it is a self-help group of people with psychiatric disabilities. Persons with physical and intellectual disabilities can also become its members. Also, the organization is managed completely by persons with disabilities themselves with support from the local community. In addition, the members run a cafe in the neighbourhood, where local residents have a cup of tea. In short, the Choral is well integreted into the community.
This morning, the representative of the Choral Taito gave the participants a lecture. She shared her personal history, experiences of suffering from psychiatric problems that got worse over time, and how she recovered form them. She spoke gently but what she discussed seemed to have a big impact on the minds of the participants.
In the afternoon, the Choral people and the participants got introduced to one another. The members talked about what the Choral means to them. Whenever some members were at a loss for words, the representative supported them in completing their sentences. Her warm and helping personality was indeed reflected in the atomosphere of the organization.
All the Choral members mentioned that the biggest problem for persons with psychiatric disabilities was the lack of understanding on ther issues in society. In this regard, the Choral is the place where they could raise thier own voices and deliver them to the public.
The participants seemed to be very much encouraged and impressed by the Choral’s harmony.
Posted by jicafriends at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
NGO Organizes Autism Management Training - Nigeria
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
NGO organises autism management training
By Osas Robert 28/11/2011
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Behaviour and Social Intervention Demonstration Centre has organised a training programme for teachers and therapists in the management of autism-related conditions and other developmental disabilities in children. The training took place at Carol School, Ikeja, Lagos.
Mrs Bosede Asikhia, founder and programme director of the NGO, said the programme was meant to empower teachers and parents in boosting their ability to manage and help children suffering from autism and other developmental challenges to function like their mates.
She admitted facing challenges in getting parents of disabled children to cheer up and see the immense possibilities before such children. But she went ahead to provide some tips for proper management of children with autistic challenges.
She said: "The greatest issue is that some of the people have the notion that I cannot invest my money on this kind of child. But most of them that are educated and enlightened know the benefit that if effort is put into these children, there is ability in disability. Eventually, they are going to be able to develop a particular skill in that child.
"When intervening in the development of a disabled child, you should note the following: increase access to alternative sources of stimulation, use different reinforcement strategies, use shaping techniques, use substitutions like rhymes, songs, flashing/clapping devices, use stimulus equivalence – pictures of obsessed items and avoid withholding time-out."
Speaking at the seminar, the clinical director, Dr. Edward Asikhia, a United States-trained child psychologist, said autism which makes children unable to perform like their peers is something that can be managed psychology.
"Autism," he said, "is a developmental disability that is characterised by social restrictiveness, poor social interaction, poor communication potential and presentation of challenging behaviour. Children mostly affected are male from age two to age 20. Autism has no cure but can be managed through a new technology called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) which is a simplified way of looking at areas of deficit of a child and different factors that you can alter so that the child will be able to adapt as much as possible to his environment" he explained.
He commended the efforts of the Lagos State government in training disabled children but noted that a lot still has to be done. He said over 60 people have benefited from their efforts in training teachers on how to manage the behaviours of a child in the classroom through ABA and urged corporate bodies to also help in training teachers to manage physically and mentally challenged children.
"The level of awareness is so far more in Lagos State though there is a lot to do. Lagos State has been able to pick out some of these disabled children and put them in inclusion schools. From records we have over 1000 children that are been trained but what the government should know is that the teachers that are put there are not trained in ABA knowledge. That is why we came back from U.S to equip teachers to handle autism cases. We intend to move from Lagos to Port Harcourt and Edo State but we cannot do it alone."
Posted by jicafriends at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2011
2011 Leadership Course Training Report
November 25, 2011 : Workshop : How to Write a Project Plan IV
Today the participants attended the last session of the workshop series. The workshop organizer first taught them how not to do a presentation – by giving an example of a bad presentation by herself. Then, they gave ten-minute mock presentations in turn. The convener joined them in commenting on one another’s presentation and proposal.
Following lunch, every participant received a one-to-one session with the convener. She looked at their presentation materials in detail and made suggestions. This was followed by a review of the 12 headings to be included in a project plan, which are:
1. Name, organization and country
2. Title of your plan / proposal
3. Background: local issues, needs statement and preconditions
4. Overall Goals
5. Concrete Objectives
6. Beneficiaries
7. Impact on beneficiaries
8. Project implementation plan: step by step outline & description, including schedule and timeline
9. Monitoring and evaluation
10. Possible obstacles to Project plan implementation
11. Budget needed, how to raise funds
12. Impact of this training: how this training contributes to your Project Plan
She also explained the difference between “paper” and “presentation”. Moreover, she gave them some tips for a presentation – such as how to use body language and visual aids. The participants are delivering presentations in 5 days – good luck to you all !
Posted by jicafriends at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2011
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - December 1, 2011
December 1, 2011 : Visit : JICA Headquarters
6 weeks have passed very fast. Today was the second last day of the training in Japan. The participants from Honduras, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Rwanda and Timor Leste made a courtesy visit to the JICA headquarters in Yotsuya, Tokyo.
Upon arrival they were greeted by the manager of the disability division. After they introduced themselves, they listened to his lecture on JICA’s works in the area of disability. JICA operates a number of international co-operation projects in different ways. Most prominently, it operates programs agreed between the Japanese and the receiving governments. Half an hour later, his colleague from Hiroo Office arrived and talked about the JPP scheme, which directly funds domestic (i.e., Japanese) NGOs working closely with organizations abroad.
Having just presented their Actions Plans, the participants asked many questions about how to attract funding from JICA in their own countries. They received sincere replies and some very concrete advice from the JICA lecturers.
Many thanks to the JICA hosts for their time and useful advice…!
Posted by jicafriends at 09:53 AM | Comments (0)
City Councilor Requests Goverment to Allocate 1% of Budget to the Elderly and Disabled - the Philippines
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
Nov. 28, 2011
Gov’t allocation of funds for elderly, disabled sought
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO
Bacolod Councilor Catalino Alisbo has requested the Department of Budget of Budget and Management VI to direct the city mayor and the city budget officer to allocate one percent of the total budget of Bacolod City for plans, programs and services that will address the needs of elder person and person with disabilities.
In a resolution approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod recently, Alisbo said the DBM and Department of Social Welfare and Development executed joint circular No. 2003-01that mandates all local government units to allocate at least one percent of their total budget for plans, programs and services that address the need of elder person and person with disabilities.
The SP also approved a resolution requesting the General Services Office through the Office of the City Mayor to sell at public auction all government motor vehicles which are unserviceable, no longer needed, or declared as junk, after complying with Commission on Audit rules and regulations on disposal of government properties.
The resolution authored by Alisbo said the proceeds of the public auction will be used to clean the City Engineer’s Office compound, gasoline for garbage trucks, or repair of the CEO building, or, at the discretion of the mayor.*CGS
Posted by jicafriends at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)
December 07, 2011
WHO Produces Videos Showing Lives of Persons with Disabilities
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
World Health Organization (WHO)
Disabilities and rehabilitation
"What's disability to me" series of videos
Hearing directly from people with disabilities about their lives is vital to good research and effective policy. In this series of short films we learn from Rachel, a nurse with disability from the United Kingdom about the obstacles she has overcome in her career; we discover why Faustina, from Tanzania, feels that wheelchairs are so important to people with disabilities; Mia, from Lebanon, shares her experience of discrimination in education; and we hear about the efforts of Feliza, from Bolivia, to promote accessibility in her home town. Each film relates to a different chapter of the World report on disability, launched on 9 June 2011 in New York. Blind aboriginal musician Geoffrey Yunupingu Gurrumul has supplied the soundtrack to the films.
Feliza's story
Mia's story
Rachael's story
Faustina's story
Highlights from all the videos
Posted by jicafriends at 11:03 AM | Comments (0)
2011 Leadership Course Participants featured in JICA's World
JICA publishes a monthly magazine called JICA's World. This month (No. 39) is Special Issue on Disability.
What's more, this year's Leadership Course is also featured, with some of the participants, who have just completed their training last week, appearing on page 20 - see the photo below.
'A Nigerian participants says, "I now see persons with severe disabilities like yourself can have independent living" to Ms. Hiromi Ebihara, who has spinal muscular atrophy' (p. 20, No. 39 (Dec, 2011), JICA's World).
The magazine is available online - click here to see this month's Special Issue. It is in Japanese only, but viewers would enjoy many photos in the magazine.
Secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2011
November 3, 2011 : Visit: Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled
November 3, 2011 : Visit: Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled
Quality of life is essential for all people but espcecially for persons with disabilities.
Today the participants visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled to learn about the importance of quality of life through sports experiences.
The mission of the Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled is to help disabled persons improve thier health conditions and take an active role in society through sports and recreational activities.
The center has various facilities such as a gymnasium, a swimming pool, an athletic studium, tennis courts and a table tennis room.
Some of the facilities are designed specially for persons with disabilities, so that they can be used easily and safely by those people.
Staff members of the center are all well trained and have the certificate for training persons with disabilities.
Thus, even people with severe disabilities are able to enjoy many sports and activities at this center.
The participants enjoyed diffrerent kinds of sports including Bird Golf, tennis, a work-out in the gym, sound table tennis and running with a guide volunteer.
All the participants had such experiences for the first time.
They enjoyed playing sports a lot with a gleam in their eyes.
At the end of the day, they learned how enjoyable sprots were and also how good they were for health. The day was really meaningful as they realized that sports could be an important factor for quality of life.
Posted by jicafriends at 09:35 AM | Comments (0)
2011 Leadership Course Training Report - November 18
November 18, 2011 : Workshop : How to Write a Project Plan III
Today the participants attended the third session on How to Write a Project Plan. The day consisted of a number of activities. First, the participants evaluated a couple of sample project plans in pair. Then they revised the 12 points that need to be covered in a Project Plan with the workshop convener.
They also received an individual feedback for their own proposal, discussing how to make it more feasible. After this, they considered how to deliver a good presentation – indeed they are presenting their proposals in two weeks.
The participants looked a little under pressure but also enjoying planning a specific project. The homework for them is to produce a third drafted proposal and also practice their own presentation.
Good luck to them, and many thanks to the convener…!
Posted by jicafriends at 09:09 AM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2011
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 2, 2011
On the Occasion of the 2011 International Day
of Persons with Disabilities
The members, staff, and board of directors of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) join the global community in celebrating December 3, 2011 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year's theme for December 3 is "Together for a Better World for All: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development." The leadership of USICD supports this theme and believes that international development agencies and organizations must be inclusive of people with disabilities when determining policy and allocating project resources.
Today, there are an estimated one billion people globally with disabilities-about 15 percent of the world's population. 80% of people with disabilities in the world today live in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank's recent World Report on Disability highlights these findings, and the report asserts that people with disabilities are less likely to have access to education, health care services, employment, transportation services, and information.
Addressing these disparities requires international cooperation. National aid agencies such as USAID, as well as international donors, have made significant strides in incorporating disability on a policy level. But these World Report figures indicate that work remains before people with disabilities can fully benefit from aid organizations' initiatives. USICD joins with the world disability community in solidarity for the advancement of development inclusion and human rights protections, under the international slogan, "Nothing About Us Without Us."
Organizations led by and consisting of people with disabilities are some of the strongest voices in the push for disability inclusion. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a treaty which the United States has signed and may soon consider ratifying, calls upon States Parties to promote the participation of disability civil society in local, national and international venues. As a non-governmental, constituent-led, membership organization, USICD is a leading voice in support of U.S. ratification of the CRPD. USICD's membership envisions a world where the equal rights of persons with disabilities are protected and advanced, where the capacities and talents of persons with disabilities are celebrated and elevated, and where people with disabilities come together across borders as a global disability community.
As we look ahead into the next year, we encourage development actors to build stronger connections to real disability experts-people with disabilities themselves. Disabled people's organizations and other allies can help expand disability inclusion, participation, and leadership in the development sector. Development initiatives must listen to the voices of the 1 billion global citizens with disabilities in order to build a just and inclusive world.
The USICD Board of Directors
Marca Bristo, President
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December 03, 2011
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2011
Theme for 2011: “Together for a better world for all:
Including persons with disabilities in development”
Introduction
Persons with disabilities make up an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population. Almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of persons living with disabilities, or between 110-190 million, encounter significant difficulties. Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers or family members.
Persons with disabilities encounter many disadvantages in their societies and are often subjected to stigma and discrimination. They remain largely marginalized, disproportionately poorer, frequently unemployed and have higher rates of mortality. Furthermore, they are largely excluded from civil and political processes and are overwhelmingly voiceless in matters that affect them and their society.
Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, their entire community benefits, as their involvement creates opportunities for everyone – with or without a disability. Including persons with disabilities and their communities in developmental efforts is important to advance the development agenda.
Thus it is imperative that development efforts around the world include disability issues when determining policies, programmes, as well as allocating funds for developmental programmes and projects. Mainstreaming disability in development is a strategy for achieving equality for persons with disabilities.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is both a human rights treaty and a development tool, provides an opportunity to strengthen developmental policies related to the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), thereby contributing to the realization of a “society for all” in the twenty-first century.
The General Assembly in its most recent resolution 65/186, seeks to convene a High-Level meeting on disability in 2012, with a view to strengthening efforts to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development efforts.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2011
Call for Grant Proposals for Empowering Women - Deadline: 26 January 2012
Below is a message from Michael, a former participant in the Leadership Course. He kindly offered to share the information (see below) on the European Comission's Call for Grant Proposals.
"Hi I have found this information useful and i wanted to share it with you. You can apply or pass over to other organizations that qualify.
thank you
Most Sincerely,
Michael"
European Commission
Investing in People
GENDER EQUALITY
Restricted Call for Proposals 2011
Protection and promotion of women's rights, and women's social and economic empowerment
The application deadline is 26 January 2012 at 16:00 (Brussels time).
Click here"for Application Guidelines
Click here"for Application Form Annex A
Click here"for Application Form Annex B
Click here"for Application Form Annex C
Posted by jicafriends at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2011
December 3 - International Day of the Disabled - Uganda
The following information was retrieved from the "Disability & Development" mailing list with a consent of the publisher, the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE- JETRO).
Uganda Media Centre, Office of the President
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
PRESS RELEASE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Theme: “TOGETHER FOR A BETTER UGANDA: INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPMENT”.
1.O. Uganda joins the International community to mark the International Day of the Disabled (IDD) on 3rd December 2011. International Day of the Disabled was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 47/13 of October 1992 to commemorate the anniversary of the World Program of Action concerning Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the General Assembly Persons with Disabilities.
The theme for this year is “Together for a better Uganda: Including Persons With Disabilities in Development”.
The aim of this day is to promote awareness among the public on the needs and rights of persons with disabilities. This is a day also when various stakeholder take stock of achievements they have made, challenges ahead and map out strategies for overcoming these challenges.
2.0 Inclusion of Person With Disabilities means the engaging the different abilities to create a culture of belonging in which persons with disabilities are valued , respected and given autonomy to including freedom to make their own independent choices to enable them fully participate in all spheres of development for sustenance.
3.0. According to the Uganda National Household Survey (2009/10) persons with disabilities constitute 16% of the population of Uganda. Going with this percentage, persons with disabilities are estimated at 5.1 million.
4.0. Persons With Disabilities are vulnerable by virtue of their impairment and negative societal attitudes arising from fear, ignorance, superstitions, neglect and lack of awareness of their rights. They usually receive less education, skills training, medical attention which reduces their employment opportunities and active participation in development activities. Consequently this discrimination and neglect ends their self-esteem, confidence and makes them dependent on their families and communities for survival.
5.0. The NRM Government has come up with measures to address the plight of persons with disabilities. It has ratified the Convention on the rights of Persons With Disabilities. The purpose of this convention is to promote, protect and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and its fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. It has further, established the necessary National and Legal frameworks such as the National Council for Disability (2003) and Persons With Disability Act (2006) to promote rights and service delivery to Persons With Disabilities.
6.0.To promote participation in decision making processes at various levels, there are over 56,000 Persons with Disabilities participating in decision making bodies in the country. This is to ensure that their needs are articulated within the framework of decentralization emphasizes bottom-up approach to development.
To further promote the participation of Persons with Disabilities, Government put in place the Community Based Rehabilitation program to address issues of Persons With Disabilities.
Government has further established a special scheme to fund income generating activities among groups of Persons With Disabilities to improve on their livelihoods. Every year 3 billion Uganda shillings is sent to all district and municipalities of Uganda as seed capital.
A special Mine Action Victim assistance Program targeting land mine/UXO survivors in mine affected districts in Northern and some parts of Western Uganda is being implemented by Government. Here UXO/Land mine survivors and other Persons With Disabilities receive medical treatment and rehabilitation, psychosocial counseling, livelihood skills so that they can reintegrate into their communities.
7.0. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Disabled Peoples’ Organizations, such as National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda and all the Uni-disability organizations and development partners who have always worked together to form a strong unified voice. Uganda has one of the strongest disability movements in the world.
It is through this concerted effort between the Government and such organizations that challenges of Persons With Disabilities will be overcome.
To create awareness on the needs and rights of persons with disability, Government in collaboration with the disability fraternity has planned for a number of activities in the different parts of the country during the week and on 3rd December 2011.
I request you to provide coverage to those activities that will culminate in the activities for the D-Day.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)
2011 Leadership Course Training Report
November 14, 2011 : Workshop : How to Write a Project Plan II
The seven participants attended the first session on How to Write a Project Plan on November 1st. Two weeks passed - and today they were to present their first drafted proposals.
They turned up with their provisional project ideas, which were:
➢ Partnership for implementation of the UN-CRPD
➢ Training course for leadership and networking in employment area
➢ Sports center for people with disabilities
➢ Small handicraft workshop to help people with disabilities living independently
➢ Leadership training for persons with disabilities
➢ Training course for leadership and networking in education area
➢ Independent living center
The workshop convener reviewed each proposal and advised the authors on a one-to-one basis.
Then she asked the class to perform role plays. The seven members were divided into two groups of Journalists and PWDs. The journalists had to interview the PWDs to write an article. Through this activity the participants learnt challenges in clarifying needs of people and the importance of involving local communities in project planning.
The next session is to take place four days later. The homework is to produce a second draft with a detailed budget plan.
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