August 26, 2010
Report on flood in Pakistan-Milestone
Dear friend of disability movement.
We Milestone started a nation wide collective work with all DPO,s. We are sharing apromoting their work so they can learn and also lead disability movement and safe disabled perosns from disaster.
There is report of on very strong DPO fro karachi.
Regard
PDF (602KB)
Shafiq-ur-Rehman
President
M I L E S T O N E
Lets Move to Change the Society
Society for the Special Persons
Posted by jicafriends at 09:31 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2010
Monitoring the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities-UN Human Rights
Dear jicafriends,
For your information, please refer to the following pages on "Monitoring the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities," Guidance for human rights monitors-Professional training series No. 17-New York.
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Disabilities_training_17EN.pdf
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2010
Report on flood in Pakistan-Milestone
Dear Friends of Disability movement
there is a small activity by the disabled persons of Pakistan for the flood effected human being
I really appericiat if you could share with other cluster members.
PDF (557KB)
Regard
Shafiq-ur-Rehman
President
M I L E S T O N E
Lets Move to Change the Society
Society for the Special Persons
Posted by jicafriends at 08:02 PM | Comments (0)
Report on flood in Pakistan-Milestone
Dear jicafriends,
There are some short reports with some pictures of today activities... Very difficult for disabled persons to survive in Flood i found it after the experience... Lets think how to make strong plan to start new culture , not help but care.. and promote IL movement for Peace..
Report on August 9, 2010
http://www.jicafriends.net/archives/pdf2010080901.pdf
Shafiq-ur-Rehman
President
Posted by jicafriends at 07:57 PM | Comments (0)
August 18, 2010
Plea to educate visually-impaired children-Fiji
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Samantha Rina
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Fiji Times
PARENTS of visually-impaired children in rural areas have been urged to enrol their children at the Fiji School for the Blind.
The call from the Fiji Parents Support Group for the Blind and Visually Impaired was made during the first-ever open day celebrations for the Fiji Society for the Blind yesterday.
The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, was chief guest at yesterday's celebrations.
Parents Support Group national secretary Vishwa Mudaliar said their mission as parents was to ensure better education and rehabilitation for children who were blind or visually impaired.
"We have a lot of children around the country that need special education at the Fiji School for the Blind but because of financial difficulties, parents are unable to send their children to Suva from the Northern or Western divisions although the hostel accommodation is free at the Fiji Society for the Blind," he said.
He said financial support would help them achieve their goals in sending their children to school for a better education. Free medical and dental checks were provided for visitors at the open day.
"There are a lot of parents and guardians in the rural areas who don't know of the services available for their child and we want to create and promote as much awareness as we can on this issue," Mr Mudaliar said.
Posted by jicafriends at 09:19 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2010
Committee Studying Suggestions on the Draft Legislation on Disability-India
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
A Committee consisting of representatives of various stakeholders including State Governments and Central Ministries, experts in various disabilities and representatives of Civil Society Organizations etc., has been set up in April this year to study the suggestions and comments received on the proposed amendments and to prepare a new draft Legislation. The Committee is presently deliberating on various issues relating to the terms of reference.
After wide consultation draft amendments to “The Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1995” were formulated. The proposed amendments were circulated to all State Governments and concerned Central Ministries and were also posted on the website of the Ministry seeking suggestions.
Comments have been received from several State Governments, Central Ministries, Non-Government Organizations and individuals.
As per the provision in the present Act, “Disability” means-Blindness; Low Vision; Leprosy-cured; Hearing impairment; Loco motor disability; Mental retardation; Mental illness;
This information was given by Shri D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=64850
Posted by jicafriends at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
August 10, 2010
YPSA’s digital contents awarded nationally. DAISY and Shipbreaking Website
The following news from YPSA, the organization which Ms. Sadia Tajin, a former participant of Vocational Rehab. Course 2008 belongs to and it is downloaded from mailing list of "accessbangla."
It’s a matter of great cheery, surprising and achievement that YPSA’s digital contents ware awarded nationally. Ministry of Science and ICT, Government of Bangladesh is the host of the contest “National e-Content and ICT4D Award 2010” and D.Net is the organizer”.
We submitted concept paper on both project to the organizers in order to join the contest. At last YPSA’s content production on ICT4D was introduced and recognized as the best digital content and project countrywide.
“DAISY on E-inclusion & Participation” got champion award and Website of Shipbreaking got special award. The award giving ceremony held at auditorium of National Museum, Dhaka yesterday evening. Honorable Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was the Chief Guest while Honorable State Minister for Science and ICT Architect Yeafesh Osman was the Special Guest on the occasion. On behalf of YPSA Mr. Vashkar Vhattacharjee, Senior Program Officer and Focal person of DAISY Bangladesh have received the champion Award 2010 for DAISY and Md. Nazmul Haider, Senior program officer of YPSA have received the Special Mention award For Ship Breaking in Bangladesh web portal.
Now the winning projects are accomplished to join the global contest because the winners of the award will be eligible for contesting in World Summit Award 2011. This contest is endorsed by World Summit Award.
Regarding DAISY,
http://www.daisy.org/
http://www.ypsa.org/
Posted by jicafriends at 01:22 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2010
MILESTONE
Dear jicafriends,
From yesterday we started our work in limited resources i would like to share your some of the reports of flood. The good work is going on but disabled persons ignored badly. 12 Lakh disabled persons are supposed to be misplace in flood.
Time is passing very fast and in the next step there will be huge diseases... We need urgent support so we can organize some camp to save the disabled persons..
Its very difficult time.
PDF(907KB)
Regard
Shafiq-ur-Rehman
President
M I L E S T O N E
Lets Move to Change the Society
Society for the Special Persons
Posted by jicafriends at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
Peace memorial ceremonies-Japan
Dear jicafriends,
The day, August 6, the city of Hiroshima held a Peace Memorial Ceremony to pray for the peaceful
repose of the victims, for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and for lasting world peace.
During that ceremony, Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, the Mayor of City of Hiroshima issued a Peace Declaration directed toward the world at large.
http://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/shimin/heiwa/pd2010e.html
And at 11.02 a.m. on August 9, 1945, the sky above Nagasaki was filled by a white flash, and all the clocks stopped. The peace memorial ceremony will be held today in Nagasaki.
Let us work together to avoid creating victims of the wars and conflicts.
Let us think about the importance of world peace.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 09:30 AM | Comments (1)
August 06, 2010
News from APDF
This is the announcement of the APDF General Assembly and Conference to be held on October 17 and 18, 2010 in Bangkok. APCD( Asia -Pacific Development Center on Disability) kindly offers the room in APCD for the meeting/conference and serve as the Conference secretariat.
The next meeting and Conference will be very important for discussig the plan of action until 2012, the end of the 2nd Asian Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons and thinking of the future framework of the regional cooperation in Asia and Pacific beyond 2012. We hope to see you all in October!
With best regards.
Ryosuke Matsui, Secretary General of APDF
Program : download:PDF(61KB) | download:WORD(39KB)
Registration form : download:PDF(34KB) | download:WORD(39KB)
Posted by jicafriends at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
Information from Fabio-Colombia
Dear jicafriends,
I just found this interesting paper in the World Economic Forum's web site, it's an study from the ILO International Labor Organization,
Maybe some of you already know it but I'm sending the link in case you don't. There are also some asian countries included.
The price of exclusion : the economic consequences of excluding people with disabilities from the world of work
http://www.ilo.org/skills/what/pubs/lang--en/docName--WCMS_119305/index.htm
Warm Regars,
Fabio
Leadership Development 2006
Posted by jicafriends at 01:45 PM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2010
Barrier Free Campaign at Singhdarbar
Dear jicafriends,
I would like to share the reports of CIL Kathmandu attached herewith.
Thanking you.
Sincerely,
Krishna Gautam
Posted by jicafriends at 06:34 PM | Comments (0)
2nd announcement of 2nd Regional TOT DET
Dear jicafriends,
The 2nd Regional Training of Trainers (TOT) on DET for Asia and the Pacific
region is organised jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA), and the Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Women Family and
Community Development, Malaysia
Target participants of this training program is 16 Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs) who wish to promote equal rights of all by implementing DET as their
organisation’s activities.
Accommodation from 2 - 12 November 2010 will be covered by the Projcet,
however expenses of your trip, including airfare, travel within your
country, visa, airport tax, and others will by paid by the participants
themselves.
Application deadline is 25 August 2010.
For further information, please visit the following pages,
The secreatriat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 06:30 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2010
Disabled persons advised on employment-Uganda
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Monday, 19th July, 2010 E-mail article Print article
By Joyce Namutebi
THE Federation of Uganda Employers has warned persons with disabilities (PWDs) against using their predicament and fronting the issue of rights as the basis for demanding employment opportunities.
The director of Marketing and Membership Development, Stephen Jjingo, said disabled persons should instead prove to employers that they are capable of performing.
Employers are not there for charity, but to be helped by people who can deliver,・Jjingo said on Friday. He warned PWDs against presenting disability as an excuse for non performance.
Jjingo was speaking at a workshop called to popularise Article 27 of the UN convention on the rights of PWDs and other domestic laws that relate to disabled persons.
The article recognises the right of disabled persons to work and earn a living. It requires states that are party to the convention to report on legislative measures taken to ensure protection against discrimination in any form of employment and to recognise the right of PWDs to work on a basis of equality with others. Uganda ratified it in 2008.
Jjingo dismissed the notion of seeking employment and quoting the Disability Act and the rights issue as the basis. when you enter somebody's office, tell them what you can do.・
Under the Income Tax Waivers Act, incentives are provided to private employers who employ 10 or more disabled persons.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/726344
Posted by jicafriends at 06:50 PM | Comments (0)
United Voice Newsletter - July Edition
Dear jicafriends,
For United Voice latest updates, please read our latest newsletter at http://www.unitedvoice.com.my/newsletter/2010JulNewsletter.pdf
Stories in this issue include:
+ United Voice Building Official Opening - by Esther Moo
+ 15th World Congress of Inclusion International - by Teoh Hooi Ting
+ United Voice Art Gallery
+ Self-Advocacy Training at SMK Batu Unjur, Klang
+ United Voice AGM & Elections - by Lo Lit Whei
Thank you for your support.
Best Regards,
Committee and Staff of United Voice
www.unitedvoice.com.my
Posted by jicafriends at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
July 16, 2010
Report on Accessibility by CIL Ktm
Dear jicafriends,
Independent Living Center Kathmandu has completed the program with the collaboration of Australian Embassy. The objective of this project was to sensitize the relevant stakeholders about the important factors to be considered for increasing the access of PWDs in the public place and increase their responsibility and efforts to do so. However this project has two specific objectives;
a) Increase the physical access of PWDs in public service centers
b) Sensitize service provider about the special need of PWDs and about their responsibilities towards them.
PDF File (674KB)
Please find the detail activity report attached herewith.
Looking forward your valuable suggestions
Thanking you.
Sincerely,
Krishna Gautam
CIL Kathmandu
Posted by jicafriends at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2010
Iloilo stakeholders mark disability prevention, rehab week
One of the former participants for Leadership Development Course 2009 was President of Association of Differently-Abled Persons from Ilo Ilo, Philippines. Today we found the following information from the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
Iloilo City (12 July) -- A coordinated effort among Persons with Disabilities, the government and private sector is expected to strengthen the 32nd celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week in the city and province of Iloilo on July 17 to 23.
The Iloilo City and Iloilo Provincial Federations of Differently-Abled Persons in coordination with the Regional Council for Disability Affairs in Western Visayas have lined up various activities to highlight the week-long celebration.
A mass at the Jaro Plaza on July 17 will kick-off the event. This will be followed by a medical and dental mission for indigent PWDs at the Association of Disabled Persons-Iloilo, Inc. office at the Jaro Plaza, the next day, July 18.
On July 19, a monitoring on the compliance of Accessibility Law or Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 will be conducted in some establishments in Iloilo City, followed by the opening of a photo exhibit at the SM City Iloilo Activity Center in the afternoon.
On July 20 to 21, PWDs will have their physical activities through a sportsfest that will be conducted at the Iloilo Sports Complex while on July 22 they will have the opportunity to showcase their talents through a presentation entitled "Awakening" at SM City Iloilo Activity Center.
There will be a Tree Planting Activity at Boardwalk in Mandurriao starting at 6 o'clock in the morning to be participated in by the PWDs, RCDA member agencies and non-government organizations on July 23. This will be followed by a Forum on Accessibility which will be conducted at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
In the afternoon of the same day, a simple ceremony will cap the week-long event that primarily aims to stimulate public awareness on disability problems and concerns particularly on issues on disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities for PWDs. Highlighting the activity is the distribution of 12 wheelchairs to identified indigent PWDs from the province of Iloilo.
July 23 is also the birthdate of Apolinario Mabini, known as the "Sublime Paralytic" of the country.
Concerned agencies were also encouraged to hang streamers highlighting the celebration and its theme "Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able".
(PIA) [top]
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100712.htm&no=11
Posted by jicafriends at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)
June 29, 2010
Fiji disable convention workshop
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
The Fiji Disabled People’s Association will be organizing a media workshop at the FTU Hall in Suva tomorrow.
FDPA president Akuila Rewatabua says the aim is to raise awareness among media personnel on the Convention of Disability’s Rights.
Rewatabua says the convention has been signed by government and people now need to be well informed on the issue.
“We’ll be looking at 20 participants from all media outlets so that after this workshop we’ll be able to carry out awareness program on the convention so that people in Fiji can be aware of and also know the important of it to people with disability.”
http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=28776
Posted by jicafriends at 07:13 PM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2010
Department worried over maltreatment of disabled children-Ghana
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Ghana News, Get all the latest news from Ghana: Accra Mail: Ghana news updates daily
Sunyani (B/A), June 24, GNA - Mr Hammond Kwarteng, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Department of Children on Thursday expressed concern about the maltreatment of children with disabilities by some parents.
He noted with regret that reports gathered by the Department indicated that the situation had become common in the region and added some parents even considered such children as a curse and denied them formal education.
Mr Kwarteng was speaking with the Ghana News Agency after he and his Deputy, Mr George Yaw Ankomah, presented a variety of items worth GH￠1,000 to the Nyamaah basic school Unit of Specially Needs Children in Sunyani.
The items comprised 24 multi-purpose learning tools, a number of toilet rolls, football, box of key bar soap, biscuits, different types of non-alcoholic beverages and quantities of fan ice cream.
The donors also presented similar items including two bags of rice, cooking oil and soaps to the center for Women and Children Association, a Non-Governmental Organisation that has adopted people living with HIV/AIDS located at Sunyani Zongo.
Mr Kwarteng said it was an offence punishable by law for parents to lock up their disabled children and deny them formal education and appealed to the general public to help to identify and to trace such cases for the law to take its course.
He explained that people with disability were also blessed with talents and urged the public to assist to unearth and to harness such talents to make them grow to become assets of the state.
Mr Ankomah explained that the presentation demonstrated the commitment and preparedness of the Department to address some basic needs of the vulnerable in society.
Mr Anthony Damoah, headmaster of the unit, thanked the donors for the gesture and assured them that the items would be used for their intended purposes.
He said the unit had 28 school children, who were mainly physically and mentally challenged with four teachers and mentioned lack of a classroom block, adequate teaching and learning materials and vehicle as some of its problems.
Mr Damoah added that some of the school children lived outside Sunyani and because of the lack of transport they did not attend school.
He, therefore, appealed to government and other NGOs and philanthropists to come to their aid.
GNA
Posted by jicafriends at 07:02 PM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2010
More companies tap Open Door Fund to hire disabled
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Jeremy Koh | Posted: 11 June 2010 2151 hrs
Since it was set up in July 2006, 79 companies have tapped the fund, which provides subsidies of up to $100,000.
Of these companies, 22 came on board in the last eight months.
26-year-old Eddlie Neo sustained head injuries seven years ago in a gang fight.
He slipped into a coma for seven months and thought all was lost. "Gone, (my) future all gone, because I was lying on the bed, I can't move, (though) can talk & see, but I cannot work," said Neo, a physically-disabled job seeker.
Neo can now look after himself and get around on his own. Last year, he picked up IT skills at the Society for the Physically Disabled but is still looking for a job.
"I see a lot of people who are worse off than me, and I decided to carry on with my life. I hope companies' bosses will accept (workers who are) wheelchair-bound, that's the main thing. If they don't accept this, those who are on wheelchair can't (find) work," said Neo. Neo's dream is to open a bar that hires those who are physically-disabled. "I was a bartender before, so I'm interested in this kind of jobs. (I hope to) give them a chance to support themselves and show that people with disabilities can work and lead a normal life," said Neo.
36-year-old Juraimi Jafar, who was born with cerebral palsy, is also working to land a permanent job. He has never worked full-time and gets by with a $100 allowance as a trainee packer. He knows he has to earn his own keep with a secure job. He said: "If my parents (are gone), then I need to take care of myself. Otherwise, who's going to take care of me."
Juraimi and Neo are among the disabled in Singapore who badly need a job. While more companies have been tapping the Open Door Fund to make this possible, the numbers do not appear encouraging.
Only 79 companies have done so over the past four years.
"A lot of time, the misconception or the fear of not knowing how to react, how to talk to a person on a wheelchair, for example, or how to talk to a person who's blind. It's this poor understanding of how to relate to a person with disability," explained Chia Woon Yee, director of Technology and Vocational Training at the Society for Physically Disabled.
About 400 physically-disabled people have found long-term employment, thanks to the Open Door Fund. - CNA /ls
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1062643/1/.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:43 PM | Comments (1)
June 16, 2010
Dispur move for disabled -India
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
16 June 2010, Calcutta Telegraph
DAULAT RAHMAN
Guwahati, June 15: The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority has set a June 30 deadline for hospitals, malls and commercial buildings in the city to introduce disabled-friendly facilities.
Facilities like ramps and wheelchairs will be introduced in government offices, educational institutions, bus terminuses, railway stations and even at Kamakhya temple atop Nilachal Hill in a phased manner, to be completed within this year.
Manikut Pathak, the development officer of GMDA, said a group of experts and officials has already visited various shopping malls and private hospitals to check out facilities available for physically challenged or differently-able persons.
He said not a single building has been so far was found to be equipped with the required facilities, making these places completely inaccessible for physically challenged persons.
“The GMDA has made it mandatory for the owners of commercial buildings and private hospitals to install display boards and prominently highlight the facilities and infrastructure available for physically challenged persons. It would be a tough job as the details gathered by the GMDA has revealed that not a single building in the city has such facilities. But we must go ahead since the initiative would be in adherence to various directives issued by the Supreme Court in recent years and various provisions of the Disability Act, 1995 to make public places completely accessible to physically challenged persons,” Pathak said.
The new building bylaws formulated by the GMDA clearly mentioned that the commercial buildings must be constructed in a disabled- friendly manner.
The disability law unit (Northeast) of Shishu Sarothi, an NGO, while welcoming the initiative, said it would adopt a wait-and-watch policy to see the effectiveness of the GMDA’s step.
“Introduction of ramp and wheelchair will not be enough. According to the Disability Act, 1995, several other facilities, like specially designed elevators with auditory signal system to make it easy to identify floors for visually impaired, are a must at shopping malls, private hospitals and other government offices. There must be guide maps at shopping malls, hospitals and railway stations for those with hearing impairment,” Anju Talukdar, the project co-ordinator of the NGO, said.
In April last year, the disability law unit (Northeast) of Shishu Sarothi, an NGO, decided to file a case in Gauhati High Court against the chief electoral officer of Assam and deputy commissioners for their failure to make polling booths disabled-friendly during the Lok Sabha polls.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100616/jsp/northeast/story_12568516.jsp
Posted by jicafriends at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2010
USICD News & Annual Meeting Reminder
http://www.usicd.org/template/index.cfm
Posted by jicafriends at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2010
Deaf-blind citizens to receive free services at public institutions in Peru
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra
The Peruvian government legally recognized deaf-blindness as a unique disability, and President Alan Garcia enacted a special law to grant proper attention for people who suffers from it.
The norm indicates that public and private institutions that provide services or attention must also facilitate specialized interpreters to help people suffering from this disability.
The Peruvian state officially recognizes as valid communication systems the sign signal, Braille system and some other alternatives systems that have been approved by the Ministry of Education, to grant deaf-blind people free access public services, according to this law.
The government estimates that deaf-blindness affects more than 10,000 people in Peru as a unique disability.
http://www.livinginperu.com/news/12110
Posted by jicafriends at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)
June 07, 2010
Govt access program falls short: Disabled people-Indonesia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Dina Indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 06/05/2010 12:15 PM
Ten years after the government vowed to increase public facilities for disabled people; mobility, comfort and access remain a problem, say activists.
In 2000, the late former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid and former transportation minister Agum Gumelar, launched the National Public Accessibility Movement (GAUN), which aimed to increase special facilities for the disabled in public places.
Ten years later, disabled activists, including people in wheelchairs and with visual impairments, gathered in Jakarta to celebrate and lament GAUN.
The program has borne very little fruit, several activists said.
“It was the first time I used the [Transjakarta] busway,” said Sunarti, who has used a wheelchair since the age of 5 after she was afflicted with polio.
Sunarti surveyed Transjakarta as part of the event’s evaluation of the capital’s public transportation system ease of use for disabled people.
She had to be carried up a long flight of stairs that lead to the shelter at the Blok M terminal in South Jakarta because there were no ramps, she said.
Sunarti said that she usually uses taxis, which are expensive, so her time about town is limited.
“I go out twice a week on average. If there was more access [for disabled people], I would like to go out more,” she said.
Agum, who was named an ambassador for the disabled at the event, said GUAN’s sluggish and barely effective implementation was “saddening”.
“Only a fraction of [GAUN’s] goals have been achieved,” he said.
Indonesia has several laws and regulations that guarantee rights access and special facilities for the disabled.
The 1997 Law on Disabled People stipulates that disabled people have a right to access and must be treated equally.
A 2002 law stipulates that all public roads must be equipped with facilities for the disabled.
Other laws stipulate that buildings must provide access for disabled people.
“Sometimes the laws are merely a token,” Agum said.
Saharudin Daming said that he agreed.
“Often the infrastructure of government and private buildings ignores safety and security principles for disabled people, said Saharudin, an official of the National Commission for Human Rights’ (Komnas HAM) subcommission on education and awareness building, Saharuddin cited several examples of facilities that are unfriendly to disabled people, such as elevators.
It would not cost much to make those facilities friendlier, he said.
“If they want to design for the purpose of accessibility, they only have to change the software…sometimes elevators merely give a ‘dingdong’ sound, I can’t comprehend the meaning,” he said.
Saharuddin praised buildings with elevators that provide audible floor announcements.
He called for a special body to monitor accessibility for the disabled.
“It’s time to establish a national accessibility commission with a mandate to conduct monitoring, research and give recommendations,” Saharuddin said at a speech during the event.
According to a basic health research report compiled in 2007, the prevalence of disabilities in Indonesians has increased to 21.3 percent from 12.7 percent in 2001.
More than 48 million of Indonesia’s current estimated population of 227 million people may be disabled according to the report’s methodology, which says conditions such as myopia are disabilities.
“[The disabled] have great potential, if they are given access. If not, they will be the nation’s burden,” Saharuddin said.
Posted by jicafriends at 07:17 PM | Comments (0)
June 03, 2010
Report on Personal Assistant Training (PAT) and Mini-TRY event-Cambodia
The Phnom Penh Center for Independent Living (PPCIL) had held Personal Assistant Training (PAT) for assisting people with severe with disability on 19-21 May, 2010.
After 3 days trainig, all trainees and PPCIL’s staffs had organized the Mini-TRY to disseminate the activities of PPCIL and practicing on subject how to assisting wheelchair user by working along public places which have 21 participants to participated in the event.
For more information, please visit the following pages;
http://www.ppcil.org/report.html
http://www.ppcil.org/
Posted by jicafriends at 03:32 PM | Comments (0)
May 28, 2010
Judith Heumann to Join U.S. State Department in Fulfillment of Obama-Clinton Pledge
Judith Heumann, an international leader in the disability rights movement and a governmental representative to the USICD Board of Directors, will be joining the U.S. Department of State as their Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. This position was announced last summer, when President Obama and Secretary Clinton declared that the United States would sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Heumann resigned her position as Director of the Department on Disability Services for the District of Columbia, and will assume her new position at the Department of State on June 7, 2010.
“This is a significant step forward to the U.S. government’s capacity to include disability in our foreign policy. The knowledge Judy will bring to the State Department will be invaluable to international development programs, U.S. ratification of the CRPD, and our country’s approach to international engagement,” says USICD President Marca Bristo. “As longtime colleagues and friends of Judy, the USICD Board of Directors is elated with her appointment and we wish her all the best in her new role.”
Previously, Heumann was the Advisor on Disability and Development for the World Bank from 2002 to 2006, and served as President Clinton's Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services from 1993 to 2001. She was a cofounder of the World Institute on Disability in Oakland, California, and served there from 1982 to 1993. She was also a cofounder of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, serving as their Deputy Director from 1975 to 1981.
In March 2010, prior to her appointment to the State Department, the Minnesota-based nonprofit Courage Center announced that they will grant Heumann the 2010 Medtronic National Courage Award this September. Heumann was selected for the 2010 award in acknowledgment of her lifelong advocacy on behalf of children and adults with disabilities. Heumann was the first recipient of the Henry B. Betts Award in 1990.
Maria Veronica Reina
Executive Director
Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD)
Secretariat:
Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University
Posted by jicafriends at 05:29 PM | Comments (1)
May 27, 2010
Internet Accessibility Issues-Bangladesh
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Accessbangla."
Although there has been tremendous progress in making the internet accessible for blind people, there are several things that we, as blind computer users, can't do. I know several blind individuals who use Craig's List, Face Book, and other related sites in order to network. The one problem we have is that we can't see the authentication verification code that pops up on the monitor when we log out. As you probably know, this authentication verification code, a random list of letters and numbers that are sometimes viewed upside down, is designed to prevent hackers from emembering it, and that's why it changes with every attempt to log out.
The problem is that a blind person can't verify it because the speech software can't translate it. A sighted person has to be on hand at all times to dictate every new authentication verification code that comes up on the monitor in order for a blind person to verify it. Under these circumstances, how do the blind manage to maneuver through these sites where you have to post information by logging in and out? I would like to be able to post ads on Craig's List without having a sighted person come here every time I log out, just so that he can read an authentication verification code that changes on the fly and is not understood by speech software. Do any of you have any solutions, and if you are a blind user, how do you log out?
Generally speaking, there have been attempts made by some web site designers to include fewer graphics on their sites, making it a lot easier for the blind user to read them. More often than not, speech software has difficulty reading a web site if it has too many pictures on it. I know that in the world of vision, people like to look at the pretty designs on a web site, because it looks attractive. No matter how nice the site looks, the design doesn't help the blind. Most, if not all, speech programs stop reading when they come across a picture. If the picture is too large, Jaws will be interrupted while reading the important material.
I don't think that legislation is necessary, because most of us don't like the government telling private industry what to do, so I feel we should just have more faith that web site designers will cut back on all the graphics in order for everyone to read what's on the site.
Posted by jicafriends at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2010
The Final Review on the 2nd AP Decade
The Final Review
on ‘the 2nd Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 2003-2012’
to be held in Korea in 2012
On May 19, 2010, the last day of the 66th Commission session, ESCAP adopted the resolution, sponsored by 11 countries in the Asia Pacific Region that the High Level intergovernmental Meeting on the final review of Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 2003-2012 will be held in the Republic of Korea in 2012. HLM will evaluate what the AP Region has achieved and what gaps are remained during the 2nd decade, which is expected to contain ways forward post 2012, in ensuring that persons with disabilities exercise and enjoy their rights in all aspects of their lives. RI World Congress and APDF General Assembly will be held in conjunction with the ESCAP HLM.
All DPOs need to develop collaborative work not only between DPOs but also with governments and all stakeholders for the next two years preparation work. This will be another opportunity for the disability community in the region to work together to bring about real changes into the lives of persons with disabilities.
The Steering Group (facilitated by KSRPD) composed of academics, DPOs and governmental officers have been working on reviewing the 2nd decade and thinking ahead for post 2012, since October 2009.
Sang-Chul Lee (President of KSRPD)
& Il-Yung Lee (RI Vice President-AP Region)
Posted by jicafriends at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2010
Visually Impaired Call for More Gov't Support-Rwanda
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
5 May 2010
Kigali — Visually impaired people under their umbrella organization, the Rwanda Union for the Blind (RUB), have called on the government to provide them with more education facilities in order to improve their lives.
Speaking during conference organised by the Indian based group, Rwanda Renaissance, and Kigali City Council, the Executive Secretary of RUB, Donatilla Kanimba, said that the visually impaired lack education because there aren't enough schools to cater for their needs.
"There are few schools that can accept visually impaired people, and this leads them to live in isolation and deep poverty because they lack education," said Kanimba.
"There's need to train visually impaired people or provide them with necessary support so that they live a productive life," she added.
Kanimba said that there is only one training centre situated in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District and that trains visually impaired people in farming, adding that there is need to expand its capacity by adding other courses.
The meeting that attracted various institutions and NGOs discussed the prospectus of setting up a "white cane" workshop in Rwanda.
Addressing the conference, the chairman of Rwanda Renaissance, Clarence Fernandes, said that in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind of India, they are planning to set up the workshop in Rwanda which will employ visually impaired people and pass on skills.
A white cane is a mobility and safety tool needed by the vulnerable group of people as it reflects light in the dark thus making it safer for the user.
"If we start this project, the visually impaired people will be able to learn more skills and Rwanda will be able to export white canes to other countries in the region," said Fernandes.
According to RUB, one white cane costs Rwf 20,000.
According to a 2002 population census, there are over 13,000 visually impaired people across the country.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201005050064.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2010
Number of Autism patients increasing-Kuwait
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
KUWAIT: Director of disabled-care department in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Khaled Al-Mahdi affirmed the increasing toll of Autism patients and the need for special care and attention.
Al-Mahdi said on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day organized by the disabled-care department yesterday the growing proportion of male autism patients are more than females and it is needed to set up a special wing for patients with autism at the care departments.
He pointed out the importance of the role provided by autism and disability patient centers, namely Kuwait Center for Autism (KCA). The reason for the delay to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day endorsed by UN in April 2 is to work on good preparation for celebration, he explained.
Al-Mahdi hoped for all people working to raise the level of performance in providing services which benefit the disabled, and praised the role of anyone who seeks to meet the needs of people with disability, especially that autism patients suffer from fragmentation and isolation, and lack of integration with the community. The celebration included a screening of a documentary about autism and poems.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTM2NzI5ODAwOA
Posted by jicafriends at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)
April 30, 2010
Job fair draws crowd-Guam
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Dionesis Tamondong
Pacific Daily News
April 27, 2010
More than 500 jobseekers -- a majority having some type of disability -- registered and were interviewed for jobs at the Special Challenges Job Fair yesterday. http://www.jicafriends.net/archives/2010/04/improve_those_w.html
The event, held at the Agana Shopping Center, brought together more than two dozen employers, jobseekers and organizations that provide programs and services for people with disabilities.
Frances Bell, of the Department of Labor's One Stop Center, said her office will remain in contact with potential employers over the next several weeks to determine how many were hired at the fair.
A variety of companies participated yesterday, including food services, insurance and financial services and construction companies looking to ramp up their personnel for projects anticipated with the military buildup.
In addition to helping people with disabilities find jobs, another objective of the fair was to help raise awareness of services for those facing barriers to employment -- transportation, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, housing, reasonable accommodation, and legal rights.
"We wanted to get them out of the house and let them know what's out there for them," she said. "A lot of them sit at home and become dependent on family."
The government of Guam has a poor record of helping people with disabilities find jobs and careers. In recent years, the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities has had to return millions of federal dollars that should've been used to help clients learn job skills and gain employment.
Bell said her agency, which partnered with DISID to organize yesterday's fair, will follow through with participating employers to see how many registered jobseekers were hired.
The event was held in conjunction with President Obama's Federal Job Fair for people with disabilities scheduled for the same day in Washington, D.C.
"These people have skills. We just need to train them and get them out of the house," Bell said. "We need to be aggressive as a community to get them employed."
photo caption: Summer job sought: Department of Education Division of Special Education teacher Nichol Napoleon, third from right, assists John F. Kennedy student Roman Elgarico, 16, as he checks out job openings at the Guam Community College booth at the Special Challenges Job Fair on April 26. Elgarico was looking for a summer job. The fair was held at the Agana Shopping Center. (Masako Watanabe/Pacific Daily News)
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20100427/NEWS01/4270316
Posted by jicafriends at 01:30 PM | Comments (0)
April 28, 2010
12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons
The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) is proud to announce that the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) will take place at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on 2-4 June, 2010.
More information: http://www.transed2010.hk/front/
Posted by jicafriends at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
Thinking Ahead for an ‘Extended’ Decade! for People with Disabilities in the Asia-Pacific
Dear Colleagues in the Asia-Pacific region,
Greetings to you all from Korea.
As some of you might be aware that the final review of the 2nd Decade of Asia-Pacific Persons with Disabilities will be held in Korea in 2012 (it is expected to be officially announced at the 66th Commission in May). With regard to conclusion of the Decade, there have been some thoughts and suggestions beyond the 2nd Decade amongst people working in the disability field. To co-ordinate flows of thinking in exploring the issue around the region, a Steering Group was formed at the beginning of this year by people representing disability fields including academics and DPOs .
We are writing to you to share some views about how we might pool ideas together with the approaching end of the Second Decade of Asia-Pacific Persons with Disabilities (2003-2012). The subject we wish to explore with you is the rationale for moving towards extending the current Second Decade further. No doubt, this will invite observations and comments from you all in thinking about the achievements and shortcomings of the Second Decade.
With the above in mind, we thought it might be useful to share some ideas as we all represent views from different regions and DPOs. We would like to express our thinking at this stage in the first place and would invite your views re. the above matter.
Views of Korean Steering Committee on the Post-2nd Decade
We are still in the process of forming our position. However, we are of the view that nations within the region should act collectively to encourage ratification of the CRPD and actively participate in monitoring the subsequent implementation of the CRPD. In this context, we might recall that the UN’s Secretary-General in his Day of Persons with Disabilities speech had called for the implementation and universality of the landmark United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He noted that persons with disabilities encounter many disadvantages, and are often among society’s poorest and most excluded”.
1. The DPOs in the Region have every reason to be proud of themselves in making a concrete contribution in the UN’s adoption of the CRPD with sustained efforts through BMF+five and other activities to support it. However, UNESCAP that has been the backbone of the 1st and 2nd Decades have concerns about the fact that the Region is still lagging behind in achieving specific objectives which are critical in achieving inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society. To cite but one specific example with specific reference to the overall objectives of MDGs’ with its 18 general objectives and 48 monitoring indices, it is clear that persons with disabilities have not been a part of mainstream development efforts and the majority of them are still trapped in poverty and remain powerless.
2. We are of the view that if we would ever to launch the Third Decade, the overall goal and objectives should be directed to ensuring capacity building of individuals, communities and DPOs.
3. It is our strong view that the Region exploits the International Co-operation (as noted in CRPD Article 32 International Cooperation), as one of the main strategies in achieving goals of the Third Decade.
4. Having experienced the last 2 Decades, we envisage weather another ‘Decade’ continues to be adopted or a new time-scale might need to be introduced.
5. We have also thought about the strategic goals to be pursued as a Pan Asia Pacific Vision or Sub-regional Visions.
In connection with the above, we shall be most grateful if you could provide your comments by returning your by 30th April, 2010. Please click the link, following our names!!
With best regards,
Dr. Il-Yung Lee, M.D. President of RI Korea
Kim, Dae-Sung, General Secretary DPI Korea
Post-2nd Decade Steering Committee
Prof. Hyung Shik Kim, Convenor, Prof. Korea University of International Studies
Hanjin Jo, Prof. Social Work, Daegu Univ
Jaeyoung Yoon, Team leader, Planning and Development, Sahmyook Welfare Foundation
Jogbae Kim, Team leader, National Rehabilitation Center, Ex-prof. University of Pittsburgh
Dongchul Yoo, Prof. Social Work, Dongeui Univ.
Woonwhan Nah, Prof. Vocational rehabilitation, Daegu Univ, AP regional chair, Division of Policy & Services, RI
Yeja Lee, Chair, National Coalition of Disabled People
Mijoo Kim, Chair, Cultural Community of Women with Disabilities Consultant, World Bank
Heungshik Jo, Prof. Social work, Seoul Univ
Wongyu Choi, Prof. Social Work, Jeonbuk Univ, Chair, Commission of ‘R&D’ of APDF
Myonghwa Yoo, General Secretary, KSRPD
Inwhan Seo, General Secretary, KOFOD
Please, click the URL below.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEdTT1dpTHlxS0I2RUhESC1pVkdKOFE6MA
Posted by jicafriends at 04:32 PM | Comments (0)
Zero Interest Loan Available For Visually Impaired-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- The visually impaired now have an opportunity to expand their business through the Entrepreneur Development Fund created by the Society for the Blind, Malaysia (SBM).
SBM president Mah Hassan Omar said the loan was interest free and created to help the blind generate income for a more comfortable life.
He said the society's fund was obtained through donations from the public as well as charitable activities.
"So far, we have collected RM100,000 for the fund, along with RM23,000 from a charity concert held last year," he told reporters after presenting cheques to the fund's first two recipients at the Grand Pacific Hotel here on Sunday.
The fund, established last year, is the first of such created by a volunteer organisation in Malaysia.
Mah Hassan, who is a visually-impaired lawyer, said he hoped more philantropists and the private and government sectors would come forward to contribute to the fund.
Information on how to contribute to the fund can be obtained by calling Siti Nuraizah Ruslan at 03-40212942.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=493344
Posted by jicafriends at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2010
Improve: Those with disabilities need better help with job placement, training-Guam
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
April 24, 2010
On Monday, more than a dozen employers will interview people with mental and physical disabilities as prospective job candidates at the Special Challenges Job Fair.
The event is being held by the local Department of Labor in partnership with the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council, the Guam System for Assistive Technology and the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. It coincides with a federal job fair for people with disabilities being held Monday in Washington, D.C.
The government of Guam must get beyond these token events and work to fix a core problem -- its poor performance in training people with disabilities for the workforce and finding them jobs that will help them become self-sustaining.
On an annual basis in recent years, the local disabilities agency has had to return hundreds of thousands of dollars to the federal government because it failed to use the money to help DISID clients find or train for jobs. It often takes the agency years to find employment for clients, and often those jobs are low-paying, menial labor, such as janitor or kitchen helper, according to Pacific Daily News files.
Now that the federal court has appointed a management team to oversee the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, as well as the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, perhaps there will finally be some long-overdue progress in helping those with disabilities find gainful employment.
The team has the power and authority it needs to either ensure the government of Guam implements long-overdue changes to vocational rehabilitation programs, or to outsource those duties to a competent contractor.
Our local government's shameful and substandard services to help those with disabilities find meaningful jobs needs to be rectified immediately.
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20100424/OPINION01/4240315
Posted by jicafriends at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)
More disabled-friendly footpaths coming up -India
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Chennai
“We will soon refurbish footpaths on busy roads in T.Nagar”
When the footpath near the Ripon Building was refurbished, yellow tiles with grooves to aid visually challenged were affixed. As part of the Chennai Corporation initiative to make pavements disabled friendly, similar tiles are being fixed on footpaths outside the new Secretariat complex.
The pavement on Swami Sivananda Salai is now ready with the grooved tiles. The bright coloured tiles will also be used in many more pavements in the city, Corporation officials said.
The Corporation has affixed the ceramic grids on pavements of Wallajah Road and on the footpaths at the Tower Park in Anna Nagar and Natesan Park in T.Nagar. “We would soon refurbish footpaths on the busy roads in T.Nagar,” an official added.
According to Corporation officials, the work of the footpaths will start immediately on completion of the Rs.1,400-crore storm-water drainage project across the city.
K.Rengapathy, a regular user of the footpath near Ripon Building, says the facility should be extended to all pavements for the visually challenged.
"This short stretch has been of great help for many people like me. But we continue to face problems while crossing roads and walking on other roads,” he says.
Nethrodaya founder Gopi says the basic issues relating to the problems for people with visual disability need to be addressed first. “ Encroachments on pavements, junction boxes and hawkers obstruct the path and making it very difficult for all persons with disabilities to commute. It is necessary that they widen the pavements and make them disabled-friendly,” he says.
Ramps and hand-grills must be provided and audio signals should be installed in all areas, he added.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article408140.ece
Caption:The pavement with yellow tiles and grooves on Swami Sivananda Salai, near the new Secretariat complex in Chennai. Photo: S. Thanthoni
Posted by jicafriends at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2010
APCD Training of Trainers for CBR
Dear jicafriends,
Warm greetings from the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) in Bangkok, Thailand.
On behalf of APCD, I am pleased to inform you about Training of Trainers for Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) through an Inclusive Development Approach, to be conducted in Bangkok from 7-18 June 2010. For the details of this training, please see the enclosed General Information (GI) as advanced information.
We would be grateful if you could facilitate the most qualified individuals from relevant organizations to apply to the above mentioned Training by sending the registration form to APCD at the earliest possibility preferably by 30 April, 2010.
For any other inquiry and information you may require, please feel free to contact Mr. Somchai Rungsilp, Networking & Collaboration Manager, E-mail: somchai@apcdfoundation.org or training@ apcdfoundation.org , Tel: 662 354 7505 Fax: 662 354 7507.
We would appreciate your kind cooperation on this matter.
PDF file (108KB)
Sincerely yours,
Nalinee Ruangrittisak
HRD Officer
For Mr. Somchai Rungsilp
Networking and Collaboration Manager
Posted by jicafriends at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The International Institute of Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) a programme being implemented by Braille Without Borders in Trivandrum, Kerala, India successfully trained the first batch of students from 12 countries in 2009 and the second batch including 29 participants from 18 different countries, started their course in January 2010. IISE is now seeking applications from highly motivated and committed candidates who have overcome obstacles in their life, have an interest in learning and working with different cultures, and who have a dream to realize for the 2011 course. If you are twenty-two years or older and can speak, read and write English, you are invited to apply for this one-year scholarship-based programme. For additional information visit http://www.bwb-iise.org/and/or email your inquiries to mailto:BrailleWB@gmx.net
You may also fax your questions at 0031848307904 or write via regular post at:
Braille Without Borders
International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs
c/o P. Kronenberg, Vivekanenda Nagar, Vellayani, Ookode, Nemom PO,
Trivandrum 695020, KERALA, INDIA
Deadline for applications for the 2011 course is the 30th of May, 2010.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2010
Call for Applications: Scholarship Opportunity for Master’s Degree in Public Policy
Dear jicafriends,
Call for Applications: The Nippon Foundation will provide full scholarship including tuitions, living allowance, required assistive technology and other support services, to a small group of individuals with disabilities to pursue graduate studies (Master’s level) in Public Policy offered by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY-SPP), National University of Singapore, beginning in September 2010 as part of the establishment of the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) in the ASEAN region. The applications deadline for this scholarship program is April 30, 2010.
The aim of the IDPP is to serve as a regional resource to both public and private sectors in fostering public policies to the overall vision of an ASEAN Region that is inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based, where people who are disabled are leaders in the determination of their own destinies.
The IDPP steering committee is currently recruiting a small number of candidates, within a three year period, with 1) Deafness, 2) Blindness, or 3) Mobility impairments, to serve as a human resource cadre to the establishment of IDPP and conduct research on disability and public policy in the ASEAN region. The committee seeks for persons with disabilities meeting the five criteria below:
(1) A talented and motivated individual with demonstrated leadership experience within an organization of/for disabled persons or other marginalized individuals in their own country.
(2) A commitment to achieving positive change for disabled persons through the development of proactive public policies within the ASEAN region.
(3) ICT skills to communicate for distant education and schooling.
(4) Commitment to cooperate with the IDPP Steering Committee after completing a Master’s degree in Public Policy.
(5) A person with the academic requirements and experiential background to meet the entrance requirement of a Master’s degree program in Public Policy such as that offered by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY-SPP), National University of Singapore. More information about the LKY-SPP can be found at: http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/Master_Public_Policy.aspx
In the meantime, we are already in contact with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY-SPP) of National University of Singapore and we will soon be exploring programs at other universities in the region for the establishment of the IDPP
IDPP will be developed over five years and the program will be offered in a virtual manner in the future, so that talented leaders with disability are able to obtain an advanced degree in Public Policy in home countries. Also, we anticipate the feasibility of developing an Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) that will serve the ASEAN region but whose scope of work might well reach beyond ASEAN in the future. We would like the selected candidates to cooperate with the realization of t he Institute.
The application deadline is April 30, 2010. For further information and inquiries about the scholarship program and application process, please contact IDPP Secretariat/Project Office at IDPP@apcdfoundation.org.
Any application-related inquiries and materials should be submitted to the IDPP Secretariat/Project Office located at the APCD headquarters in Thailand:
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability
IDPP Secretariat/Project Office
Application for IDPP Program
APCD Building
255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi
Bangkok, 10400 Thailand
Posted by jicafriends at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2010
Message from CDPF
Dear JICA Staff:
Your newsletter was well received and I would like to take this occasion to express my sincere appreciation for your extending your sympathy to the victims in the earchquake hitted Yushu prefectrue of Qinghai province.Let us give our prayers to them all! May God bless them, May victims stay in peace!
With best regards
Sincerely yours,
You Liang
International Affairs Department of China Disabled Persons' Federation
Posted by jicafriends at 08:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2010
Disabled Pinoys aspire for rights, privilege-Philippines
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Two years after the Philippine Ratification on the United Nations (UN) Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was signed, Filipinos with disabilities still aspire for equality, with hopes that public edifices, transports and facilities become more accessible to them.
At the commemoration of the 2nd anniversary of the UNCRPD ratification, persons with disabilities (PWDs) were clamoring anew over their rights and privileges not being provided given the UNCRPD and other laws that came into force even decades back.
“The ratification of the UNCRPD is marked as the most significant milestone in the historic struggle of Filipinos with Disabilities for emancipation from their second class citizenship status in the Philippines,’’ Lauro Purcil Jr., board of governor of Katipunan ng Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas Inc. (KAMPI) said.
“Within the two-year period, instead of ‘progressive realization,’ Filipinos with Disabilities witnessed a deliberate ‘reprogression’ against their right for full, meaningful and equal participation in political and electoral exercise as provided in Article 29 of the International Treaty and Republic Act (RA) 7941, The Partylist Law of 1997,’’ he said in a statement.
Purcil was specifically referring to the recent move by the Commission on Election (Comelec) to disqualify with finality the Disabled Pinoy Party (DPP), which was supposed to legally represent the sector.
Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larazabal earlier said that he was simply following orders from the Second Division of Comelec to reduce the number of participating groups from 154 to 120, thus the disqualification of the DPP.
The Comelec has increased the party-list participation from 120 to 187.
Purcil said the decision by the electoral body to disqualify DPP with finality was in violation of the Convention. In the election years of 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007, he said that the Comelec has accredited several Party-lists.
In addition to Article 29 of the UNCRPD and RA 7941, Purcil said there were also laws that entered into enforcement within the two-year ratification period of UNCRPD that received similar negative discriminating treatment.
He cited RA 9442, which provided 20 percent discounts to PWDs in purchasing medicines, but which is allegedly being openly violated by one of the largest drug chains and its collaborators.
"The sector had fought for more than a decade for this law to be enacted in 2006. RA 9442 is simply intended to “equalize” benefits of Filipinos with Disabilities provided decades ago to the senior citizens, '' he said.
A former member and adviser to the Philippine Delegation to the UN International Conferences that formulated UNCRPD, Purcil lamented government’s failure to ensure respect of the Convention that took years to be deliberated.
He called for national and international support for the sure respect and implementation of UNCRPD, stressing it should not suffer the same fate as that of the 27-year-old Batas Pambansa 344, the Accessibility Law and other laws for the sector in the Philippines.
The KAMPI official also bewailed the continuing defiant to the requirements of the Accessibility Law, which seeks to provide the greater majority of Filipinos with disabilities access to basic
education, employment, health and rehabilitation services and many more right-based opportunities.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/252914/disabled-pinoys-aspire-rights-privileges
Posted by jicafriends at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2010
USICD News & Annual Meeting Reminder
http://www.usicd.org/template/index.cfm
Posted by jicafriends at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2010
Call for equal opportunities for people with disabilities-Bangladesh
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Hundreds of children, including those with disabilities and autism, took part in a cultural programme at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi in the city yesterday to mark the 12th National Disability Day.
The event was jointly organised by Disability Rights Watch Group and the Jatiya Protibondhi Forum.
The people with disabilities still face discrimination in their everyday lives, speakers at the event said and called on the government to take steps so that they receive equal opportunities in education, workplaces and everywhere else in life.
They also stressed the need for initiatives to make it easier for children with disabilities and autism to receive higher education like everyone else.
Speaking as a special guest, Secretary of the social welfare ministry Quomaran Nessa Khanam said the government would take initiatives to make the disability welfare act progressive and forward-looking, prioritising the needs of the people with disabilities.
She also gave assurance that steps would be taken to effectively implement various developments activities and projects initiated for the welfare of people with disability.
Noted jurist Barrister Amirul Islam and Barrister Tania Amir were also present at the event.
The Institute of Education and Research of Dhaka University also marked the day with two-day elaborate programmes.
On the first day yesterday, a discussion was held at Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Auditorium of Teacher-Student Centre (TSC). DU Vice Chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Jatiya Protibondhi Forum President Khandokar Jahurul Islam, Sight Savers International Country Director Dr Wahidul Islam and Vice President of Inclusion Initiatives for Special Needs-Bangladesh Abuzzoha Noor spoke at the discussion.
Rallies, bulletin board launching and a film festival will be held on the DU campus today.
The first Wednesday of April is observed as the National Disability Day in the country.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=133509
Posted by jicafriends at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2010
Challenged people's job must be ensured-Bangladesh
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
PM asks for strict enforcement of rules to fulfil their quota in govt services
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly directed the ministry and other departments concerned, including Public Service Commission, to implement quota facilities for the physically and mentally challenged persons in government services as per rules.
The PM also reiterated her previous announcement that any private offices and institution giving jobs to physically and mentally challenged people will receive tax exemption facility.
The PM was addressing the inaugural function of the 12th National Day for the Disabled and the 3rd World Autism Awareness Day at the National Foundation for the Development of Disabled People in city's Mirpur yesterday morning.
This year, the day is being observed with the slogan--“We always stand by people with disability and autism.”
Speaking as chief guest, the PM said the government will amend the existing law for the disabled, including provisions on autistic children, to formulate an up-to-date national policy for the best welfare of the physically and mentally challenged people and children.
There is a 10 per cent quota for physically challenged people in jobs for class III and IV employees of the government while the quota for the disable people in first class government jobs is one percent.
“But the quota facilities for them (physically and mentally challenged people) are not always implemented. I'm giving order to the authorities concerned to provide jobs to physically and mentally challenged people as per the quota,” she said.
Hasina also asked the government authorities to take best care of these people so that none is deprived of government jobs on the pretext of their so-called disability despite having necessary academic qualifications.
She said: “I can give an example of the Special Olympics, USA, which was held during our last tenure. Physically challenged sports men and women of our country secured 21 gold, 9 silver and 6 bronze medals. So, if we can give them ideal environment and all necessary facilities, such people also can earn name and fame for the nation.”
The premier said that the people with physical and mental challenges would have to be provided not only with jobs, but proper environment.
She noted that in many cases, buildings and offices are not constructed taking into account the problems of the physically challenged people and that's why such people find it very difficult to enter offices and other infrastructures.
She also expressed her deep empathy to physically and mentally challenged children who face serious obstacles to get admitted to educational institutions of the country for unfriendly attitude towards them even by the teachers.
“All physically and mentally challenged children must be admitted to his or her neighbouring primary schools and other higher educational institutions,” she also said.
The government has already given order for ensuring admission of these children into schools and necessary infrastructure and academic facilities for them in the educational institutions, she said.
“Special measures will also be taken so that physically and mentally challenged people will have due chances of higher education and degrees.”
The PM informed the function that the government has started construction of six vocational training centres for the physically and mentally challenged orphans at six divisions of the country while another such centre will be set up in the newly declared division Rangpur in due course of time.
“And to facilitate the physically and mentally challenged orphan and people with free medical services including therapies, service and help centres for the them are being constructed by the government. In this regard, the government has already allocated Tk 5.40 crore on a pilot project basis,” she said.
The work is going on in five districts while this programme will be expanded to all other districts and upazilas in phases, she added.
Hasina further announced that the government would construct a full-fledged complex exclusively for the physically and mentally challenged people in Dhaka.
On autism, she said autism is not a disease; children with autism need special care and love by parents and others.
The PM at the function distributed wheelchairs, educational instruments, modern Braille grammar books, sewing machines and artificial lenses among the disabled people and children for their outstanding performances in respective areas.
The physically challenged children also presented songs, dances and fashion show in front of the PM.
Chaired by Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid, the function was also addressed by PM's Health Adviser Dr Syed Mudasser Ali and Social Welfare Secretary Kamrunnesa Khanam.
Earlier, the PM inaugurated hostels for the working female and male disabled people, Service and Help Centre and Mobile Service and Information Centre for the disabled, and Autism Resource Centre.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=132758
Posted by jicafriends at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2010
Disabled protest lack of seats at FIFA World Cup-South Africa
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
South African Disability Alliance members burnt tyres at the South African Football Association house on Thursday in protest against the lack of accessibility of 2010 World Cup stadia to people with disabilities.
Disabled demonstrators protest outside the Soccer City Stadium, background, in Johannesburg, Thursday, March 25, 2010, to protest the amenities provided for them at host city stadiums during the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament that gets under way in June.
More than 50 deaf, blind and wheelchair-bound protestors descended on the South African Football Association on Thursday to complain at the lack of disabled seats and access at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Chanting slogans and carrying banners that read "the deaf want to be heard" and "no seats for us", SADA voiced their discontent at the way they believe they are being ignored by the organisers of the World Cup.
Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan came out of SAFA House to try way-lay their concerns. However, the protestors feel that the main problem has been the lack of consultation with them by the local organisers. They set light to four wheelchair tyres. SADA executive Ari Seirlis said the the alliance was burning tyres to indicated the pain of the disabled at not being able to attend any of the 2010 World Cup matches.
Ari Seirlis, the executive of South African Disability Alliance, says, "I don't believe they have taken the disability seriously and I really believe that the LOC owe all South Africans, people with disability and people to become people with disability, the opportunity to look at our stadiums and say: 'We can go there. We were there. We can participate. We can hold our own Paralympics in these stadia.' Right now we can't. They're just big monstrosities. We're sitting on the edge. We can't get in."
Danny Jordaan, CEO of local organising committee, says, "So, we have to work with you, not only to make sure the seats are there, but that these seats are full and people buy the tickets. And maybe you have the same problem as everyone else has, that the tickets are not accessible. Perhaps that is an issue that we must discuss."
Jordaan accepted a memorandum of their grievances from the protesters and said he would meet with the leadership of SADA on 31 March to discuss the issues raised.
http://english.cctv.com/program/sportsscene/20100326/101745.shtml
Posted by jicafriends at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)
Old Havana Reaches Out to Hearing Impaired-Cuba
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Patricia Grogg
Sign on a wall in Old Havana.
HAVANA, Apr 4, 2010 (IPS) - An innovative programme in Old Havana has given the hearing impaired greater access to the historical and cultural wealth of the restored historic city centre.
"Havana Radio is a public interest station with a focus on historical and cultural themes, and the hearing impaired are a segment of the population who would visit us and walk along these streets, but remained excluded from our work of restoring our cultural heritage. That was why the Cultura entre las Manos (roughly Culture in Our Hands) project was born," Yalena Gispert, who heads the programme, told IPS.
The idea emerged in early 2008, as part of Rutas y Andares (Routes and Pathways), a programme that offers Cuban families thematic walking tours through Old Havana in the summer months of July and August, with specialist guides providing information on the many sites of historical and cultural interest in the old city.
Old Havana, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1982, has been the focus of an extensive restoration project led by the City of Havana Historian's Office.
A Cuban sign language interpreter would accompany tours that included hearing impaired visitors. "But we realised that something special had to be done for them," said Gispert. "From the start, they showed a great deal of interest, asked a lot of questions, but the interpreting slowed down the tours."
That need gave rise to Cultura entre las Manos, which offers monthly historical tours for the deaf. The project also holds debates on cultural, historical and social issues with the participation of experts and sign language interpreters.
"I am delighted with the idea; I don't miss any of the meetings," Roberto Mesa told IPS, with the help of interpreter Carmen Salgado, head of the sign language interpreting degree programme at the University of Havana. "The tours and the issues discussed include us in the life of this country," he added.
"My mother is a literature teacher, and I read a lot. But Cultura entre las Manos is just for us, something prepared specifically for the deaf. There is always someone interpreting. And issues of interest to us are discussed," said Mesa, a 45-year-old graphic designer and father of two adolescents who are not hearing impaired.
The history of hurricanes in Cuba, archaeology, the global economic crisis and its impact, historical clothing and styles, national monuments, the economy, society and politics in China, history and current events in telecommunications, and stamp collecting are some of the subjects of the talks.
Gispert said the issues were suggested by the hearing impaired community, organised in the Cuban National Association of the Deaf, which sponsored Cultura entre las Manos, along with the University of Havana.
The programme also offers beginner's courses in Cuban sign language. In addition, it provides closed captioning - an optional display of dialogue, actions, sounds or other elements as text on the screen - for the radio and TV programmes produced by the Havana Radio station, in order to give access to the hearing impaired, on TV and the internet.
Havana Radio is the office of the city historian's radio station.
Another aim of Cultura entre las Manos is to produce visual communication materials in sign language for schools and the sign language interpreting degree programme.
In Cuba, where the literacy rate stands at 99.8 percent, according to UNESCO, most hearing impaired people can read and write, although they communicate by sign language.
The Havana Radio project is also contributing to the continued development of Cuban sign language. During the class-like tours, agreement is sometimes reached about how to name something, for example historical or cultural concepts, for which no specific sign exists.
One of the objectives of the Cuban National Association of the Deaf, which groups more than 20,000 hearing impaired people, is integration in society "with equal rights and duties, conditions and opportunities." It also works to eliminate communicational barriers that stand in the way of a normal life for people with hearing problems. (END)
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50911
Posted by jicafriends at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2010
Disabled Chinese to get driver's licenses-China
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
YINCHUAN - More disabled people will be able to drive in China, including those paralyzed from the waist down, thanks to revisions to driving license regulations that will take effect starting from April 1.
The newly revised "Regulations on Application and Use of Driver's Licenses" allows, for the first time, Chinese who are able to sit by themselves despite their paralyzed limbs to acquire a license for adapted vehicles.
"The new regulations means a lot to me since a car will be my new 'legs'," said Shen Ping, from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, who had driven for almost 30 years before both his legs were paralyzed in 1999 making him unqualified to drive under the old regulations.
Shen and over 60 others with limb problems started their 3-month training Tuesday, the first training course of its kind in Ningxia. They can get their license for an adapted vehicle after passing a test.
There are 28 million people with paralyzed limbs in China, and many are longing to drive but have been deprived of the right. Some have driven anyway, hoping to avoid being caught by the police.
Chairman of China's Association for People with Paralyzed Limbs Xu Fengjian estimates that China has at least hundreds of such "unauthorized drivers."
"If someone can sit by oneself, he or she can be a qualified driver, no matter whether they have legs or not," said Li Ning, chairman of a Ningxia association for people with paralyzed limbs.
The new regulation also permits hearing-impaired people to drive if they can hear adequately while with a hearing aid.
To get the license, applicants will undergo a health check at a designated medical institute to prove they are capable of driving. Successful applicants will undergo another check up if they want to renew their licenses three years later, according to the regulation.
"While allowing people with disabilities to drive, we also need to ensure the safety of both these new drivers and others on the road," said an officer with the Ministry of Public Security.
Traffic regulators will treat the disabled drivers the same as other drivers, said Zhang Xuezhong, who is in charge of vehicle management in Yinchuan City, the provincial capital.
The disabled drivers will have to drive vehicles that have been modified to enable them to drive safely. The vehicles will also be labeled to inform other drivers.
The revised regulation was passed by the Ministry of Public Security on November 21, 2009 and issued on December 7, 2009.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-04/01/content_9672440.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2010
CBR AP Network’s Logo Designing Contest
Dear jicafriends,
The Community-based Rehabilitation Asia-Pacific Network (CBR AP Network) was formed during the 1st CBR Asia-Pacific Congress which was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 18-20 Feb 2009. As a springboard to create awareness of the CBR AP Network, the Network conducts a Logo Contest among the 24 existing members, as well as potential member countries. Its closing date will be on 15 May 2010.
For the further information, please refer to the following documents.
Logo Contest: PDF file (54KB)
CBR AP Network: PDF file (12KB)
We look forward to your participation in the CBR AP Network's Logo Designing Contest.
Sincerely,
JANNET Secretariat
c/o Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD)
1-22-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0052 JAPAN
TEL: +81-3-5273-0601 FAX: +81-3-52731523
URL:http://www.normanet.ne.jp/~jannet/e/index.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:46 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2010
2nd International Deaf Expo 2010-India
Dear jicafriends,
The organizations all over the nation have united with World Organizations to conduct 2nd International Deaf Expo 2010: A conference on empowering technologies in educating the Deaf/Hard of Hearing from 13th to 17th December 2010 at New Delhi This Deaf expo organised by DEAF LEADERS, (Deaf Empowerment Activities For Literacy, Education, Accessible Development, Employment, Rehabilitation & Sports) India.
http://www.deafexpo2010.com/introduction.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 09:59 AM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2010
Invitation for Participation in Disabled Peoples’ National Congregation, 2010 in Bangladesh
Dear Colleagues/ Friends,
Greetings from National Alliance of Disabled Peoples Organizations (NADPO)!
We have the immense pleasure to inform you that a daylong Disabled Peoples’ National Congregation , 2010 is going to be held on Monday 29th March 2010 from 9:00 am to 5:00pm with the initiative of National Alliance of Disabled People’s Organizations (NADPO) in Bangladesh at historic Polton Maydan, Dhaka. This congregation main focus is “Disabled People in Development of Bangladesh”.
National Alliance of Disabled People’s Organizations (NADPO) is a national network of Disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) of Bangladesh to promote human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunities and enhancement their abilities and accelerate their initiatives. The member organizations of NADPO are facilitating to development of capacity of the disabled People and their grassroots organizations’. It apparently seems that a clear idea regarding the importance of DPOs, disabled peoples and their role that has not yet been realized by the decision makers, political leaders, development partners, planners and different professionals in the country. In consideration of all of theses, NADPO is going to organize this congregation to increase the sensitivity among the responsible parties in the country. We hope more than one hundred thousands disabled people will attend from different part of the country in this congregation. You are cordially invited. To make this event successful your participation will highly be appreciated.
We hope that your presence in the congregation will contribute to achieve the rights of the disabled people in Bangladesh.
We are looking forward to meet you at the congregation.
With regards
Md. Jahangir Alam
Secretary General
National Alliance of Disabled People’s Organizations (NADPO)
For farther information & quarries:
E-mail:
pwdscongregation.nadpo@yahoo.com
pwdscongregation.nadpo@gmail.com
Posted by jicafriends at 04:00 PM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2010
Haiti's Rising Urgency
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Two months after a 7.3 magnitude quake struck Haiti on January 12, leaving approximately 230,000 people dead and more than 1.2 million people homeless, there are many questions. How are the people coping? Is the aid getting through? Where will Haiti's displaced people find new homes, and how fast will they get there?
In order to get some answers, I combed through the international press, and I was dismayed at the lack of updated information. After reaching out to Worldpress readers through Twitter, asking for Haiti updates, I received hundreds of emails from Haitians and visitors to the country, and they all expressed that the situation in Haiti grows more urgent with each passing day.
While some of the emails were full of hope, many were full of fear and despair. One aid worker stressed the dire need for humanitarian help, especially as seasonal rains could threaten those left homeless with an outbreak of disease.
An orphanage worker said that there were 280,000 orphans before the disaster struck, and now an estimated 20,000 or more since. More than two months later, thousands of children are still separated from their parents. Aid is still desperately needed in some of the more remote areas in Haiti, and one email mentioned that machete-armed gangs are still lurking about.
In early March, the Batey Relief Alliance sent a team of dental and medical specialists from the United States to barely accessible communities like Anse-a-Pitre to deliver much-needed dental and medical care to children and their families living in horrendous conditions. Many Haitians are living in inaccessible communities and are completely isolated from medical services and international aid.
The emails from and about amputees were the hardest to read. According to one, between 6,000 and 8,000 people have lost limbs, and the numbers continue to grow as people suffer untreated infections. Thousands more suffered complicated fractures, some of which could turn into amputations if not managed properly.
A recent amputee was full of fear because the disabled are often treated as pariahs and isolated from society in Haiti. "Disabilities are ridiculed and thought of as a curse," she wrote.
One man said that in Haiti three out of four people are unemployed, and the work that does exist requires physical labor, making the situation very scary for him. He said that he couldn't get work when he had two legs, so how would he survive with just one? "You are a not a person if you are handicapped," he wrote.
Haiti, a country of 9 million that had limited capacity to treat an estimated 800,000 disabled people before the quake, lost two of its three prosthetics labs when the buildings were destroyed or damaged. A smaller lab remains in the south, but it desperately needs materials to make prosthetic devices.
Many amputees remain in fly-swarming hospital tents, and those who have been discharged have little hope, with no rehabilitation facilities, few physical therapists, and no chance of getting a prosthesis. A scant supply of crutches, canes and wheelchairs are trickling in through donations, but there are few paved roads, making navigating a wheelchair nearly impossible.
Michel Pean, Haiti's secretary of state for the integration of the disabled, recently said that Haiti's disabled—about 8 percent of the population even before the quake—had long been treated as second-class citizens, but the government has recently taken legal steps to recognize their rights and opened offices to serve them in the countryside. Ideally, Pean said, post-earthquake reconstruction could provide the impetus to make Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, more accessible to the disabled and create a national institute for rehabilitation.
For the moment, the focus is on making sure the thousands who underwent lifesaving amputations have a future.
"The situation for newly disabled persons is very delicate," Pean said. "They urgently need not only medical care, but food and a place to live. Also, we cannot forget those disabled before the disaster who, because of their handicap, are having trouble getting access to humanitarian aid."
"Haiti is trying to go back to normality, but several years will pass before everything goes back to the way it was before January 12," one aid worker wrote. "And excuse my negativity, but the way the Haitians lived before January 12 shouldn't really be considered normal."
Thanks to international aid, thousands of families have received tarps or tents that give them shelter, but it is not nearly enough given the huge demand, and many men and women wander around the city looking for wood, brass or nylon to build weak living structures they sadly call
home. Families who aren't as lucky to find building materials simply form tents out of bed sheets.
Almost all the capital's parks, soccer fields, school yards and even a country-club golf course in suburban Pétionville are packed with people living in flimsy structures under terrible conditions. They have no water, electricity or a sanitation system that could prevent the spread of epidemics.
Haiti's inhabitants, as well as its authorities, are more concerned about the upcoming hurricane season, which begins on June 1, than rain, since none of the provisional settlements have conditions to withstand the strong winds of a hurricane. Despite the efforts of the international community, thousands of Haitians will have no shelter during the hurricane season.
Around 200,000 tents have been delivered in Haiti, and the number might reach 240,000, but those shelters are too weak to deal with tropical cyclones. The massive distribution of tarps—and to a much lesser extent, tents—has reached 53 percent of the 1.3 million people in need of
shelter, according to a March 11 U.N. report.
Educators say that classes do not have a set date to begin. They were supposed to start by April, which would be almost impossible since more than 80 percent of the schools in the earthquake zone were destroyed or severely damaged. Nearly 4,000 students and more than 700 teachers,
principals and staff were killed during afternoon classes. All that's left of the Ministry of Education's main building is a crater filled with torn workbooks and lost teachers' ID cards.
A petition has been delivered to President Preval demanding that schools reopen immediately, be they in tents, temporary buildings or other makeshift facilities. But others are urging caution before rushing back into a system that never really worked in the first place. The problems are monumental: Just one in 10 Haitian teachers is a qualified educator, according to the Inter-American Development Bank, and a third have not even completed ninth grade.
The government is unable to support more than a handful of schools, leaving the system dominated by fly-by-night, for-profit storefront schools whose onerous fees and other costs keep half of Haiti's children from enrolling at any given time. Wealthy Haitians and foreigners opt out entirely, putting their children in upscale schools that cost some $8,000 per year—more than most Haitians will spend on food and basic necessities in 20 years.
Buildings were so unsafe that one school collapsed on its own in 2008, killing 100 students and adults. Two months after the earthquake, Port-au-Prince still has thousands of constructions that are partly destroyed or about to roll down the hillsides.
Another devastating reality is that Haiti's best and brightest were lost in the earthquake. They were the educated few of Haiti, an up-and-coming generation of nurses, technicians, office managers and college students. These people kept the books, educated the young, fixed the computers and were an integral part of building up Haiti. Now they're gone, just when their struggling country needs them most. Because the earthquake struck just before 5:00 pm, it annihilated office buildings and disproportionately killed the young professionals who were working in them. "So many of those bright young people who were going the extra mile to make Haiti work were crushed at their desks," a nurse wrote me.
"It is a generation that decided not to leave the country. They chose to work for the country," said Dieusibon Pierre-Merite, a Haitian sociologist with a United Nations anti-gang program that lost several staffers in the quake. "They are the ones who died." It will impact our culture, the future of Haiti. "The list of those lost is long. It includes judges who investigated violations of law in a country where street justice still rules; the Foreign Ministry's point man on relations with the neighboring Dominican Republic; at least 10 agronomists working at the agricultural ministry
to restore Haiti's farm sector; and three of Haiti's leading women's rights advocates, Magalie Marcelin, Myriam Merlet and Anne Marie Coriolan.
Preparations for the next disaster will have to go on without Ginna Porcena, the dynamic director of the National Geospatial Institute, who was part of a group of scientists who wanted to establish seismology stations in Haiti. The earthquake also killed many foreign aid workers and usinesspeople who cared deeply about Haiti and would have been the first to pitch in after the disaster. The United Nations lost 101 staffers, including the mission's top two officials.
Compounding the loss of Haiti's best and brightest is a quickening brain drain, as people with the ability and means to leave are abandoning the ravaged country. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told The Associated Press he has watched with dismay as educated youths boarded planes to the United States and elsewhere. They leave because Haiti, always a difficult place to live, became impossible after the quake, he said. "I was looking at their faces: They were escaping a country and they had no intention to go back," Bellerive said. "I feel love for the people that have lost family ... but I believe it's even harder for the country to see living people that could do so much to rebuild Haiti, leaving Haiti."
Only half of Haitians ever see the inside of a classroom, and only 2 percent complete high school, according to UNICEF.
Haiti has gone through such losses of talent before, usually in times of political upheaval. Many fled or were killed under the father-and-son Duvalier dictatorships from 1957 to 1986. People also escaped reprisals under the U.S.-backed junta of General Raoul Cedras in the early 1990s, under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and in the violent chaos that followed Aristide's 2004 ouster.
But the losses this time are far more significant. The destruction was so widespread and instantaneous—gutting the capital and its institutions at precisely the moment when help, guidance and new ideas were most needed—that the absence will be felt for decades.
One email asked if I knew what preparations would be made to arrange a presidential contest before President Préval's term expires early next year. Most if not all polling stations in the quake zone were damaged or destroyed, and the hundreds of thousands of voters who were not killed were displaced or left without ID cards.
Most of the emails I received contained more questions than updates. Who will take care of the orphaned children? Where will Haitians live? When will the children be able to go back to school? What will happen to the amputees? Is the departure of U.S. troops a sign of dwindling international interest in the plight of the Haitian people? With each week, and a looming spring rainy season that could bring devastating flooding to low-lying camps, the answers to those questions grow more
urgent.
http://www.worldpress.org/Americas/3514.cfm
Posted by jicafriends at 01:44 PM | Comments (1)
March 16, 2010
Zambia: Hikaumba calls for promotion and protection of interests of disabled employees-Zambia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on government to come up with mandatory laws that promote and protect persons living with disabilities at work places.
ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba noted that most disabled people have over the years been subjected to segregation and unfair treatment by their employers. He said despite their physical challenges, disabled persons have the potential to positively contribute to the growth of the country through various skills.
Mr. Hikaumba said this in Lusaka today when he officially opened a one day workshop organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in conjunction with various worker representatives aimed at equipping worker representatives with knowledge and information needed to become committed advocates for disabled persons.
Meanwhile Mr. Hikaumba has called on organizations intending to construct buildings to have the disabled persons in mind. He said it is sad that most work places in the country are not user friendly to disabled persons.
Mr. Hikaumba said it is important for organizations to ensure that their buildings have staircase and access ramps for persons with disabilities to avail them easy access to their buildings.
Speaking earlier ILO Skills and Employability Senior Specialist, Barbara Murray, said there is need for employers to change their attitude towards disabled people.
Ms Murray observed that disabled people are equal partners in development hence the need for them to be given equal employment opportunities just like any other person. She has since appealed to employers to give fair working conditions to persons living with disabilities just like their able-bodied counterparts.
http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=24736
Posted by jicafriends at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2010
Only 13 Agencies Provide Job Opportunities For The Disabled-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Only 13 agencies adhered to the objective of providing one per cent employment opportunity for the disabled in the public sector, Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said Thursday.
She said many other agencies failed to achieve the objective, despite various awareness campaigns to create job opportunities for the disabled.
"This indicates the need to promote the objective as we tend to forget that the disabled also have a right to employment, as stipulated under Section 29 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008," she said after opening a seminar on employment for the disabled here.
She said tax incentives had also been introduced to encourage private sector employers to hire disabled workers, especially those with special talents and skills.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=479747
Posted by jicafriends at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2010
U.N. to safeguard Haitian disabled rights
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Share PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 5 (UPI) --
A group of U.N. experts will look into the plight of Haitians with disabilities, disproportionately affected by January's earthquake, the United Nations said.
The announcement comes after a group of U.N. human-rights experts last month urged that the needs of Haiti's disabled population be included in the relief, recovery and reconstruction processes after the 7-magnitude earthquake, the non-government organization said Friday in a release.
The group also will look into the situation of people with disabilities in other countries affected by natural disasters, including Chile, which was struck by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake last weekend.
The decision to create the working group was made by the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during its recent meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, officials said.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met Friday with Chilean President Michele Bachelet and President-elect Sebastian Pinera as part of a two-day visit to see the earthquake damage in Chile and assess how the United Nations can help.
© 2010 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2010
New Committee to Expedite Disability Bill-Jamaica
The follwoing news reminded us of a Jamaican participant of Leadership Development Course 2009, who works for Ministry of Labour and Social Security. We are quite sure that she made, makes, and will make a great contribution in the disability field in Jamaica. The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
KINGSTON(JIS):
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security says that a new committee has been named to expedite the passage of the National Disability Bill.
The committee was set up two weeks ago by the National Advisory Board on Disability, chaired by Dr. Patricia Dunwell, and comes against the background of renewed efforts by Minister of State, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, to have the proposed Bill brought before Parliament during the current legislative year.
Mr. Gallimore has portfolio responsibility for persons with disabilities in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The committee members are: Dr. Polly Bowes-Howell (chairman); former Senator, Floyd Morrison; Iris Soutar, executive officer of the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD); and Ministry representatives Ann-Marie Dobson, Carla-Anne Harris-Roper and Collette Roberts-Risden.
According to Dr. Dunwell, the National Disability Bill is now in its ninth draft and has taken into account recommendations and suggestions from various stakeholders.
She has assured the community of persons with disabilities that the document has her full support, as well as that of Mr. Gallimore.
She said she welcomes public integration and participation of persons with disabilities into society.
In a release making the announcement, the Ministry said it notes recent comments by Mr. Morrison, regarding delays in completing the proposed legislation, and is assuring the public that seeming delays in consultation are not designed to retard the progress of the Bill, but to allow for full participation by persons with disabilities, so that the final document will genuinely reflect their views and contributions.
The Ministry said it continues to work, assiduously, to expedite this important legislation, "as the country prepares to implement its Vision 2030 National Development Plan, which is based on the principle of people at the centre of Jamaica's transformation."
Posted by jicafriends at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2010
Disability groups find Pranab's budget heartening-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.
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, February 26, 2010
First Published: 22:05 IST(26/2/2010)
Last Updated: 22:06 IST(26/2/2010)
Disability groups cheered up when a hike in investment in disabled-friendly schemes and the setting up of the country's first sign language training institute was announced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the general budget on Friday.
"The finance minister's announcement was very heart warming! It is a positive step and in the right direction. We welcome the increase in budget allocations," Javed Abidi, a disability rights activist told IANS.
The allocation in budget 2010-11 for disabled-friendly schemes is Rs.398 crore, a step up from previous year's spend of Rs.243.29 crore.
Investment in schemes for implementation of the Disability Act have been increased manifold to Rs.95 crore from the previous Rs.7.5 crore. The allocation for schemes for employment to disabled persons has been increased by over 50 percent to Rs.7 crore.
Abidi, who is also founder of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), an umbrella organisation for over 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on disability issues across India, said he wished that "the budget was more," to expedite the country's 11th five-year plan assuring freely accessible infrastructure and development for disabled people under the Disability Act.
While presenting the budget, the finance minister mentioned the establishing of the country's first sign language institute, which has been one of the three major demands of the disability rights activists.
"The allocation will also assist in establishing an Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre for the benefit of the hearing impaired. District Disability Rehabilitation Centres are being set up in 50 additional districts along with two composite regional centres for persons with disabilities," Mukherjee said.
Taxes liabilities on those caring for disabled dependents have also been relaxed.
Direct tax deduction with respect to maintenance, including medical treatment, of a dependent who is a person with severe disability has been raised from the present limit of Rs.75,000 to Rs.100,000.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:30 PM | Comments (0)
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)
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 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 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 (0)
February 09, 2010
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 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)
January 26, 2010
Japanese Medical Experts Help Victims at the Epicenter of Haiti’s Earthquake
We found the following news on JICA website, however we haven't heard of any news about persons/children with disabilities at epicenter in Haiti. We pray for their safety and will try to get information about them.
http://www.jica.go.jp/english/news/field/2009/20100120_01.html
A Japanese emergency medical team is working around the clock at the very epicenter of the earthquake which rocked Haiti last week causing tens of thousands of deaths and leaving many more as hapless victims.
The 25-strong team from the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) system is working in the rubble of the town of Leogane, several miles from the capital of Port au Prince, and which was at the very heart of the tremor.
The United Nations said that between 80-90 % of the town, which had a population of 134,000 before the disaster, was in ruins.
Because of the very scale of the disaster, many survivors have still not received any of the aid or assistance arriving daily from around the world, even in the capital and particularly in outlying areas such as Leogane.
The Japanese team was among the first group of helpers to arrive in the town and very virtually overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster.
As soon as they established their medical center, the doctors, nurses and other experts were inundated with townspeople seeking help for multiple types of injuries and team members have been working literally 24 hours a day since then.
The team is expected to stay in Haiti about one week.
A second medical team from the non governmental organization Medecins Sans Frontiere were scheduled to join the Japanese team shortly.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who is the key operator of the JDR system under the management of the Japanese Government, also sent emergency supplies including tents, blankets, plastic sheeting, sleeping bags and water purifiers to Port au Prince from its main regional warehouse in Miami.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2010
United Voice January Newsletter 2010
Dear jicafriends,
For United Voice latest updates, please read our latest newsletter at http://www.unitedvoice.com.my/newsletter/2010JanNewsletter.pdf
Thank you for your support.
Best Regards,
Committee and Staff of United Voice
www.unitedvoice.com.my
Posted by jicafriends at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2010
Training on Disability, Gender and Development-APCD
Women with disabilities face same challenges other women face in their respective communities or countries, such as gender-based discrimination. They are also confronted by other difficulties caused by attitudinal, physical and institutional barriers against their impairments. As is widely documented, persons with disabilities (PWDs) are often among the poor population, regardless of the development stage of the nation, and women with disabilities, in particular, tend to be overrepresented among persons living in poverty.
Many of the challenges women with disabilities face, however, are experienced by men with disabilities and non-disabled women. There is a need to share concern and responsibility with men with disabilities as well as non-disabled women and men. Working together will bring about positive impacts and power to change the situation. It is, therefore, crucial to find a positive approach which emphasizes collaboration, mutual respect and supportive attitude.
Through the training, the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) aims to promote collaboration among women and men with disabilities as well as non-disabled persons, focusing on the gender equality and adopting a cross-disability approach.
Essential Facts
Course Title: Training on Disability, Gender and Development
Duration: 8th - 20th March 2010
Deadline for Application: 29th January 2010 at 15.00
* Application forms http://www.apcdfoundationt.org
<http://www.apcdfoundationt.org> must be submitted to the APCD by the deadline.
Countries Invited & Participants: Two (2) participants per country (one of whom must be a woman) from the ASEAN member countries will be selected by APCD (in total, 20 persons):
1) Brunei Darussalam*
2) Cambodia
3) Indonesia
4) Laos
5) Malaysia
6) Myanmar
7) Philippines
8) Singapore*
9) Thailand
10) Viet Nam
Women with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
* Participants from Brunei Darussalam and Singapore are asked to cover total or partial expenses for their participation.
Language: English
Target Group: Representatives of self-help groups/organizations who currently are or planning to be engaged in the activities to promote gender equality in their activities. The participants must be persons with disabilities.
Course Objectives
1) Persons with disabilities from the ASEAN member countries will strengthen their understanding on an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society where both women and men with disabilities can be equal partners as their non-disabled peers.
2) The training participants will develop action plans which outline their individual and organizational actions to meet the challenges of promoting gender equality in Self-Help Groups/Organizations and their activities.
Training Venue
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability
255, Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: 66-2-3547505 ; Fax: 66-2-3547507
E-mail : training@apcdfoundation.org
Accommodation: Same as above
Posted by jicafriends at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2010
Haiti’s ’Shunned’ Disabled Kids Cope With Loss of Their School
The following news was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Susan Nelson’s emotions run from relief to fear as she wonders about the 170 disabled children at a Haitian school where she volunteers.
The Memphis, Tennessee, doctor left Haiti in December after spending part of the month at St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children, in Port-au-Prince, the capital. Her initial fears lifted when she learned that a Jan. 12 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people in Haiti spared most of the kids. Their future is what frightens her now.
“What is happening to my friend Frenel, the six-year-old blind boy who sang to me while I bandaged a cut on his head?” Nelson, a 50-year-old family practitioner, said in an e-mail yesterday. “What about Judith who has the biggest smile and sweetest face? She only weighs 70 lbs at age 12. What is she getting to eat?”
Six children and staff members died at the school when the ”boy’s foyer,” a residential section, collapsed, said Leon Sadoni, the Episcopal-run school’s head priest, in an e-mail yesterday. The survivors are living in a tent city in an empty lot where they used to play soccer. They are under the protection of Zache Duracin, the Episcopal bishop of Haiti.
Church officials are trying to move the pupils to Montrois, a city north of Port-au-Prince, to house them temporarily in a former Episcopal seminary, Sadoni said. The Rev. Lauren Stanley, Episcopal missionary to Haiti, said by telephone today from New York that Duracin confirmed the information provided by Sadoni.
“The urgent now is to feed them,” Sadoni wrote. “And we don’t have any materials (cloths, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap).”
‘Very Scary’
Even then, the struggle is far from over, Nelson said.
“Most of the kids there are in wheelchairs, blind or deaf, and much of the staff is handicapped, too,” she said in a telephone interview last week. “But it’s not just the physical problems. Handicapped children are also shunned by society there. It is really very scary.”
St. Vincent’s is the only school in Haiti for disabled children, said Nelson and Kenneth Quigley, program director for the Episcopal Church Foundation in New York. The school was founded in 1947 by the Sisters of St. Margaret, a religious order, and is an institution of the Episcopal
Diocese of Haiti, Quigley said in an e-mail today.
Before the quake, St. Vincent’s had one of Port-au-Prince’s better-equipped health facilities, which included its own clean water source and a new operating room, Nelson said. Everything left inside the school was stolen after the quake, Sadoni said. People took materials from the pharmacy and the operating room as well as food, Sadoni wrote.
The president of the church-sponsored Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti, Bill Squire, traveled to Haiti on Jan. 16 to deliver money and find ways the American group can help. Quigley said the Episcopal Church is waiting for an update from Squire to determine how to respond.
Remembering Names
Nelson volunteers with that mission was one of a group of 15 people who visited the school last month. She has traveled to the school four times over the past couple of years and brought her 17-year-old daughter, Sienna, along the last time. Sienna had photographed each child, saying “she wanted to remember the kids and their names, rather than just ‘the kid with one leg or the kid with no hands,’” Nelson said.
For two days after the initial news reports about the quake, a scrapbook containing the pictures sat unopened on Nelson’s coffee table. She had feared for the student’s lives after hearing that the presidential palace and the city’s largest Episcopal church, both within blocks of the school, had collapsed. One news report said St. Vincent’s had been leveled.
“The photo album has been a treasure to all of us for many weeks,” Nelson said. “ When we got the news the school had been destroyed, I unable to look at it. I could not stand to look at the faces of the children who might be injured or even dead.
'No Hope’
“We figured there was no hope,” she said. In December, the doctors found that “most people were drinking water from the same source as the bathrooms, and a lot of people were already sleeping in the streets,” she said. The earthquake left thousands more homeless.
When she received confirmation in an e-mail from Sadoni about survivors, she and Sienna finally decided to look through the photographs.
“That night my daughter and I sat with the photo album, turning the pages and looking at each face and name with joy and relief,” Nelson said. Now, she wants to return soon to Haiti to do what she can to help.
“I want to put myself on a magic helicopter and land on that soccer field in Port-au-Prince,” Nelson said.
--Editors: Andrew Pollack, Robert Greene
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-19/haiti-s-shunned-disabled-kids-cope-with-loss-of-their-school.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2010
5th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD)
Dear jicafriends,
We need your assistance to recruit the next generation of WILD women!
Please disseminate the information below and encourage women leaders with disabilities in your community to apply! Applications are available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Application deadline is March 1, 2010!
Thank you!
- MIUSA Exchange Team
Mobility International USA's (MIUSA)
5th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD)
To be held: August 6 - 29, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A.
Application deadline: March 1, 2010
Who Can Apply
Emerging and established women leaders with disabilities from around the world who demonstrate:
Personal experience with disability, an understanding of issues, and a commitment to working for the rights of women and girls with disabilities
Membership in an organization led by and for people with disabilities, or by and for women, with particular attention to issues of women and girls with disabilities; or employment in a business or program committed to inclusion of women and girls with disabilities
Commitment to and capacity for increasing leadership opportunities and employment of women with disabilities in the community and/or country
Download the application at: http://www.miusa.org/newsitems/wildnews
Application materials are available in alternative formats upon request.
About the Program
MIUSA's Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) will bring together approximately 25 women leaders with disabilities to strengthen leadership skills, create new visions and build international networks of support.
During the 3-week program, participants will take part in workshops and discussions, con duct on-site visits, and participate in team-building activities, to explore challenges and exchange strategies for increasing leadership opportunities and employment of women and girls with disabilities internationally.
Program activities will focus on priority issues for women with disabilities, including:
Leadership for economic empowerment
Educational rights and opportunities
Career planning and higher education
Employment strategies
Health and family issues
Using the media and coalition building
Organizational development and sustainability
Inclusive international development programs
Cultural and team-building
Mentorship and networking
Goals and action plans
Language
The official languages of WILD are English and American Sign Language (ASL). Arabic, French and Spanish language interpreters will be provided based on need of the selected delegation.
Program Cost
Total cost is USD$250 - Includes all travel, airfare, food, lodging and program costs. Scholarships are available.
For additional information contact:
Mobility International USA
WILD 2010
http://www.miusa.org/newsitems/wildnews
Since 1981, MIUSA has been pioneering short-term international exchange programs for people with and without disabilities from over 100 countries. As a non-profit organization, MIUSA is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights through international exchange and international development.
Posted by jicafriends at 05:09 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2010
Interview with the Author of “Nothing About Us Without Us”, Mr. David Werner
Working for community based health program in the mountains of western Mexico from 1965 as health worker. A strong advocate for inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in the community and a person with a disability himself, Mr. Werner has worked in more than 50 countries as a CBR consultant. His renowned books “Nothing About Us Without Us” and “Disabled Village Children” become perennial bestsellers.
When Mr. Werner visited Japan in October, 2009, the secretariat of DINF, Disability Information Resources, had a chance to interview with him.
You can access the interview
http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/global/david/091026_seminar/david_warner_en.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)
The Meeting of CBR AP Network-Bangkok, Thailand
Dear JICA friends,
I would like to report on the meeting of CBR AP Network held from December 14 to 16, 2009 at APCD(Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disaiblity) , Bangkok, Thailand.
This network was established as the result of the 1st CBR AP Congress held in February 2009 in Bangkok.
At the meeting in December the Constitution and the Plan of Action were adopted. The discussion was carried out by the group work so it worked well for the team building and enhancement of each one's ownersihp of the network. The vision of the network is "Inclusive Development" and "Inclusive Society." APCD provides support to the network as the secretariat.
The election of officers was also carried out. Nine persons were elected.
The future activities are; logo contest, collection of case studies, setting up of website in the website of APCD, the second CBR AP Congress.
When the website starts within the website of APCD, you will be informed.
Please pay attention to the CBR AP Network.
At the meeting in December, I met ex-JICA participants, Mr. Atif of Pakistan, Mr. Premadasa of Sri Lanka. I am pleased to know that they are acitve in their respective countries.
With Regards.
Etsuko Ueno,
Director, International Relations Division,
Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD)
eueno@dinf.ne.jp
FYI: APCD website
http://www.apcdfoundation.org/
Posted by jicafriends at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2010
Protest Note-Bangladesh
Tuesday, 5, January, 2010
“Stop TV advertisement of Daily Kaler kanta that presents Visually Impaired people in an undignified presentation.”
A current advertisement produced by the Daily Kaler kanta which is daily newspaper uses the image of six visually impaired people touching an elephant in a lame attempt to convey bad journalism. What the add does convey is a shameful violation of human dignity.
The repeated viewing of this advertisement does great harm to visually impaired people by conveying the myth that visually impaired people are not capable of gathering all information nor of understanding the large issues of the day. These negative perceptions must stop now!
Visually Impaired people in Bangladesh face great barriers to getting jobs and economic independence without advertisements like the one produced by the daily paper. Visually Impaired people are far from the image portrayed by the advertisement, we are high level thinkers and planners. We are capable of running large organizations, arguing in courts of law and more than capable of leading governments.
The use of an ancient message about blindness to sell news papers is both shameful and incorrect whereas the media should fight for the rights of the disable persons. Today visually impaired people surf the internet, design software, walk independently have families and contribute to society.
We, the visually impaired of Chittagong demand that the add be removed from distribution or face future civil action
From,
Some Leaders with Visually Challenged in Chittagong , who are:
Mr. Vashkar Bhattacharjee, Rashed Chowdhury, Ahsan Ulla Sarkar, Liton Sree Nath, Ms. Hena Nurjahan, Monora Begum.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2010
INVITATION TO THE 7TH WORLD CONGRESS ON CHILD LABOUR 2010
7TH WORLD CONGRESS ON CHILD LABOUR 2010
Children are the fuel of life, without them there is no future.
Dear Friend
We cordially invite you to participate in the 7th World Congress, on child labour and Child exploitation. We are concerned about the position of children in countries where economic boom conditions has created an enormous demand for labour and particularly cheap labour, which children can provide. These and many other issues will be addressed in this forth coming conference.
The 7th World Congress, on child labour and Child exploitation is been organized by the International Child Welfare Organization (ICWO) supported by United Nation (UN) in collaboration with other NGO’s and our benevolent donors. The event takes place from 17th – 20th February 2010 in New York, U.S.A, and 23rd – 26th February 2010 in DAKAR-SENEGAL.
The second part of the conference in Senegal was fixed because Senegal has been the base, where traffickers, traffic children and mostly young girls into Europe, where about 5 to 6 thousand victims were rescued between January to October 2009.
If you are interested to participate and represent your country, you may contact the secretariat for details and more information. Below you will find the contact email address of the conference secretariat by email:
(conference_secretary2010@mynet.com)
You may get back to me via my email address below:
(emily.william@centrum.sk). Children are our future. Their future is in your hands.
Regards,
Ms. Emily William
Posted by jicafriends at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2010
Special Talent Exchange Program Newsletter
Winter 2009
Welcome to the winter edition of the STEP newsletter. Click on the links below to find out about the latest developments and stories.If you do not wish to receive this email, please write unsubscribe and send to office@step.org.pk
Detail Story(https://www.opendrive.com/files/5920181_37t3g/Leaders-Dec-2009.pdf)
National Leadership Conference of Persons with disabilities
12th -14th August 2009
A declaration calling for the ratification of United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) was endorsed at the National Leadership Conference for Persons with Disabilities. Held at the National Institute for Special Education (NISE) from 12-14 Aug 2009, the conference was organized by Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in partnership with Telenor Pakistan’s flagship corporate initiative “Khuddar Pakistan.” The conference witnessed an unprecedented attendance of 50 Disabled Persons Organizations, key leaders from the disability rights movement, state officials, disability advisors, volunteers as well as Telenor Pakistan management.
Wheel Chairs distributed among PWDs after the conference
Tricycles were distributed among 10 disabled participants with the help of Pakistan BaitulMal and of course the Managing Director Pakistan Bait ul Maal, Zamurd Khan who always supported us in our endeavors towards empowerment of the persons with disabilities.
Observance of White Cane Day & Launch of Video Documentary
“Beyond the Voice of Our Own”
The International White Cane Day 2009 held at Auditorium of Pakistan National Council of Arts was attended by about 500 people from all walks of life including representatives of disabled peoples organizations, development sector, government, universities and media.
A new Virtual Office
STEP has developed a new website http://www.step.org.pk/home with all the updated information about organization itself and other partner organizations. A network of DPOs from all over the country is visible on the website that is a great achievement by the STEP team. Various publications by STEP and other reading material is also uploaded on the website.
STEP joins "Facebook"
STEP has also developed a page on Facebook. All the latest updates about the events and news about the upcoming events can be viewed on this page. Furthermore, pictures and videos of all the events are also uploaded on the Facebook page.
Government announces special NICs for PWDs
New NICs for disabled persons have been issued by the government of Pakistan this year. This will help the persons with disability to avail some of the benefits that the state is offering for them in the form of discounts. Disabled persons can get 50% discount on their travel by train or by air simply by showing the ID card.
STEP as Disability Advisor to Telenor Pakistan
STEP is the first disability access audit firm in the country. We work with our clients to achieve the best and most cost effective solution in meeting their disability access needs. We performed the accessibility audit of the Central Headquarters of Telenor Pakistan in F-7 Islamabad. After the audit Telenor has made some major changes in the layout of their office which is now fully accessible for visually impaired persons as well as wheel chair users.
APCD mission on SBKM (Story Based Knowledge Management)
The "Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability" (APCD) Project is a technical cooperation project between the Government of Japan and the Government of Thailand, which is started in Bangkok on 1 August 2002. The Overall goal of the project is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region.
Training of Hearing and Visually Impaired Persons
The objective of the training was to reach a social as opposed to an individual model of disability, to demonstrate the practical application of equal opportunities policies for disabled people within the immediate area of work.
Inclusive Development Project in District Jehlum
The District Annual Review Workshop with Stakeholders was held in the last week of October 2009. The workshop was attended by the District Administration; partner CCBs, WOs, persons with disabilities and NGOs working in District Jhelum.
School by PWDs starts in Bangyal
The establishment of Bangyal Community School is a great achievement for STEP in a way that it is the first ever inclusive education school in Pakistan where all the normal as well as disabled students can get education. The school helps Rizwan and his sister to run their household. Furthermore, it also helps in the social uplift of the otherwise one of the most neglected villages of the country.
Editorial Message
STEP has been struggling for more than a decade to bring a change in the life of Persons With Disabilities. This issue of our Newsletter stands a witness to our unwitting commitment and utmost struggle in mainstreaming of PWDs in the society. We are thankful to all our partner organizations for their full support throughout these years.
We are always in the process of continuous improvement of our functions and services to the people. We believe in sharing knowledge and expertise with the people and organizations. With your help and support, we are now considered as one of the most delivering Disabled People’s Organization (DPO) of the country. We always look forward to your suggestions for further improvement.
Cheers!
“Leaders” Editorial Team
This newsletter has been issued with the support of Sight Savers International Pakistan
For more information visit our Website http://www.step.org.pk/
Posted by jicafriends at 05:14 PM | Comments (0)
Good news from Pakistan
Dear Freinds
There is a great news of 2010.
Pakistan International Air line is now offering 5o% discount to all national and international Destination for the disabled persons of Pakistan.
Cheers
Shafiq-ur-Rehman
President
Milestone
Lets Move to Change the Society
Posted by jicafriends at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2009
1st PWDs' SHG/SHOs Confernece report - Myanmar
Dear my friends,
How are you?
This is Mr. Nay Lin Soe who is former 7th Duskin's trainee from Myanmar.
Now I am very happy to share you our report regarding 1st PWDs' SHG/SHOs Conference in Yangon.
It was held from 16th to 19th November, 2009 at International Business Centre in Yangon.
Many guests from GO, INGOs, LNGOs and 71 representatives from over 30 SHGs/SHOs of PWDs in local were attended in the conference.
It was the first opportunity & milestone to make big gathering and be united among SHGs/SHOs of PWDs in Myanmar.
I hope this is the first big step for future movements of PWDs in Myanmar.
It was great and successful.
Best regards,
Nay Lin Soe
CBR Project Manager
Association for Aid and Relief-Japan
Secretary
Disabled People's Development Organization (DPDO)
Yangon, Myanmar
Posted by jicafriends at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2009
People with disabilities insist on their rights -Ghana
The following news was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Date: 04-Dec-2009
The Brong-Ahafo branch of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled on Thursday called for the inclusion of the rights of people with disabilities in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Ms Mahammadu Sirina, Acting Secretary of the National Women's Wing of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, as part of activities marking World Disability Day, which was on the theme: "Making the Millennium Development Goals Inclusive for Persons With Disabilities."
She said non-inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the MDGs would have serious repercussions on the country's developmental efforts.
"The nation collectively needs the talents of all sections of the population, including the physically challenged in order to move it forward. There's no need to marginalise such people", she stated.
Ms Sirina said contrary to the free education policy in the country, a lot of people with disabilities continued to pay for tuition at all levels of the educational structure.
The acting women's wing secretary, expressed disappointment about inaccessibility to public places and structures such as schools, hospitals, banks, district assemblies and other government agencies and public libraries by physically challenged persons.
She called for the provision of Braille, sound interpreters and wheelchairs for disabled persons in schools and public hospitals to improve on their access to such facilities.
Ms Sirina abhorred the discrimination against people with disabilities, saying it was wrong for society to view them as second rate citizens.
She called for public education to change people's perceptions about them.
http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/200912/33524.php
Posted by jicafriends at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)
Poverty cut doomed unless disabled empowered: UN
The following news was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
(AFP) – Dec 2, 2009
GENEVA — The United Nations warned Wednesday that attempts to halve global poverty will be doomed unless the world's estimated 650 million disabled people are pulled out of neglect and discrimination.
In an appeal to mark International Day for Persons with Disabilities on Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said disabled people formed "one of the world's largest and most neglected
groups."
About 20 percent of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability, while 90 percent of disabled children in developing countries do not attend school, according to UN data.
"These statistics shock our conscience," said Pillay.
"Unless persons with disabilities are brought into the development mainstream, it will be impossible to cut poverty in half by 2015 or to give every girl and boy the chance to achieve a primary education," she added in a statement.
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, formed this year, said many national censuses simply failed to account for the disabled, effectively hiding the issues of care, support, opportunities and their rights.
Yet the number of people with physical and mental disabilities is thought to be growing, while forcible internment remains a major concern and the disabled are often stigmatised in some cultures, committee members warned.
"Disability is a cross-cutting issue and it must be included in the mainstream in our journey from darkness to light, from isolation to inclusion, from despair to hope," said committee member Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri, who is blind.
The UN expert spearheading the nascent global drive for disabled rights revealed that even he and his colleagues experience hurdles and discrimination, including in wealthy countries that are regarded as more progressive.
Mohammed al-Tarawneh, head of the committee overseeing the 2008 UN Convention on the rights of the disabled, said he was recently forced to fill in medical forms stating he was fit to fly on an airliner.
"This happened in two countries that are not only signatories but have ratified (the convention). I would like to mention the names Austria and Italy," said Tarawneh, who is physically disabled.
"This was so degrading, in the past 34 years of my life since I had my car accident, I have never been asked this question before.
"I was asked this question in Vienna, and they almost did not let me board the plane coming to Geneva, and leaving Geneva to Amman via Rome, the Alitalia representative refused to let me on board until I filled a claim (form)," he said.
One of his colleagues on the committee, Jia Yang, said she would be keeping check on her travel experience as she flew back to China. "It's ironic, because he was on his way to Austria to receive a prize for his achievements for this committee, but he was hindered by those airlines," she added.
Jia, who is visually impaired, added: "On the other hand, Mohammed can fly, he took flying lessons."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ineoor3Ij_eU9i52zdsTBMwXbR7g
Posted by jicafriends at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2009
NATIONAL CONFERENCE INVITATION
Dear Friend,
My name is Marriet Devireat, female, working with world organization
for human right; we are organizing a global World Conference, for human
right. Taking place from 21st to 24th January 2010 at Los Angeles,
Washington, D.C. In the United States and in Republic of Benin from
27th - 30th January 2010. In our request to invite people from various
countries around the world, I went in search of your e-mails on the web
site as a means of contacting youths and organizations As a result, I
picked your email from an N.G.O`s website.
If you are interested to participate and want to represent your
country, you may contact the secretariat of the organizing committee
for details and information's. You should also inform them that you
were invited to participate by friend of yours (Marriet Devireat) who is a
member of the American world organization for human right,
I believe that we may have the opportunity to meet if you may be
willing to participate in this event. The benevolent donors from across
the global and the Organizing Committee will provide round Trip air
tickets and accommodation for the period of participants, Stay in the
U.S., to all registered participants. If you are a holder of passport
that may require visa to enter the United States, you may inform the
conference secretariat at the time of registration, as the Organizing
committee is responsible for all visas arrangements and travel
assistance. Email registration desk
Email: conferencere@web2mail.com
Email: conferecesecretary@insing.com
you may get back to me with my email address below.
Email, marrietdevireat@insing.com
Sincerely,
Marriet Devireat
Posted by jicafriends at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2009
Invitation to attend the Job fair & photography exhibition of BVIPS-Bangladesh
Dear jicafriends,
Greeting from Bangladesh Visually Impaired People’s Society.
Bangladesh Visually Impaired People’s Society (BVIPS) is going to arrange a programme entitled “ Job fair & photography exhibition” for exhibiting the potential and successful performers among the blind persons and other disabled to the public and private sector employers.
Venue: Inaugural ceremony & Job fair to be held at Kobi Sufia Kamal Auditorium hall & photography exhibition, at the Nolinikanto Vattoshali Exhibition hall, ground floor. National Museum, Shahabagh, Dhaka
Date & time : Inaugural ceremony on Saturday 19 December 2009 at 10.30 AM & Job fair
On 19 December 09 commencing from 12 PM -2.30 PM and photography exhibition 19-20 December 09
Time : 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (photographic exhibition)
We are pleased to invite you to participate in this programme, visit the photographic exhibition and to share in the exchange of views and ideas on the theme or to nominate a representative of your organization to attend the programme. We are also urging the public & private sector employers to receive the resume of blind & disable job seekers for kind consideration of their candidature, and to watch the potentials and successful job performers in the photographic exhibition. For any queries about the programme please contact the Head of programme (Muhammad Iftekhar Mahmud- 01553-504205).
We look forward to active participation of you and your organization at the programme.
Thanking you,
Sincerely yours,
Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Mozumdar,
General Secretary,
Bangladesh Visually Impaired Peoples Society (BVIPS).
Posted by jicafriends at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2009
Team wheels for $50,000-Spinal Injuries Association, Fiji
One of the participants of Leadership Development Course 2009 was from Fiji and she works for Fiji Spinal Injuries Association. We found the following news related her organization in the mailing list of "Disability and Development,"which is published by Mr. Soya Mori.
Samantha Rina
Friday, December 04, 2009
Fiji TImes
IF you're on the Queen's Highway, keep a lookout for the wheel-a-thon team which is aiming to raise $50,000 for supplies for spinal injuries victims.
The Spinal Injuries Association wheel-a-thon had a good start on Monday with team members in wheelchairs departing from Rakiraki.
Association secretary Peni Dobui and treasurer, Timoci Serevi, said the team arrived in Nadi on Wednesday, considered to be the halfway point for the road trip.
Mr Dobui said the wheelathon was organised to raise funds for wheelchairs and medical supplies and equipment for 2010 and also to draw attention to the capabilities of people with disabilities.
"We want people to know that we are disabled but we can do something, we want to move forward. We can't stop after suffering a disability because there's still life for us," he said.
"For three months we planned this wheel-a-thon with an aim to raise $50,000. Along the way from Nadi to Sigatoka, we will stop at hotels and resorts to collect the tins we had distributed earlier for donations," he said.
Mr Dobui said no one was pushing their wheelchairs during the wheel-a-thon.
"This is not new for us. We have participated previously in 25 kilometre marathons in Japan. The wheelchairs we have are not ordinary ones, they travel faster," he said.
The wheel-a-thon team is being supported by a doctor, a physiotherapist and 18 members of a church group.
It ends on Saturday when the team arrives in Suva.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=134839
photo caption: Timoci Serevi and Peni Dobui lead the Fiji Spinal Injuries Association appeal. Picture: ANOKH KUMAR
Posted by jicafriends at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2009
Blind agents work in new call center-Philippines
We know that Tahanang Walang Hagdanan already started a call center as an work place for persons with physical disorders in the Philippines.
http://www.tahanangwalanghagdanan.org/jp.htm
Following information also introduced the call center in the Philippines, but this center is for persons with visual impairments. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Manila Times
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 00:00
By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter
What could be the first call center in developing countries to be staffed by blind persons has opened in the Philippines.
Housed at the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) offices along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City, the call center formally opened its doors on October 20, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Tuesday.
It “is believed to be the first and the only one of its kind operating in a developing economy in the world, ” the department reported.
The call center, a project under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital opportunity Center (ADOC) Initiative, is expected to be fully operational by November 2009.
It is supported by the ADOC Secretariat, Institute for Information Industry, Chunghwa Telecom, Acer Computer Corp. and Tamkang University ―all based in Chinese Taipei―as well as the Philippine APEC National Secretariat, Department of Education,
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, Philippine National School for the Blind and city government of Quezon City.
The call center is equipped with special and customized outbound call-center software and refreshable Braille display input output devices that will enable its agents to assist clients by reading prescribed responses in Braille.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2009
Special care for disabled, senior citizens among IDPs-Sri Lanka
We found the following information about Vavuniya District, Sri Lanka. One of the participants of Leadership Development Course 2008 was Hon. Secretary, the Executive Committee of Oganization for Rehabilitation of the Handicapped - Vavuniya District. He send us his progress report every other month.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/projects/asiaandpacific/srilanka/008jayakugan/001.html
The information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Lakshmi DE SILVA The Ministry of Social Service and Social Welfare has taken several measures to improve the conditions of the disabled people and senior citizens among the Internally Displaced Persons living in welfare villages and IDP centres in the North and had spent around Rs. 17.6 million for their services Secretary Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Jegarajasingham told Daily News. The Friend In Need Society in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Services had provided 240 artificial limbs to needy people in the IDP centres and arrangements have been made to provide another 150 artificial limbs to the disabled.
Three libraries were started in Vavuniya and another five reading centres were started in IDP zones at a cost of around Rs. 840,000. Distribution of sewing machines and counselling for more than 25,000 persons with 20 counselling officers from the Social Services Ministry had cost the\Social Service Ministry more than Rs. 57.4 million, INGOs too have assisted in these efforts, she said.
Total number of elders living in the welfare centres were around 19,226 and there were nine senior citizen homes in Vavuniya and Mannar while around 765 senior citizens were settled in those homes. The construction of the new elders' home at Thiruketheeswaram was assigned to the State Engineering Corporation at a cost of Rs. 22.3 million and already Rs. five million rupees has been released. The construction was in progress, she said.
Wheelchairs, crutches and elbows and assisting devices for IDPs were provided at a cost of Rs. 5.6 million while community-based rehabilitation programs for disabled persons and children with the assistance from UNICEF were also conducted by the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry, she noted.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/03/news50.asp
Posted by jicafriends at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)
September 30, 2009
Ratification by the Lao Government-Lao PDR
We have received a very good news from Seevanh, a participant of Leadership Development Course 2008, that the Lao Government just signed during the UN General Assembly the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with disabilities. ( CRPD)
Thank you, Seevanh, for sharing the good news with us, your jicafriends. We are sure that Lao Government will step forward towards the realization of "society for all."
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2009
"Disabled walk set for Moi Day"-Kenya
The following news related persons with mental disabilities in Kenya was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
24 September 2009
Families of people with mental disabilities will no longer have to struggle with the upkeep of their kin.
The Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped has launched a Fund that will see every person with mentally disability receive Sh4,500 every month for the rest of their lives to cater for their livelihood. To kick off the fund, retired president Daniel Moi dedicated this year’s Moi Day celebrations to a charity walk to raise funds towards alleviating the suffering of the mentally disabled persons whose number stands at 3.5 million in Kenya alone.
Speaking at a press conference at his Kabarnet Gardens in Nairobi on Thursday, the retired head of state listed the discomforts those with mental disabilities endured on a daily basis. Mr Moi singled out their inability to benefit from funds set aside by the Kibaki government for the disabled because of their unique condition. He said that unlike people with other forms of disabilities who could secure jobs as lecturers or lawyers, the mentally disable could not venture in gainful employment due to their condition.
“In situations where they do vocations, they must rely on the support of other people without disabilities. Without this support, it is difficult for them to realize reasonable stock and income,” Mr Moi observed.
As a result, people with disabilities need daily support throughout their lives, he added. “Lack of this important support has brought suffering to mothers who are forced to hide, chain and neglect their children,” he lamented. Flanked by officials of the Society for the Mentally Handicapped, the retired president underscored the importance of carers who spend their days and nights looking after the mentally disabled. This besides the therapeutic support the mentally disabled persons required to make their conditions manageable.
Mr Moi said the proposed Fund, to be managed by the Society’s trustees, will provide and sustain the services of the carers and the very essential therapeutic support to the mentally disabled. Those in the Society’s trustees include retired Catholic archbishop Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) chairman Abdulghafur El Busaidy and former nominated MP Zipporah Kittony among others. Mr Moi said the charity walk will start at 9 am on Moi Day at the society’s headquarters to Museum Hill roundabout and back to the headquarters.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/662942/-/item/0/-/uldhmdz/-/index.html
Posted by jicafriends at 10:38 AM | Comments (3)
September 24, 2009
Employers of Disabled to Get Tax Cuts-Uganda
We found the following good news related employment promotion of persons with disabilities in Uganda. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Catherine Bekunda and Joyce Namutebi
20 September 2009
Kampala — PARLIAMENT has reduced the amount of tax payable by private employers who hire 10 or more persons with disabilities from 15 to 2 per cent. MPs noted that disabled persons have been taken advantage of by employers for tax benefits.
The MPs made the observation while discussing a report on the amendments to the Income Tax Bill 2009 presented by the finance committee chairperson, Kabondo Tindamanyire (NRM) on Thursday.
"By employing 10 persons with disabilities, they (employers) have claimed billions of shillings," shadow finance minister Okello Oduman (FDC) said. He was reacting to the Income Tax Bill amendments presented by finance minister Syda Bbumba in June.
Companies that employ persons with disabilities have been enjoying a 15 percent tax waiver on their income.
Oduman proposed that the Government sets up cottage and roadside investments as an incentive to empower disabled persons.
Rubaga South MP Betty Kamya (FDC) appealed for better opportunities for persons with disabilities and called for the proper utilisation of funds meant for them.
Several MPs expressed concern that many firms were employing persons with disabilities as tea girls, sweepers and messengers, arguing that they (the companies) were not spending as much as they were benefiting from the exemption.
Bbumba agreed to the recommendation and said the Government will set up a disability fund this year from which each district will receive sh30m for disabled persons.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200909210602.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2009
Youth: Festival Carries Voice of Young People-Fiji
One of the participants for Leadership Development 2009 is President of Youth Division of Fiji Disabled Peoples Association. We can learn more about the following festival from her and will report you on this webpage. The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Young people from around the Pacific gathered in Suva, Fiji, in July to discuss common issues affecting youth development throughout the region. The 2nd Pacific Youth Festival brought together 300 young people from 13 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs).
During the weeklong festival they discussed issues centred around four main themes: promoting healthy living; Pacific identity; climate change adaptation; and governance, peace and security.
The festival programme included a daily schedule of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and training sessions culminating in evening cultural performances by the different delegations, and other forms of artistic and sports entertainment. Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Youth Adviser Rose Maebiru says the festival is an opportunity to work with young people directly
and to help build their capacity and knowledge. “For organisations like SPC, the Pacific Youth Festival provides an important opportunity to create networks with civil society organisations working in the area of youth development in order to strengthen our collective responses and improve the programmes we offer to young people.
“As a regional organisation that works in the area of youth development, it is our responsibility to assist young people from our member countries and territories by facilitating regional gatherings
that benefit them.’
She says the Suva festival was successful thanks to the young people themselves, with their engagement in the issues, their enthusiasm to learn and to explore different solutions, and the wealth of ideas they contributed to the discussions.
Networking: “For many participants one of the most important aspects of the festival was the opportunity to develop networks and partnerships with other young people from around the region,” Maebiru says.
At the end of the festival, participants drafted an official declaration highlighting the outcomes of the week-long discussions including key concerns and recommendations.
The declaration is addressed to governments, development agencies, non-governmental and civil society organisations, local communities and young people throughout the region.
The declaration acknowledges the regional and international commitments that have addressed youth development such as the Pacific Youth Strategy 2010 (PYS2010), which is a regional framework for youth development in the Pacific, and the Millennium Development Goals.
It acknowledges certain significant achievements since the first festival; however, it also highlights many of the challenges that remain.
These include certain cross-cutting issues such as young people’s lack of employment skills; the lack of opportunities for them to develop the skills, including self-esteem, that are necessary to confront the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood; and violence and discrimination, particularly against women, children, people with disabilities and sexual minorities.
In the area of health, the lack of policy as well as professional support facilities and services with regard to issues such as mental health and suicide were some of the concerns highlighted for urgent action.
In the area of Pacific identities, there were concerns, for example, about the loss of traditional values on the one hand, and on the other hand the lack of acknowledgement of the impact of more recent urban culture on young people’s sense of identity. In the area of climate change, some of the challenges highlighted included the limited awareness regarding this major global issue and its impacts as well as an unwillingness to change non-environmentally friendly attitudes.
Some of the main issues in the area of governance, peace and security included obstacles to active and effective youth participation at national, institutional and local levels such as lack of resources, negative attitudes toward supporting youth and women’s political participation and decision-making, and political instability.
Delegates from the following islandions s natattended the festival: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. Student delegations from French Polynesia and New Caledonia also travelled to the festival. Selection of the next host country will take place at a Youth
Ministers meeting next year in Auckland.
http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=18864/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl
Posted by jicafriends at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2009
Report from JICA Volunteer-Bhutan
We received the following happy news from a JICA Volunteer in Bhutan.
Thimphu, the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan is now in the middle of rainy season and it rains like cats and dogs everyday.
I am pleased to inform you that we could finally open the bakery shop in July. The shop is operated by Drak-Tsho Vocational Training Centre for Disabled, the vocational school I was dispatched. I have been teaching 6 persons with disabilities (3 persons with hearing impairments, 2 with intellectual disabilities, 1 with physical disorder) and 6 persons without disabilities for 6 months. They sell 20 kinds of breads and 10 kinds of cakes at the shop.
Many people attended the opening ceremony including Director of JICA Bhutan Office, government officials, and journalists. Not only because we were interviewed by newspapers and received local TV coverage, but also it is the first work place for persons with disabilities in Bhutan, we could sell our products more than we expected and we could make profits last month. To accelerate the sales growth, I would like to continue teaching how to control quality of products to my students.
Posted by jicafriends at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2009
The Power of Silence - Deaflympics in Taiwan
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
1 September, 2009 Taiwan Review
The Power of Silence
Chang Yao-chien was a member of the Taiwan women's bowling team that won gold medals at the 2005 Melbourne Deaflympics. (Photo by Huang Chung-hsin)
Publication Date：09/01/2009
Byline：KELLY HER
The 2009 Summer Deaflympics put Taipei and deaf athletes in the spotlight, showcasing their intrepid spirit in meeting the challenges of competition.
Chao Yu-ping, secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Sports Association of the Deaf (CTSAD), will never forget the moment that made he and other delegates--including Chi Cheng, Taiwan's 1968 Olympic bronze medalist and honorary president of the Chinese Taipei Track and Field Association--burst into tears of joy. It was the afternoon of February 28, 2003 in Sweden when the 38th Congress of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) declared Chinese Taipei as the host for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics after beating out rival Athens, Greece by a vote of 52 to 32.
The Chinese Taipei delegation was exhilarated when Taiwan was awarded the right to host an Olympic-level international competition. Most significant of all, the winning bid ensured that the Deaflympics would take place in Asia for the first time since the games debuted as the International Silent Games in 1924, the first international sporting event for athletes with a disability. The Deaflympics are scheduled to run in Taipei from September 5 to September 15.
http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=59733&CtNode=119
Posted by jicafriends at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2009
ESCAP to Establish Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia
Bangkok (UN/ESCAP Information Services) -- Noeleen Heyzer, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, today announced the establishment of the first-ever ESCAP subregional office for East and North-East Asia in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
The Office will facilitate matters related to cooperation in significant issues by ESCAP members China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation.
“There is great potential for the six countries to work together, particularly in areas such as low-carbon green growth, MDG achievement and energy security,” Dr. Heyzer said. “Strengthening subregional cooperation in East and North-East Asia will contribute to greater stability, economic and social advancement, and environmental sustainability across the entire Asia-Pacific region.”
The Mayor of Incheon, Ahn Sang-soo, welcomed the announcement and noted that the city had set for itself the goal of hosting some 30 UN organizations and agencies, thereby creating a cluster of UN and international agencies in Songdo International City. “[We are] continuing to work hard at attracting large numbers of international organizations and UN agencies to the city,” he said.
East and North-East Asia contains the most dynamic economies in the world as well as countries struggling to fight hunger, malnutrition and high maternal child mortality. Another critical challenge confronting the subregion is environmental sustainability.
As the UN’s regional development arm in Asian and the Pacific, ESCAP promotes inclusive and sustainable economic and social development among its 62 member countries and territories. The establishment of the subregional office was approved by the General Assembly in 2008 as part of the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen the development pillar of the
United Nations. Two more subregional offices are planned for South and South-West Asia and for North and Central Asia, while the existing Pacific subregional office in Suva, Fiji, will also be strengthened.
Disability Programme of ESCAP; http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/disability/index.asp
Posted by jicafriends at 11:10 AM | Comments (0)
August 06, 2009
Announcement of availability of Funds to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities within USAID's development activities
We are happy to share the following information from the Secretary General
of Rehabilitation International.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Dear Friends,
In light of President Obama's recent decision to sign the U.N. Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, July 30; we are pleased to inform
you that funding has been made available to USAID Missions and Washington
Operating Units (WOUs) to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities
in development activities. There is currently a total of $2 million
available to fund programs ranging from $20,000 - $300,000. Additional
funding may also become available.
Please note that these funds are being made to USAID missions and offices,
who in turn are responsible for the solicitation and awarding of agreements
to organizations. Therefore, interested organizations should contact local
USAID missions to see if they are participating. Concept papers SHOULD NOT
be sent directly to this office.
In compliance with the Agency's Disability Policy,
http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/disability/
work toward fuller inclusion of people with disabilities in our foreign
policy and development efforts, and towards that end, these funds are made
available to increase the participation of people with disabilities in USAID
activities and strengthen the capacities of Disabled People's Organizations
(DPOs).
In order to promote consistency, and for ease of review, we have established
a standard application form. All project ideas must be presented using this
form (a cover page and 8 questions). Submissions made using other formats
will not be considered. In addition to the application form, there are two
other attachments: a more robust Description of the Request and a
standardized reporting format.
Please note the following:
- As noted above, interested applicants should submit proposals to the USAID
Mission or WOU that will host this proposed activity. Applications sent
directly to this office will not be considered.
- Projects approved by Missions will be sent to us using the standardized
application form, USAID/W will review submissions and give feedback to the
Mission within 3-4 weeks of submission. If approved, USAID/W will make funds
available to Missions and WOUs. Missions/WOUs, in consultation with their
RLAs and contracting officers, will modify existing awards or make new
awards as appropriate.
- There is no deadline for submission of concept papers. They will be
reviewed in the order in which they are received and funds will be allowed
until they are depleted.
We hope you will take advantage of the opportunities this request provides
to expand and extend the work that USAID is doing to reduce the barriers and
provide full participation of people with disabilities in our programs.
Please contact the local USAID Mission and/or Rob Horvath
(rhorvath@usaid.gov) or Sue Eitel
(seitel@usaid.gov) if you have any
questions.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:41 AM | Comments (1)
August 03, 2009
US signs disabled rights treaty
The following information related employment situation in Malaysia was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By EDITH M. LEDERER (AP) – 1 hour ago
UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Thursday signed a U.N. treaty enshrining the rights of the world's 650 million disabled people, saying it symbolized President Barack Obama's commitment to upholding human rights through international agreements.
The signing by U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice marked a dramatic shift from the Bush administration, which refused to take part in negotiations on the treaty, arguing that it would dilute protections for U.S. citizens under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Obama marked last week's 19th anniversary of the U.S. law barring discrimination against the disabled with the announcement that the U.S. would become the 141st signatory to the convention. "Disability rights aren't just civil rights to be enforced here at home. They are universal rights to be recognized and promoted around the world," the president said.
Rice said Obama will soon submit the treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification. Once it is ratified, the United States will be bound by its provisions.
"It symbolizes that the United States is recommitting itself to upholding human rights through multilateral institutions," Rice said. "It is symbolic of the president's determination to adhere universally to those principles that he has championed and that the United States stands for domestically."
The treaty is the first new human rights convention of the 21st century. It was approved by the U.N. General Assembly in December 2006 and came into force in May 2008 after 20 countries ratified it.
The 32-page convention is a blueprint aimed at ending discrimination and exclusion of the physically and mentally impaired in education, jobs, and everyday life. It requires countries to guarantee freedom from exploitation and abuse for the disabled, while protecting rights they
already have — such as ensuring voting rights for the blind and providing wheelchair-accessible buildings.
It says disabled persons must also enjoy the same right to life, to inherit, to control their financial affairs, and to privacy as the able-bodied. It also advocates keeping the disabled in their communities rather than removing them and educating them separately as many countries do.
According to the U.N., about 10 percent of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability and the number is increasing with population growth. The disabled constitute the world's largest minority, and 80 percent live in developing countries, many in poverty.
"We all still have a great deal more to do at home and abroad," Rice said. "As president Obama has noted, people with disabilities far too often lack the choice to live in communities of their own choosing; their unemployment rate is much higher than those without disabilities; they are much more likely to live in poverty; health care is out of reach for far too many; and too many children with disabilities are denied a world class education."
White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, who also attended the signing ceremony, announced the creation of a new senior-level post in the State Department to promote the rights of people with disabilities internationally and coordinate government efforts to ratify the treaty.
Several U.S. campaigners for the disabled — two in wheelchairs — attended the signing ceremony in a conference room on the 38th floor of U.N. headquarters and applauded loudly after Rice wrote her name in the treaty book.
Marca Bristo, president and CEO of Access Living, who chairs the U.S. International Council on Disabilities, said the council would be coordinating civil society efforts to ratify the treaty.
William Kennedy Smith, president and founder of the Center for International Rehabilitation, who helped organize activists from around the world to work on drafting the convention, recalled how disappointed U.S. campaigners for the disabled were that the Bush administration refused to participate.
"With the signing today, the U.S. rejoins the arena where they have traditionally set the benchmark in disability rights internationally and I think it's a huge step for people with disabilities and a huge step for our country," he said.
"I think that it represents a profound difference in how the two administrations view international cooperation, international engagement," Smith said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCnWYY8S0ZCboqh-3B4ZLzIAfpjgD99P2FGO0
Posted by jicafriends at 07:12 PM | Comments (0)
July 31, 2009
Deaf school wins Games basketball competition-Fiji
We found the following information related to Suva special school in Fiji. Now deputy head teacher of the shcool is attending "Realization of Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities 2009."
It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Josefa Makaba
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Fiji Times
GOSPEL School for the Deaf was yesterday crowned the inaugural winner
of the 2009 Central Eastern Disabled Regional Games basketball
competition at the Tattersal National Gym.
For their win, Gospel took home the Fiji Paralympic Committee/Mark Secombe Trophy. Tournament organiser Saimoni Nainoca said this was an historic occasion for the games as it was the first time they included basketball.
Nainoca said he was impressed by what he saw at the courts as the kids played with a lot of confidence and skills. "We have only three schools playing basketball this year but we hope to increase this number next year," Nainoca said.
"The basketball competition kicks off our 2009 Central Eastern Games and from tomorrow (today) we will play the other sports."
Eight special schools from Suva, Nausori and Levuka are competing in the two-day event. The games started with basketball and today competition for the other games will be held in Nausori. Nainoca said for the first time in the history of the games, they have invited primary schools from the Nausori area to be included. "We have done this because we want our kids to integrate with able bodied kids from primary schools," Nainoca said.
"Previously we've always kept kids from special schools separate from other kids but now we want to change that viewpoint.
"We want to see that kids from Special Schools and those from Primary Schools are brought together so that we don't segregate some because of their disabilities but give them the opportunity to play sports in unity," Nainoca said.
In the basketball competition, Suva Special School took home the second place while Hilton Special School was third. The games will start with a march through Nausori Town to Ratu Cakobau Park. Competition will be played in various grounds around Nausori.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=126450
photo caption: Suva Special School's Sepo Rakesa dripples the ball against Hilton Special School
Posted by jicafriends at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)
July 27, 2009
Only nine disabled folk land jobs through Welfare Dept-Malaysia
The following information related employment situation in Malaysia was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Wednesday July 8, 2009
ONLY nine disabled people have found jobs through the Welfare Department, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun. She said as of May this year, 431 disabled people had registered themselves with the department to look for jobs. "The public sector allocates 1% of its jobs to the disabled," she told Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh. Chew said the department was also upgrading its registration system to electronically issue the disabled with cards.
She said an advocacy programme for the Persons with Disabilities Act had also been put in place to focus on the accessibility of buildings and public places for the disabled.
"A national council for the disabled was also set up in July last year to supervise the implementation of policies and action plan," she said.
Chew said that among others, the Govern-ment had received various suggestions on issues relating to the disabled, such as support service, care, shelter and rehabilitation.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong told Wan Ramlah Wan Ahmad that the ministry found it difficult to post male teachers to remote areas. "There is a lack of male teachers in certain options but at the same time, schools in rural areas need teachers in these subjects. There are too few male teachers," he said.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/8/parliament/4275259&sec=parliament
Posted by jicafriends at 07:57 PM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2009
Dao Reuang - First Group of Self-Advocates in Thailand
The following information was downloaded from APCD website.
http://www.apcdproject.org/publications/2009/newsletter27/Dao.html
Thai persons with intellectual disabilities decided to set up their own self-advocacy group at the workshop held at APCD on 18th-19th March 2009. It's the first self-advocacy group of persons with intellectual disabilities in Thailand. The group was named Dao Reuang (Marigold in English) and the members selected 6 committee members, agreed on the annual membership fee and listed activities they would like to conduct together in the future. The list included supporting other persons with disabilities, helping homeless pets and playing sports.
The workshop organized by APCD in collaboration with the Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability of Thailand and the Association for Parents for Thai AutisticPersons brought together 15 persons with intellectual disabilities and 16 family members from Bangkok as well as from other provinces.
The workshop provided an opportunity for them to share their experiences, and learn from the Thai and Japanese resource persons. Five resource persons (2 of whom were self-advocates) who had attended a one-week training in Japan presented their learning concerning support systems and self-advocacy efforts. In addition, 3 Japanese resource persons (one self-advocate, one family representative and one supporter) shared their experiences and encouraged the formation of a self-advocates' group as well as support by family members.
The formation of Dao Reuang marks a very important first step in the promotion of self-advocacy in Thailand. APCD believes that with the eagerness of the self-advocates and effective support from others, Dao Reuang has the potential to become an active and sustainable group. APCD would like to watch how the group will grow and support its activities. In the near future, perhaps, Dao Reuang may become a role model for self-advocates with intellectual disabilities in other countries.
Posted by jicafriends at 06:32 PM | Comments (0)
July 23, 2009
Reunion in Cambodia
Dear jicafriends,
The President and Vice President of United Voice and I were privileged to be invited by FASID (Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development) to give talks on Learning Disabilities and Self-Advocacy at a workshop for Government Officials of Myanmar and Cambodia held in Yangon and Phnom Phen recently. When I was in Phnom Phen, Cambodia, I am so glad to have the opportunity to meet up with Mr Borinsak whom I met in JICA Training in 2006 in Tokyo. We had great time catching up with one another and reminiscing the good time we had in Japan. We also updated one another about members of the team whom we are still in touch with. It was nice of Borinsak to bring me to meet his family. He also brought me to visit some places, including the Historical Palace in Phnom Phen.
I am grateful to JICA for sending me to Japan for training and for teaching me so many valuable knowledge and skills that has helped me improve in the work that I am involved in amongst people with disabilities. Since that training in 2006 I have had many more opportunities to collaborate with other Japanese organisations recommended by JICA Malaysia, Japanese experts and JOCVs in creating more awareness about people with learning disabilities, self-advocacy and employment through conferences, trainings, dialogues and workshops in Malaysia and in other Asian Regions. Thank you JICA!
Regards
Swee Lan
Posted by jicafriends at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2009
Newsletter from United Voice-Malaysia
Dear jicafriends,
One of participants of "Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities" is such a hard worker!
She is attending the lectures in Japan, at the same time she is working for her organization and she uploaded the following newsletter.
We are happy to be with such a decent person!
Would like to invite you to read United Voice latest newsletter. Just click:
http://www.unitedvoice.com.my/newsletter/2009JuneNewsletter.pdf
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 08:50 PM | Comments (0)
The King signed the disability law - Cambodia
We have received the following media release of Cambodian Disabled People's Organization from Mr. Sarin, Program Manager of HAGAR-CAMBODIA.
The King signed the disability law
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 9, July 2009 - Currently, there are over 550,000 people with disabilities in Cambodia. They are one of the most disadvantaged groups in this society – discriminated against in employment, in health and education services, by their local communities, and so suffer from poverty, exclusion and the lack of basic human rights. Today we, the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisations are very pleased to learn the King of Cambodia signed the National Disability Law on 8 July after the National Senate passed on 16 June, and Parliament of Cambodia discussed and passed on 29 May.
Ngin Saorath, Executive Director of Cambodia Disabled People’s Organisation (CDPO) felt “Having this law is what our members and people with disabilities of all types need, this law will protect and promote the full participation of us and will ensure that a person with disability will not be isolated and lonely.”
Leng Sakhorn, Director of Women with Disabilities Forum Prey Veng, Sok Moa, Udormean Chey Disabled People's Organisation (DPO), Ros Sam Oeun, Kampot DPO, said the Law will give equal oppornities for persons with disabilities to participate in social development and recognizes the dignity and justice of persons with disabilities.
Yi Veasna, Executive Director, National Centre for Disabled Persons (NCDP) said “We, the NGOs who provide services to people with disability, believe that this will help all persons with disability to have an equal standard of living as non-disabled people and it shows us that the government will take care about the welfare of people with disability more in the future.”
Handicap International, who have been providing services and supporting advocacy for the rights of persons with disability in Cambodia since 1982, said ”We are very pleased to see that the Cambodian Government is taking seriously its responsibilities to protect and promote the rights of persons with disability in this country. This legislation is a landmark accomplishment that will serve to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Cambodian persons with disability and, by extension, improve the lives of all Cambodian people.”
Tan Monivann, Deputy General Director of Mong Rethy Group Co.,Ltd said " I am very happy to hear that Cambodia has the law to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. He added that without the law people with disabilities are associated with discrimation."
We are grateful to Samdech Preah Boromneat Morodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Thormak Porthisal Chea Sim, Chairman of the Senate, Samdech Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin
Chairman of the National Assembly, Samdech Akkak Moha Sena Padei Techo Sun Sen, Prime Minister, and H.E Ith Samheng, Minister of Ministy of Social Affaires, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation for their attention paid to the disability law. We would respectfully suggest to the Parliament of Cambodia they now need to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability after this adoption of the national law. The UNCRPD has real importance to be able to successfully implement the spirit of the National Disability law in Cambodia.
Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO)
CDPO is an organization of people with disabilities whose mission is to develop the networks of people with disabilities so as to support, protect, serve and promote their rights, achievements and interests, in order to bring about their fuller participation and equality in society.
****************************************************************
Chan Sarin
Program Manager
HAGAR-CAMBODIA
Web : www.hagarinternational.org
Posted by jicafriends at 08:09 PM | Comments (1)
July 10, 2009
Thailand REPORT
Thailand REPORT
(Regional Training on Gender Disability, Bangkok, Thailand)
Philippines
2009 March 2 - 14
Different countries from ASIA - Pacific such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan and Philippines participated in the annual regional training on Gender Disability (GD) held in Bangkok, Thailand.
GD training tackled many issues about the different problems concerning women with disability, social interactions EXCLUDING SEXUAL IDENTITY, building-up equality, woman as part of economy, international situation, advocacy program, South-to-south collaborations on UN Convention issues, empowerment, etc... The training also means that the issues considered not only the point of view of being a woman but also the men together with the women.
Along with many issues I will discuss three (3) topics.
(1) First, our experienced within the South-to-South Collaboration at the UN ESCAP;
(2) Second, our experienced within the GD Training;
(3) Lastly, Tum San's and I special activity.
It is a very good experienced of this year’s GD trainees for we were able to attend the South-to-South Collaboration of the UN Convention at UN ESCAP.
On the first day, different presentations’ reported the latest updates of their countries initiatives following the UN Conventions plan of actions.
Announced the latest information’ and updates of UN Convention for persons with disability (PWD)by the experts.
On the second day, the GD trainees made their own countries presentation on gender disability. While on the other side, the government officials and leaders of their own respective countries made their South-to-South collaborations meeting.
In view of the two days activities, presentations and discussions focused on gender disability. Problems on women's domestic violence, discriminations, unemployment, educations, social and psychological situations are common topics. In my own opinion, the said issues remain unsolved. I think not only the laws that must be amend but individual itself must changed. What is the meaning of a strong law if the people are weak? Or, what is the strength of one or two persons if the scale is out of balance? Even if they don't like their current situations they keep their mouth zipper, their ears seems like can not hear at all and their eyes are blindfolded. What else you can do if the people surrounds’ you are trying to judge you improperly? What will be the choice, but no otherwise, to keep silent so that you can go out without those judge mental eyes, or, to lost people respect and be unemployed? Most of this women are encountering psychological problem. More over, persons being abused are hesitant to express their problem within the family so they look for someone who they think they can keep their secret. Are they really trustworthy? Further more, anywhere in the world people are very scared with the term {PUBLIC SCANDAL}. With this term we can not say who will gain benefits or later lost at all. Well, we can not just say so. Until you find yourself into the highlights of the public scandals.
Therefore I think, we should foresee the situations by developing women with confidence, and strength to fight for their rights.
It is necessary to consider the social, emotional and psychological conditions. Conducting seminars and training for women with the mission to strengthen personality development, social interactions, public awareness programs, public protections against abuses, ignorance, etc...Women whether with disability or not must be knowledgeable of their own rights as a human being and part of the world.
Ｏｎ the ｏｔｈｅｒ ｈａｎｄ, Biwako concept is good, but think that the individual principles and philosophy must also be change. Changes must come from both sides. Chopstick can not be use if it is only one stick. It will be no meaning if only one will worth. The said issues and problems are not the problem of women sides only, I think it is the problem of society to make the world equality. It is not the issues of who are impaired. It is an issue about how to have equality as a human being. Let us think what we are as human beings who have responsibility to take care of each other.
Second, experienced within the GD Training. Our study tackled building- up equality, empowerment, advocacies, research, leadership, making national project proposal, making good presentation, etc. We also did role- playing and group discussion where the topics are free. We also visited and studied the independent living services in Pataya, Thailand. As I heard, Pataya group of persons with disability have a strong voice to stand for their rights and privileges. The accessible beach is one of the evidences. They also have good services for severe disability persons where the supports commonly came from IL Center’s fishery projects. I was surprised with their 30 baht hospitalization program. They also received 500 baht support for their monthly cost of living. Well, I think, this is one of the results of their strong unity.
The training was very short but very meaningful. However, I felt sad because I wasn’t able to communicate with all participants for many consequences. Participants came from different countries so without interpreter we always encountered conflicts of languages. I can only communicate with friends who can speak or understood English. Anyhow, I wish I can do sign language very well so that I can also communicate with hearing impaired friends. I want to make friendship to everybody.
In view with many lessons we learned, I wish to consider one point of view wherein the differenced of giving rights as a human being like an ordinary individual or giving equality for the sake of bitterness and self-pity. I think that this is a problem how the world accepts a persons with disability or with impairment with their own willingness and with the idea of equality. This thinks coordinates with building- up equality disregarding whether with impairments or not. I think it is not the solution of the issue of who is handicapped person in a true meaning, as far as a handicapped person is receiving pity and an object of relief. Well, may be I will just ask all of you. Do you care for persons with disability for the sake of obligations as part of your job? Or, because you wanted to be a good person in a view of doing well to handicapped person? Or, do you find yourself as same as the persons with differently - able bodies? ，
Indeed, for any reasons of disability we shouldn’t think it as an object of relief. It is not only the weak side that we should look up. See and recognized the strong sides, the talents, expertise, skills that we can use to improve our personality. Furthermore, we should also consider what an individual wanted to do and wanted to be. What will make us happy? What will make and makes us hurt and felt deprived? What will make us strong and weak? There are so many threats but we should always come to think of giving opportunities and chances to experience what we wanted to understand and understood.
(3) Finally, My special experience with my best friend Tum. Inside the UN ESCAP a new toilet for persons with disability was created. Tum San (electric wheelchair user) and I together with Akeyama San , UN ESCAP expert, made a barrier- free check of the said toilet. The door was so heavy and very hard to open. Inside the toilet the emergency button seems like the push button so for the blind it is very confusing. Making toilet for PWD really needs to consider many ASPECTS like the size, FLOOR AREA AND HEIGHT of the door, BOWL, LABATORY, HANDRILL ARE accessible for ANY KIND OF DISABILITY? Etc...…Honestly speaking, we have many laws for considerations of accessible facilities for PWD. However, please observe that even the facilities of government agencies where it should and must be the model of accessible building. Most of the government offices or establishments are not actually accessible for PWD. Commonly for visually impaired persons, it is very hard to mobilized inside the building: for physically impaired friends, their main barrier is how to get inside the building. Most of the buildings are design as stairs and slope are not really even friendly. For hearing impaired, if they will not come with their own interpreter the communications are really very hard. Also, please observe that most of the government offices for PWD are far from town or city proper. Most of the offices are placed where transportation are very hard. Who should first implement the ratified law for PWD?
Another experienced of ours was the Elephant and crocodile show. We also went to Sunday market and have shopping while experiencing how hard for the PWD to have recreation. Our whole day activity was so adventurous. First, the problem of transportation; Second, how we can ask for assistance.
It is very hard for us to use the public transportation because sometimes the taxi driver doesn't want us. This is may be because my best friend is using wheelchair and they are getting tired of fixing the wheelchair. Tum San needed to have a quite long conversation with the driver for us to be able to use the taxi. I was so worried for Tum San's daily transportation because she needed to use taxi to commute going to her activities. I never saw the accessible bus. Or may be near to Tum San's house they don't have an accessible bus terminal. Can you imagine how rich those wheelchair users because without taxi it is very hard for them to commute to go to other place.
Anyway, after the long way run going to elephant show we felt happy and comfortable for we found the zoo as accessible. Except the toilet again! I wonder how the engineers think when they are making toilets. More so, I think before giving permit on establishing any recreations or any establishments as provided by the law, staff or employees must have at least knowledgeable on how to assist persons with disability. Anyway, we enjoyed the day very much.
On that day we remember our days when we were Duskin trainee in Japan. We also have the same experience when we were in Tokyo Disney Sea. We wanted to enjoy the horror hotel but because the staff don't have any knowledge or may be she don't like the PWD enjoyed the days with Tokyo Disney Sea... My best friend Tum wasn't able to get inside the horror hotel. It is funny how that I also have disability and I was able to experience the life inside the said hotel. We made so many discussions with the staff but still at the end she insisted that the hotel is dangerous for the PWD in times of emergency. Well, in my idea if they can not secure our safety in times of emergency whether with disability or without disability it must be close because it is not safe. Ops! Sorry for the very frank message. Anyway, this is a long way story.
Finally, I will just say that Tum's San and I friendship started when we were Duskin trainee in Japan but the friendship never end even if the training have finished. In spite of, we strengthens our friendship as in like a real sisters. I think, it should be a model for all trainees that we should not make friendship only inside the training and after the training we just lost contacts and communications until we just found out that it was just a memory. Well, I will left my final line as: We should make friendship because we want to have a real friend. We shouldn't have friendship because we have intention of having something
Thank you so much.
Posted by jicafriends at 07:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 03, 2009
Kuniko wants to help out-Fiji
One of the participants of Decent Work Course is Deputy head teacher of Suva Spcial School and we found the following information about JICA volunteer who was dispatched to the school from the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Fiji Times
SHE is here to impart a very rare knowledge - to help disabled children with their speech.
And so far, Japanese speech therapist volunteer Kuniko Kobayashi is enjoying her stay.
"I have been a speech therapist at Tsu City Hospital and have worked with children and adults -- this has been part of my life," she said. Ms Kobayashi is here on a two-year stint under a Japan International Cooperation Agency program. She had never heard of Fiji until an internet search of its culture and people. She was very happy with what she learned.
"The culture is in a way similar to ours and that is something really good and I'm so excited about learning it and the language," she said.
Ms Kobayashi and another Japanese volunteer will be based at the Suva Special School. Head teacher Bishwa Sidal said speech therapists were rare in Fiji, with qualified ones having migrated overseas.
"This will really help the children and she will be able to bring to us a lot of new ideas and skills," Mr Sidal said.
He said speech therapists were also needed for stroke patients and accident victims, adding the school was lucky to be have them.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=124645
photo caption: JICA volunteer Kuniko Kobayashi
Posted by jicafriends at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)
Japanese persons with visual impairments enjoy Sound Table Tennis
Once two month, persons with visual impairments get together to practice Sound Table Tennis (STT) at Ogikubo gymnasium in Suginami Ward, Tokyo.
Suginami Ward provides the facility and they cover the expense for the trainers and referees. So members can enjoy playing STT for free!
Every time 10 to 20 people come not only from Suginami Ward, but also the other part of Tokyo and other prefectures.
The eldest member is 73 years old. They teach and learn with each other regardless of age, gende, or differences. And anyone can join them anytime! We can easily become friends throuth STT games.
Posted by jicafriends at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2009
2009 Hunan Job Fair for the Disabled Held-China
JICA Group Training Course in "Employment Promotion and Realization of Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities 2009" started from June 22. One of the participants this year is from China Disabled Persons’ Federation and we found the following information.
It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Editor:Sharon Lee
Source:www.enghunan.gov.c
Updated: 2009-6-19 15:47:31
On the morning of June 16, 2009 Hunan Employment Assistance Activity for the Disabled &Job Fair for the Disabled College Graduates were held in Changsha Human Resource Market. The deputy chairman of China Disabled Persons’ Federation(CDPF) Cheng Kai and vice governor of Hunan province Xu Minghua were present at the fair to extend warm congratulations and talkwith the disabled college graduates there.
Faced with the current tough job market, Hunan Labor and Social Security Department, Hunan Education Department, Hunan Disabled Persons "Federation together with many other provincial and city government organs and media companies organized this job fair to help the disabled
find jobs, with “One More Job Opportunity, One Less Poor Family” as the theme. 438 of the job-seekers reached employment intention with units and enterprises at the fair.
http://english.rednet.cn/c/2009/06/19/1778691.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 06:55 PM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2009
Myanmar Disabled People Network
Dear Everybody,
I am very happy to inform you that we have established the first "Myanmar Disabled People Network, M-D-P-N" according to the need.
Active leaders from 7-disabled related organizations in Yangon including SHGs from our CBR target area were met together at DPDO office and discussed together to establish this Network.
Now 10-disabled related organizations in Yangon were joined in this Network as member organizations. Other some organizations are also very interesting to join with us for working together. I hope the members of disabled related organizations will be increased near further soon. We have monthly mobile meeting and elected the following 3-facilitators for the Network.
1. Nay Lin Soe (Chairman of Network) from AAR-Japan CBR Project
2. Mr. Ko Lwin (Vice-chairman) from Myanmar Millennium Development Goal
3. Mr. Ngwe Ya (Secretary) from Shwe-min-thar Foundation
This Network is not type of organization, just Network for more effective working and sharing information together for disabled people organizations.
The following is detail profile of this MDPN Network.
Best regards,
Nay Lin Soe
I. Name: Myanmar Disabled People Network (M.D.P.N)
II. Goal: To strengthen the disabled related organizations, groups and individual for the development of disabled people in Myanmar
III. Rationale: According to the sample disability survey conducted after Cyclone NARGIS, the population of disabled people in the country is 2.3 % of total population. If this percentage is calculated for the whole country, the number of disabled people in Myanmar could be 1.3 million, out of the country population of 57 million. However disability issue is not aware yet in the country as development issue. During this decade, there have been established some disabled people organizations and related programs but the development of disabled people and those organizations is still limited due to low capacity, poor network, lack of collaboration and information sharing among each other. Therefore active representatives from 7-disabled related organizations were met together for the first time according to the need and established “Myanmar Disabled People Network” on June 2nd .2009 in Yangon.
IV. Main objectives
To share information
To build capacity and
To establish effective network among disable related organizations, groups and individuals
V. Planned Activities
Information sharing
Sharing activities of internal and external organizations/agencies
Delivering available useful information of local and international
Offering lessons learned from project activities
Capacity building
Organizing capacity building trainings such as;
Team building training
Disability awareness training with new understanding of disability
Proposal writing training
Participatory project planning training
Project cycle management training
Participatory monitoring and evaluation training
Leadership training
Life-skill training
Livelihood training
Record keeping training
Book keeping training
Social mobilization training
Human capital management training
Knowledge management training
Languages training
Computer training
Training of self-help groups of disabled people
Community-based rehabilitation training
Disability and development training
Creative thinking training, etc.
Referring to outside available trainings for capacity building
Networking
Establishing effective network with local level organizations/agencies such as;
Disabled people group/organizations, disabled related organizations, Individuals, Government organizations, GO-NGOs, UN organizations, Embassies, Faith-based organizations, etc.
Establishing effective network with international level organizations/agencies such as;
Disabled people internationals
Disability related organizations
Faith-based organizations
Individual donors, etc.
VI. Process
For information sharing, Channels, Email and Website, Regular newsletter, Meetings, Seminar & Workshops, Forums, “New Light” Magazine regular published by Eden Centre, Media, For capacity building, Formal trainings, Mobile trainings, Tours, Refer to available international trainings and workshops, For establishing effective network, Personal contacts, Email, Website, Brochures, Forums, Who’s who in disabled related organizations
Posted by jicafriends at 05:13 PM | Comments (1)
June 16, 2009
UN Special Rapporteur on Disability heads for Gaza Strip
We received email from Palestine. Mr. Emad Khaled, a former participant of Leaders' Course 2003 is suffering from the difficult situation in Gaza strip. He couldn't receive his salary from the provious workplace and he is now looking for a job. Today we found the following information on Gaza strip. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Hope the situation of Gaza strip will be better and Mr. Khaled will find a job.
Jun 8, 2009 - 04:48 -
WAM ABU DHABI, June 8th, 2009: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Disability, Hissa Al -Thani, is heading for Gaza strip on Tuesday, July 9th, on a four-day visit, accompanied by a delegation of international, disability and development experts and volunteers, according to a press releaser by the Rapporteur's office.
While there, the Un official will hold meetings with government officials in Gaza Strip, including Ministers of Social Affairs, Health, and Education, as well as with the representatives of disability organizations and representatives of UN agencies in Gaza such as OHCHR, OCHA, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO.
She will also make field visits to rehabilitation centers and hospitals particularly those damaged by the Israeli offensive on Gaza in January of this year.
Additionally, the Special Rapporteur and the accompanying team will meet with UNRWA officials who will join the team on their meetings and filed visits.
Disability experts accompanying the Special Rapporteur on this visit will be given a chance to assess and discuss with government officials and disability organizations the rehabilitation, accessibility, medical, social and educational needs of persons with disabilities in post-conflict Gaza.
In July 2008, the Special Rapporteur on Disability launched an International Campaign on War '&' Disability in Beirut, Lebanon. This campaign reached across the world to encompass the Arab region, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
WAM/MMYS
Posted by jicafriends at 05:39 PM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2009
Report from Pakistan
Dear friends,
I would like to share you a horrible situation faced by the disabled persons in Pakistan. It is worse than the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005. More then 3 million people from the war areas transfered to other cities of Pakistan. Most of them were hosted by the public or there relatives. And a huge number of people are living in the camps.
In the camps we found 256 physically impaired, 13 visually impaired, 11 hearing impaired and 3 intellectual disabled persons. 3 disabled persons who had spinal cord injury died due to the infections. No toilet is accessible, no priority camps set up for disabled persons.
Why?
Because of discriminations
Because no many assistive devices disabled persons have.
Because transportation is not accessible
Because disable persons are poorest of the poor
Because disabled persons are not empowered enough to love their lives and they believe that they are burden on their families.
These are the reasons we found after the survey of 283 disabled persons. We asked national and international agencies to consider disabled persons as human.
Today is the second day of our biggest achievement of Milestone history. We got opportunity to get a school building for disabled persons, which was not in use. We cleaned it and make it for the camp residence of Dip’s (Internally displace persons) PWDs.
Now we have 197 disabled persons and their families. Their food is arranged by Pakistan Bait ul mall, Ministry of welfare and special education.
We are going to start the counseling sessions with disabled persons and their families so when they will be back to their homes they will be strong agent change of society. This is one of the unique projects in my life as well.
What we need?
We need the support from you in the shape of advices. Also we need your support to full fill this project as we no money for these activities. We are using resources from our families and friends. Also if you can put some influence to the international support agencies please ask them to consider disabled persons as well in rescue or recover process.
Thanks a lot .
For any inquiry contact me
Shafiq Ur Rehman
Posted by jicafriends at 03:40 PM | Comments (0)
June 11, 2009
Invitation to join theatre performance and Braille book publication ceremony program in Dhaka.
Dear All,
Greetings from UTSA; Ctg.
I will be in Dhaka Next week for Organizing a publication ceremony program of UNCRPD Bangla Braille version in Dhaka press club on 18/06/2009 (3PM-5PM) with the support of ActionAid Bangladesh(AAB). AAB buy 60 copies of UNCRPD Bangla Braille version from UTSA to distribute visually impaired people.
We hope communication and information minister will participate in this program as chief guest. For your kind information with the assistance of Bangladesh Freedom Foundation and Sightsavers international we publishes this types of academic and non academic near about 40 Braille publications was printed from our organization. As well as we run a 500 books collections braille library in Chittagong.
On the other hand coming 13th and 14th June 2009 everyday 6PM there is a two different theatre shows will be performed in National Theatre Auditorium, ShagunBagicha, Dhaka organized by theatre group NATYEADHAR This two Drama directed by myself. One is “Smrity ’71” written by lat Professor Zia Haidar on our independent war and another one is “SHIKHONDY KOTHA” written by Professor Anon Zaman on life straggle of HIZRA peoples.
On 14th June’09 before theatre show in same hall we give reception to RAMANDU MOJUMDAR for his achievement in International Theatre Institute (ITI) as elected world wide chairman.
I fill honor if you and your friends and family member enjoy those theatre performance and attend Braille book publication ceremony program on 18th June 2009.
Hope to see you in all programs.
Warm wishes,
Mostafa Kamal Jatra,
Executive Director,
UTSA; Ctg.
Posted by jicafriends at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2009
Congratulations! Mr Sumasafu Vilsoni, appointed to the post of Vice Chairperson of APDF
We would like to share the following information from Ms. Etsuko Ueno, the secretariat of APDF (Asia & Pacific Disability Forum). Mr. Sumasafu Vilsoni, Co-chair, PDF(Pacific Disability Forum), a former participant of Leadership Course 1990 was appointed to the post of Vice Chair of APDF.
*****************************************************************************
Dear APDF members
After the long absence, we would be pleased to inform you of the current situation of APDF. Here are some updates on APDF.
1. Executive Committee meeting
APDF Executive Committee was organized on June 1 and 2, 2009 by e-mail.
All members attended and exchanged opinions. Main topics were the activities towards the end of the Second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons and beyond 2012. The result of the meeting will be discussed at the informal brain storming which will be organized by UNESCAP during the ESCAP Expert Group meeting from June 8-10, 2009.
Please see the minutes of the e-mail meeting and if you have any idea or proposal on the activity until 2012 and beyond, please inform the secretariat.
URL: http://www.normanet.ne.jp/~apdf/index.html
The colleagues of Vietnam started to prepare for the 4th APDF General Meeting and Conference to be held in 2010. We will wait for a formal announcement.
Korea will host the end-year APDF Conference in 2012.
2. Call for a Co-chair of APDF Working Committee of Children and Youth with Disability
If you are interested in nominating an appropriate person to the Co-chair of this committee, please send application with your resume to the secretariat by no later than June 30, 2009.
You will also see the reports on the following relevant events from the same website.
1. The First Asia Pacific CBR Congress, Feb.18-20, 2009, Bangkok
2. Report on International Accessible Tourism 2009, April 23-25, 2009, Singapore
3. Report on IDA (International Disability Alliance) and GPDD(Global Partnership for Development and Disability)
4. Preparatory meeting on APDF 2010 in Vietnam
5. Preparation of APDF 2012 in Korea
For your information the Accessible Tourism Conference will be held from November 24-26, 2009 in Takayama city, Japan by UNESCAP and Takayama city.
For more information, please contact Ms. Oniyama. takayamatyo@m6.dion.ne.jp
Your questions comments on the above and relevant information are most welcome.
With best regards.
Ryosuke Matsui, Secretary General of APDF
Secretariat :
Etsuko Ueno, eueno@dinf.ne.jp
Kahori Yokota, yokota.kahori@dinf.ne.jp
Posted by jicafriends at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)
Mr. Kamal Lamichhane featured in Japan Times
Mr. Kamal Lamichhane, a postgraduate research student, works at Tokyo
University research center.
He was featured in Japan Times on June 6th 2009.
Please visit the following website for more details.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090606a1.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)
Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Competition of Persons with Disabilities
This competition marks its 10 th year, various type of athletics are held such as Track and Field, Swimming, Table Tennis, Sound Table Tennis, Wheelchair basketball and so on.
Track and Field was held on June 6, 2009 at Metropolitan Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground.
Even though it was unfortunately raining, a lot of participants played exciting games.
Whatever the results, we could see radiant smile on all players’ face after the game.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2009
Expert Group Meeting-UNESCAP
The Social Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Regional Office for South East Asia of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) are organizing the "Expert Group Meeting on the Harmonization of National Legislations with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific" in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8 to 10 June 2009. The Meeting aims to facilitate the harmonization of domestic legislative frameworks in countries of Asia and the Pacific with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by providing the conceptual underpinning and a set of policy options and recommendations.
http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/meetings/EGM_CRP_2009/index.asp
Posted by jicafriends at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 03, 2009
Barrier-free tourism-Takayama, Gifu Pref., Japan
Now attention is being focused on "Barrier-free Tourism." And today we would like to introduce you Takayama, one of the famous cities in the field of Barrier-free Tourism in Japan.
The City of Takayama is working on a barrier-free, town-making program to turn itself into a tourist community where both people with physical disabilities and the elderly people can live a safe, comfortable life. The city is also probing the possibilities of making “information barrier-free” to expedite the flow of communication to promote deeper mutual understanding between visitors and local community residents in the current context of growing worldwide tourism.
http://www.hida.jp/english/barrierfree/index.html
The secreatriat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
Leadership Development Course 2009
We would like to inform you that JICA submitted General Information on
Leadership Development Course 2009 to the related organizations in target
countries, such as Philippines, Lao PDR, Honduras, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Sri
Lanka, Fiji, Saint Lucia, Jordan, and Namibia.
If you are from the target country, and interested in participating, please
apply now!
http://jicafriends.jp/leaders/index.html#tab1
The secretariat of jicafriedns
Posted by jicafriends at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2009
980 Disabled Athletes For Asean Para Games-Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Some 980 disabled athletes from Asean countries and Timor Leste will compete in the 5th Asean Para Games here from Aug 15-19.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN_ParaGames
Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games Organising Committee (KLAPGOC) chairman Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin said host Malaysia will send the largest contingent of 258 athletes.
Second is Thailand with 203 followed by Vietnam (116), Indonesia (99), Singapore (98), Philippines (60), Timor Leste (45), Myanmar (36), Brunei (30), Laos (24) and Cambodia (11).
"Malaysia will compete in all 11 sports followed by Philippines (10), Thailand (10), Singapore (9), Indonesia (7), Timor Leste (6), Myanmar (5), Laos (4), Brunei (3) and Cambodia (2)," he told reporters here Thursday.
Vietnam has not decided on the sports it will contest.
Some 1,500 medals await winners in athletics, swimming, badminton, ping pong, weightlifting, bowling, yachting, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair netball, sitting volleyball and chess.
Malaysia came in second overall at the 4th Asean Para Games at Korat, Thailand in 2007.
The 180 athletes returned with 82 gold, 74 silver and 46 bronze.
Zainal who is also Malaysian Paralympic president said all the sports will be held in Kuala Lumpur except for yachting at Admiral Marina and Leisure Club, Port Dickson.
The Asean Para Games was usually held after the SEA Games. Malaysia was the first host (2001) followed by Vietnam (2003), Philippines (2005) and Thailand (2007).
Financial difficulty forced Laos, host for the 25th SEA Games in Dec to withdraw from holding the Para Games and Malaysia was named as replacement.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newssport.php?id=414283
Posted by jicafriends at 04:56 PM | Comments (1)
May 29, 2009
JICA Group Training Coues in "Promotion of Social Participation of Persons with Disabilities through Sports"
Dear jicafriends,
We would like to inform you that the said course is going to start from
September 14, 2009.
Application deadline is July 24, 2009. Target countries are China, India,
Fiji, Tonga, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Uruguay, Jordan and Myanmar.
If you know someone who is interested in participating in the training
program, please forward the following information.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/jicainfo/pdf/gij0900802.pdf
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
May 28, 2009
Law Will Make Disabled Wear Signs in Traffic-Indonesia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
We hope the Law won't accelerate discrimination against persons with disabilities. We welcome your comments or opinions on the following law. (The secretariat of jicafriends)
Lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously voted to update a 1992 Traffic Law, but ran into immediate controversy over a clause in the new version that requires disabled pedestrians to wear signs to warn others of their condition.
“All [political] factions agreed without any objection,” said Muhaimin Iskandar, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, who led the plenary session.
Transportation Minister Jusman Sjafii Djamal, who was also present, said the new Traffic and Road Transportation Law was needed as the 1992 version was no longer adequate.
“There has been a change in the paradigm that influences the transportation sector,” Jusman said, adding that there was a need for a clearer definition of the responsibilities of those involved in road traffic.
The new law contains 326 articles, but it was the second clause of Article 80 that was met with anger from activists who protested its requirement for disabled pedestrians to wear warning signs.
“Handicapped pedestrians are obliged to wear special signs that can be easily recognized by other road users,” the clause stated. It also said that further details would be determined by a regulation.
“This law is to protect pedestrians, including those who are handicapped,” Malkan Amin of the Golkar Party said. “It is for their own protection.”
But to many activists, the clause smacks of discrimination.
“I am very disappointed. This is an infringement on human rights and will particularly affect the handicapped because they have to wear signs while on the streets,” said Saharuddin Daming, a blind member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). “This is marginalizing the handicapped.”
He said the law should aim to make public spaces more accessible for people with disabilities.
Saharuddin cited Bandung, West Java, where local authorities provided special traffic lights near an institute for the visually impaired, allowing its members to change the lights to red to ensure a safe crossing.
“That is what should have been regulated, things like traffic signs signaling the presence of blind people, so that people drive more carefully,” he said.
Darmaningtyas, chairman of the Institute of Transportation Studies, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that the law was preposterous and that the government should focus on providing facilities such as level footpaths and wheelchair ramps.
“It is strange when handicapped people are asked to carry extra burdens, ” Darmaningtyas said.
The law will come into effect when signed by the president or after three months have passed.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/law-will-make-disabled-wear-signs-in-traffic/277469
Posted by jicafriends at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
200th Birth Anniversary of honarable Louis Braille
How many of you know Louis Braiile?
He is the inventor of Braille and he made great contributions in the field of vision disability.
Louis Braille was born in January 4, 1809, and 2009 is his 200th birth anniversary. Celebrations throughout 2009 are being planned around the world to honor Braille's 200th birthday.
If you organize a celebration program, please share with us.
The related information can be obtained from the following site;
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/louis/global_events.html
Those who would like to know about Braille;
Braill is a world-wide system used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing. Braille is read by passing the fingers over characters made up of an arrangement of one to six embossed points. It has been adapted to almost every known language.
More information on Braille;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braille
Posted by jicafriends at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2009
Disabled People's Development Organization-Myanmar
We are very happy to inform you that the 1st office of our Self-help organization called "Disabled People's Development Organization (D.P.D.O)" in Yangon will be able to open in coming week. The office address would be :
Disabled People's Development Organization (D.P.D.O)
Butar-yon Street, East Gyoe-gone Township,
Yangon, Myanmar.
It is a type of self-help organization of PWDs and established it in 2003 in Yangon by disabled persons who are former participants of APCD, Thailand and AAR-Japan (VTC) graduates in Yangon. The former name is “Raise up PWD’s Development Group (RPDG)” and changed it into “DPDO” in mid-2009. We did not have resident own office before. We made regular monthly meeting at AAR-VTC hall in Yangon. Due to effort of responsible EC members and unity of all members, we will be able to open the first resident office in Yangon in coming week. Now there are 120 disabled members in our organization and continuing the activities within our limitation resources and situation.
Organization Profile
Organization’s Name: Disabled People’s Development Organization (D.P.D.O)
The goal: To rise up the abilities and human resources of disabled persons by unity, then must be developed a society which has equal rights for all.
Motto: Towards Equal Society
Objectives:
・To empower each other, to have unity among us in order to build better spiritual value of disabled persons and to solve various facing problems by means of group activities
・To develop the independent living life-style of disabled persons by raising abilities and rights of us
・To reveal, solve and remove all of barriers that could be impeded inclusion of disabled people within society
・To obtain full participation in all of community sectors by accepting our competence
・To implement disability related actions, projects and other enterprises which are aimed to develop all disabled fields leaded by disabled persons ourselves.
・To cooperate with other organizations in order to develop educational, social, health and economic conditions of disabled persons
・To promote the leading role of self-help groups of disabled persons in Myanmar
We are doing the following small activities within our budget and resource limitation.
・Campaigns on development of SHG role and organizes and establishes new SHG in vicinity of Yangon and Delta Region
・Arranges group excursions to promote public awareness on disability issue
・Introduces on Social model of disability and responsible for peer counseling
・Makes some handicrafts and runs a hair cutting shop of group own for fund raising
・Shares education on nutrition in the community
・Refers and arranges on assistant devices for needed disabled persons
・Participate in social and sport activities
・Publishes Group Pamphlet, Group newsletters
・Sends some members to local and abroad capacity development training by the support of partner organizations
・Implements rehabilitatin programs for Nargis affected disabled by funding of some organizations
・Implements micro credit program for those group members who want to run their small business
・Supports information and takes into account the current problems to peer individuals and groups as much as possible
Best regards,
Nay Lin Soe (Secretary)
Disabled People's Development Organization (D.P.D.O)
Posted by jicafriends at 03:36 PM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2009
From MILESTONE-Pakistan
We've received the following email from MILESTONE, Independent Living Center in Pakistan.
Dear jicafriends,
How are you?
From tomorow it is going to be one of the dangrous time of our lives. We are going to serve the disabled persons of SWAT area where many sucide bomb terrorisms are happening. There are many people who got disabillities due to the Taliban attacks. We cannot leave them alone and also there is an army operation is going on. So it will very difficult to rescue them. No body is doing this. So we decided to enter the war area and do the rescue activities for disabled persons by disabled persons. Pray for us. I know the life is very important but the work for disabled people became our lives now.
If we survive, then we will send you the reports and picture. Sometimes it's very difficult to work, but sometimes we cannot skip from work.
I promise that i will be careful for my MILESTONE team and also we will save many lives.
Lots of Love
Shafiq Ur Rehman
President
MILESTONE
Today's situation in Pakistan;
http://www.thenews.com.pk/
Posted by jicafriends at 02:21 PM | Comments (1)
The Second Committee Meeting for "Realization of Decent Work"Course
Dear jicafriends,
The second committee meeting was held at JICA Headquarters on May 8, 2009 and five participants were selected one each from China, Fiji, Malaysia, and two from Nepal.
They are going to arrive at Narita International Airport on June 16, and start the training program.
We will report their everyday training on this website.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2009
JICA trainings related disability
Information on JICA training courses related disability can be obtained from jicafriends web page.
1. Prosthetic and orthotic Technique
Overall Goal:
The participants are expected to disseminate the knowledge and techniques to other prosthetists and orthotists after finishing this course.
Target regions and countries:
Colombia, Fiji, Dominican Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Application deadline:June 27, 2009
more information: http://www.jicafriends.jp/jicainfo/pdf/gij0900810.pdf
2.Mainstreaming and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Africa
Overall Goal:
The participants will acquire strategic skills of planning to enhance their institutional capacity, which leads to strengthen the capacity of PAFOD member DPOs’ (Disabled Persons’ Organizations) for promoting "African Decade of Disabled Persons” in African countries.
Target regions and countries: :
Cameroon, Egypt, Namibia(2)
Application deadline:June 23, 2009
more information:http://www.jicafriends.jp/jicainfo/pdf/gij0904097.pdf
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)
May 07, 2009
Dong Nai provides jobs for 1,200 disabled people-Vietnam
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Tuesday, 21/04/2009, 09:19
There are 19,590 disabled people and 5,600 AO victims* in Dong Nai Province, said the Provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. In recent years, the province in coordination with local agencies, organizations and businesses have actively supported the disadvantaged people with their life activities. The province spent VND 332.4 million providing free vocational training courses for them ; and so far 1,200 have been able to secure and maintain jobs with stable income.
Apart from that, local agencies created favorable conditions for disabled people to borrow loans from banks and granted free bus tickets to them. According to local officials, the number of disabled people who have jobs is still modest in contrast to the total number in the locality, this in spite of efforts of local agencies. The current economic recession has hit all economic sectors and it has caused some firms to lay off their workers.Under the circumstances, jobs for disabled people become more difficult, said officials.
Source: CPV
Translated by Thu Nguyen
FYI: *AO victims http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange
http://army.qdnd.vn/vietnam.economy.enews.24301.qdnd
Posted by jicafriends at 04:46 PM | Comments (0)
April 30, 2009
Global Road Safety Week-United Nations
We all clearly remember and miss our precious friend and leader of Africa, Mr. Justino João Januário, a former participant of Leaders' Course 2004, who passed away becasue of the road accident on the highway in the Matola city on 30th December 2006. And many of you know that one of the biggest reasons for having disabilities is a car accident. We found the following information in the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
A United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2005, called for the observance of a Global Road Safety Week which is celebrated on April 23-29 each year. The event reflects the growing concern over the problem of road traffic injuries and serves as an opportunity for initiating road safety measures in the years ahead.
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease and Injury Report, road trauma is among the world’s largest public health problems. It ranks with malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS as a leading global cause of death and disability.
Every year, more than a million people around the world are killed, and 34 times that number are injured in traffic accidents. It is predicted that by the year, 2020, 17 million more could perish and over 200 million more could be injured and permanently disabled on the world’s roads. Road traffic accidents are responsible for 25 percent of all deaths due to injury worldwide. Among those between the ages of 15 and 45 years, they are the leading cause of death. Clearly this is unacceptable because road accidents are predictable and can be prevented.
Road traffic deaths and injuries place an enormous strain on a country’s health system and the national economy. On the average, road traffic injuries cost low and middle-income countries one percent of Gross National Product (GNP) and for this reason, road traffic injuries are an obstacle to development.
There is a growing recognition that road traffic injuries can be prevented and a number of countries have shown that by taking action on speeding, drunk driving, the use of helmets and seatbelts, and increasing the visibility of pedestrians, cysclists, and motorcyclists, a significant number of lives can be saved and resources spared.
Prevention measures require political will. Decisions to improve road safety need to be made at the highest levels of government. Many other sectors play a major role—parents, educators, community, media, business leaders, automobile associations, vehicle manufacturers, insurers, and survivors of road traffic accidents and their families, and all road users. They should continue to work for safer roads and lead by example to travel safely and with caution.
http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=47106
Posted by jicafriends at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2009
EVMs with braille a first for the visually impaired-India
Today we again found the information related accessible election. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
24 Apr 2009, 0338 hrs IST, Paul Fernandes , TNN
PANAJI: Many visually impaired voters walked out of voting compartments with their heads held high after they cast their vote unaided and in secrecy for the first time in the 13th Lok Sabha election to the Panaji and Mormugao constituencies.
The Election Commission's move to introduce Braille signage features on electronic voting machines (EVMs) and dummy ballot sheets made the polls memorable to these voters who could read Braille. A few, however, missed out on the opportunity as the facility was unavailable in some booths.
"I have always voted in the past, but this time I could do it on my own and in complete secrecy," Vincent Monteiro of St Cruz, who lost his vision some years back told TOI on Thursday. Joseph Pereira, another visually-impaired voter from Orlim echoed similar feelings of satisfaction. "It was a good experience for me as I could perform my duty as a citizen without taking anybody's help," he said.
Election officials handed these voters dummy ballots, which contained the serial number of the candidates in Braille. "I took some time reading the pamphlet, using my finger tips and sense of touch," Monteiro said. "And doing so gave me an idea about the position of the candidate
on the EVM display panel," he said.
In the past, visually impaired voters were escorted by their family members or friends not only to the polling station but even inside the voting compartment. "Somebody would hold our hand and help us put the stamp on the candidate's symbol of our choice. We had to reveal to them whom we wanted to vote for," Monteiro said.
But on Thursday, the introduction of the two aids allowed them to leave their escorts at the door. "After reading the pamphlet, I stepped into the voting compartment and pressed the button of my choice after making sure it was the right one," he added.
An election official said the EVMs had Braille signage features. "The number of the candidates were serially stuck on the EVM to help them cast the vote," the source said.
However, Luiza de Melo, another visually impaired voter from Candolim, had to use the old method as the booth in her area did not have any special features for the blind. "A family member had to help me press the button," de Melo said, with a noticeable disappointment.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/EVMs-with-braille-a-first-for-the-visually-impaired/articleshow/4441803.cms
Posted by jicafriends at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2009
UPDATES FORM THE GHANA FEDERATION OF THE DISABLED
jicafriends:
April 7, 2009 is the Inauguration of the National COuncil on Disability at
the Castle Grounds in Osu, Accra, Ghana. With the Vice President of Ghana
His Excellency John Mahama inaugurated the group and installed formally as
the new government of Ghana fulfilled as one of their campaign promises to
inaugurate the Council in their first 100 days of office.
We can barely say now that the provisions of the Persons with Disability Act
of 2006, Act 715 will have a common platform of a monitoring body to
heightened the implementation of the salient features of the law giving way
to the various exercise of human rights and protection for PWDs in Ghana.
The federation also is engaged on the public education and awareness
creation activies on the ratification of the UN Converntion on the Rights of
PErsons with Disability to which GHana is a signatory last April 30, 2007.
Another seen achievement in partnership with President Atta Mills' NDC
Administration is to include PWDs in its appointment in the various
Ministries, Departments and Agencies - to date we have noted 2 appointments
so far, one being the Chairman of the National Council of Disability and
another District Chief Executive (Mayor) is one of the districts in Brong
Ahafo Region.
The federation is embarking on projects also aimed at PWDs access to 2%
allocation in the District Assembly Common Fund and another one to monitor
the implementation of the Disability Law dubbed as Project 715, geared at
monitoring the progress of 715 children with disability in a period of the
present administration of Ghana.
being with the federation this far of 3.1 years, i can clearly say that we
are moving up and soaring high to an informed society of PWD issues facing
the country.
truly my voluntary work encompasses all my expectations which came in this
far and this big. With barely 4 months before I go, all my ishes and hopes
that the Federation will continue to live with the expectations of its
individual memners, DPOs, development partners, media and the public in
general.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/world/organization/friends/ghana.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2009
Statistical Year Book for Asia and Pacific-ESCAP
This is the second issue of the new Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific. The format was revised in 2007 and attracted encouraging feedback from readers. It is aimed at a non-specialized audience that is interested in this dynamic and diverse region and wishes to see how the economies, societies and environment of Asia and the Pacific are developing in comparison with other world regions.
Rich in information content, the Yearbook includes data, charts and a textual overview of well over 200 indicators, covering all spheres of the work of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as such cross-cutting issues as poverty and gender.
http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2008/ESCAP-SYB2008.pdf
Posted by jicafriends at 05:12 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2009
"Towards Deaf Empowerment through Sign Language Research"-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
An International Seminar on Sign Language research, entitled "Towards Deaf Empowerment through Sign Language Research" will be held at the University of Malaya from May 30-31, 2009.
One of the central goals of research on sign language (SL) is the provision of new and relevant ideas which contribute towards empowering the Deaf community and building an equal platform for the promotion of their culture and the fulfillment of their needs in key areas such as education and employment.
The seminar sets the stage for academics, researchers, and leaders of the Deaf community to discuss issues in SL research with international speakers and researchers reporting on sign language research in each of their respective countries. The intended outcome of this sharing will be a more comprehensive understanding of the nature, development, and future prospects of the field.
Participation fee : RM 100< br/> Deaf/ Students (Local) : RM 50
In addition, the seminar will be followed by a three day SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING WORKSHOP to be held from 1-3 June 2009 at the same venue.
The Interpreting workshop will focus on three main areas:
A: The Professional Sign Language Interpreter Language, Linguistics and Interpreting
The Sign Language Interpreter; Code of Ethics and the Deaf Community
B: Skills Development & Practicum
Use of Classifiers in Sign Language Interpreting
Self & Peer Evaluation & Networking
Practical: Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpreting
Legal Interpreting & Documentation
Activities to enhance self learning
C: Research and Technology
Innovative and new technology in Sign language research and interpreting
Fee: RM 200 (Local); Sign Language students: RM 150 (Local) RM 250 (Overseas)
For more information & registration on both programmes, please contact:
Assoc. Professor Dr Zubaidah Ibrahim-Bell (Seminar Director)
c/o Secretariat Mdm Noor Haifa Mohd Yunus
mailto:nhaifa@um.edu.my
Posted by jicafriends at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2009
South Africa: Braille Ballot to Assist Visually Impaired Voters-South Africa
We would like to introduce you the following information related accessible election.
It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Chris Bathembu
15 April 2009
Pretoria — Visually impaired South Africans will now have the opportunity to cast their votes secretly for the first time on a Braille ballot sheet during the General Elections next week.
Chief Electoral Officer, Advocate Pansy Tlakula, said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had developed the Braille template to ensure that blind South Africans enjoyed similar rights as others at polling stations countrywide.
Advocate Tlakula said each polling station would be provided with one such template for the national election and another for the provincial election.
The templates were produced in Cape Town and South Africa is the second country, after Japan, to produce the model.
According to the IEC, the Braille ballot from left to right will have a number, the abbreviation of the party's name, and raised dots leading to a small window where the voter makes his or her mark.
One in every four booths will be broader with a lower voting table and each queue at the polling stations will feed into an area where such a booth is available.
Speaking to BuaNews on Wednesday, South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) President William Rowland said the introduction of the Braille ballot was a milestone for the country's visually impaired people.
"For the first time blind people who can read Braille will have a truly secrete vote," Mr Rowland said.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Human Rights
South Africa
Being visually impaired himself, Mr Rowland said last week he was given the opportunity to cast two mock ballots at the IEC offices which he found to be easy and effective.
In previous elections visually impaired people were able to cast their votes with the assistance of a person of their own choice over the age of 18.
However, this method will still be used during the elections as the vast majority of visually impaired people do not read Braille.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200904150576.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2009
Turkish state sees the disabled as unemployable-Turkey
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
ANKARA - State institutions obligated by law to hire 3 percent of their personnel from among the disabled population have failed miserably, satisfying less than one fifth of the quota.
According to the law, at least 3 percent of government employees must be disabled, which, according to calculations, means state institutions need to employ at least 51,000 people with disabilities.
States institutions currently employ 9,966 public servants with disabilities and figures from the Prime Ministry Personnel Bureau indicate that a mere 26 more will be recruited in April.
According to a 2002 study, 12.29 percent of Turkey's citizens are classified as disabled. The Health Ministry has 8,244 vacant positions allocated for members of this group, while the Justice Ministry has 2, 112. The Education Ministry has 15,973 vacant posts that must be filled by disabled personnel.
Recruitment figures announced by the bureau for April show that most state institutions have no intention of addressing the gap. For the April recruitments, disabled personnel were requested by several universities and municipalities and the Culture Ministry, which asked for a single laborer.
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/11421944.asp?scr=1
Posted by jicafriends at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2009
Makati wants special poll precincts for disabled, elderly -Philippines
The following information related accessible election was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Updated April 05, 2009 12:00 AM
The Makati City Council has passed a resolution urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to create special voting precincts for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.
City Resolution 2009-035, sponsored by Councilor Jejomar Erwin Binay, said citizens should not be deprived of their right to vote simply because of their physical condition.
“Given the circumstances and the special needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities, we believe that we have to make special arrangements so they will not be unduly deprived of their right to vote,” he said.
The Makati City Council said it welcomed the statement of Commissioner Rene Sarmiento that the Comelec is inclined to implement a proposal made earlier by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay asking the poll body to create the special precincts.
“We are optimistic that the Comelec will open these precincts in time for the 2010 elections,” he said.
The city council noted that under electoral laws, physically disabled voters are allowed to have a relative, any person they trust or any member of the board of election inspectors assist them in filling up their ballots. “This courtesy should be extended to senior citizens,” the council said.
The city council also said many PWDs and elderly voters have been unable to vote in past elections because they found it too difficult to stand in line for a long time or to climb up the stairs to reach their respective precincts.
Special precincts should be located at the ground floor of polling places, so as not to add to the physical difficulties of the elderly, they said. – Rhodina Villanueva
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=455336&publicationSubCategoryId=130
Posted by jicafriends at 09:29 AM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2009
Visually impaired offered touch tours of National Palace Museum
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Central News Agency
2009-04-08 12:45 PM Fonts Size:
Taipei, April 8 (CNA) The visually-impaired are being invited to take special touch tours of the National Palace Museumhttp://www.npm.gov.tw/en/home.htm the next four Sundays, which will give them the chance to touch replicas of well-known artifacts such as the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stone, the organizer said Wednesday.
The tours, which will compensate for the visually impaired's inability to see the museum's exhibits, are aimed at promoting art education for the group, according to the Blinds Welfare Association.
They will take place the mornings of April 12, April 19, April 26 and May 3, and each tour will accommodate up to 12 people, the association said.
Each of the visitors will be assisted by a volunteer worker during the tour and have access to an audio guide offered by the museum and be allowed to touch replicas of selected artifacts and a model of the museum building, the association said.
Those interested in taking part can register with the association by calling (02)2599-1234.
(By Y.F. Low)
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=914677&lang=eng_news
Posted by jicafriends at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2009
Ethiopia to host the first ever disabled parliamentarians’conference
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
African Press Agency (subscription)
Ethiopia-Disabled Parliamentarians-Forum
APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia will host the first disabled parliamentarians’conference in Addis Ababa from 31 March to 1 April 2009, the organizers said here Thursday.
The organizers, the Ethiopian Federation of National Associations of People with Disabilities said in Addis Ababa that representatives from various African countries are expected to attend the conference, which will be organized to discuss political participation of disabled
parliamentarians and issues related to current affairs.
The president of the Federation, Kasahun Yebeltal, told journalists that the meeting will be the first ever in Africa.
The conference is expected to attract a number of local and international observers.
The two-day meeting will deliberate on issues such as political participation of disabled parliamentarians in their respective countries and on the United Nations conventions on the rights of people with disabilities, among others.
DT/daj/APA
2009-03-27
Posted by jicafriends at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2009
2009 Asia Try in Taiwan
Hello everyone!
2009 Asia Try in Taiwan is coming up soon. We will walk and promote independent living of PWDs. You will have many special experiences in your life through this activity. You must leave your family, make decisions by yourself and take responsibility for yourself.
This activity has 7 courses for you to choose. There will be 20 people in one group, and you will tell everyone what IL of disabled people is and you must change the society through this activity.
So we hope you and your friends will join us. We will take a risk, walk, camp and make speeches on the streets. Kick out all the boring and unfair things! Don’t hesitate, just join us right now!!!
Date：2009 Sep. 1－Sep. 10
The deadline for signing up: ：2009 May 31
The Blog of 2009 Asia Try in Taiwan：http://www.vitality.org.tw/try/
E-mail：uitty1116@vitality.org.tw
NEW VITALITY INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSOCIATION, TAIPEI
Related information on "2007 Asia Try in Korea"can be obtained from the
following page,
http://www.jicafriends.net/archives/2007/08/2007_asia_try_i.html
Posted by jicafriends at 02:35 PM | Comments (1)
April 06, 2009
A Society for All: Disability from Economic Viewpoint-Nepal
The right of the disabled persons to equal access to socio-economic areas e.g. employment, education, health etc have not been properly reflected in the policy and legislation of the country. Justifiable expectations of equal access for them are still wishful thinking. As a result, it is not only the person, but the family as a whole is disabled socially and economically. No expert on disability is in the policy making level. Yet none of the political parties have their specific plans and policies in bringing persons with disabilities in the mainstream of the development.
By Kamal Lamichhane
Historically, persons with disabilities were considered as an object of pity and sympathy and offered services couple of centuries ago. Those services were basically based on sympathy and some form of charity. Slowly charity based activities on disability started changing into right based and several social movements seeking better quality of life based on the principle of equal opportunities grew up in the civil rights era of 1960 and 70s. One of them is ‘independent living movement’ of 1970s which played crucial role in raising awareness on the issues of this group. Then, the viewpoint on disability because of the strong advocacy of disability rights advocates, started changing and social model considering disability as an interaction between characteristics of an individual and features of his or her cultural, social, natural, and built environments brought momentum on disability movement, which has been further supported and institutionalised by United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities as it has on its preamble stated that impairment “is a natural part of the human experience and that “disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. It can be argued that the introduction of this social model that is clearly against with the previously established medical model’s negative view which regards a person with a disability as someone who cannot function because of impairment, is instrumental to consider disability in line with making them socially and economically active members of the society.
As a result, persons with disabilities who were subjected only as a receiver of services and considered to be the object of pity and sympathy started participating in the socio-economic activities. Like others, persons with disabilities deserve a dignified and productive life, but this can not be achieved unless policies are formulated and implemented in line with addressing their issues from economic point of view. If they are made economically active, it will provide them financial independence and integration into the community. It also improves social status, provides social support, enables them to make a contribution, and increases self-worth.
Against this background, in Nepal, despite some efforts, activities conducted and programmes implemented for the uplifting and equal participation of these persons in social and economic areas are rare, reaching only a small segment of the large gamut. Thus, the situation is that people with disabilities are invisible in socio-economic activities. In a World Bank report, it is stated that persons with disabilities and their families are living below the poverty line in the developing world in many cases, in comparison to non-disabled people and their families. Same assumptions can be made in the case of Nepal but due to the dearth of the statistics such assumptions are often dubious. Their rights of equal access to socio-economic areas e.g. employment, education, health etc have not been properly reflected in the policy and legislation of the country. Justifiable expectations of equal access for them are still wishful thinking. As a result, it is not only the person, but the family as a whole is disabled socially and economically. No expert on disability is in the policy making level. Yet none of the political parties have their specific plans and policies in bringing persons with disabilities in the mainstream of the development. It is the bitter fact that in the constitution making process, they are forgotten. The issues of education, health and employment of them remain still unheard. Consequently, the commitment of the parties to build “New Nepal” without addressing the needs of this group has once again under the clouds of uncertainty.
Education, health and employment which are considered some of the important socio-economic indicators if made of inclusive and accessible of such people, not only their livelihood will be improved but also eventually the prospects of their poor families, and of the society and country as a whole. It is therefore essential that persons with disabilities be included in new constitution making process in order to achieve truly a “New Nepal”.
In this sense, it is necessary to tackle the disability issues as the important social, economical and political agenda in order to create a more comfortable society for all of us to live in. Disability issues are without doubt a primary topic for human existence. In disability, economic perspective is being ignored even today. Now, it is the time for disabled advocates, experts and civil society as well as policy makers to utilise the framework and knowledge of modern economics, especially in the fields such as income security, anti-discrimination and disability employment policies. Only then the problems of persons with disabilities such as discriminations, social inequalities and human rights abuse can be solved and our aim of creating “a society for all” and "Building new Nepal” can be achieved and every one in the community can share same values and live the life with dignity.
(Lamichhane, himself a visually impaired person, is researching on socio-economic status of persons with disabilities and is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Tokyo, Japan. E-mail: kamal@bfp.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp)
(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article.)
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2009/others/guestcolumn/apr/guest_columns_01.php
Posted by jicafriends at 09:40 AM | Comments (1)
ICT training for Visually Impaired Student of Dhaka University-Bangladesh
With a view to introducing Information Communication Technology (ICT) to the Visually Impaired student and staff in University of Dhaka a three month long training programme has been organized at Resource Centre of Central Library, Dhaka University from 2nd November 2008.
The training programme has been initiated by Sightsavers International a UK based International organization along with Dhaka University Central Library. The training was conducted by Sightsavers partner Young Power in Social Action (YPSA, a pioneer organization on ICT , based in Chittagong, Bangladesh. YPSA has been working for the Visually Impaired persons for the since long with a good reputation in nationally and internationally. Due to the continuous working in ICT section, YPSA has become expert on ICT promotion for visually impaired person.. A total of 36 students from different department (and 4 staff of Central Library have participated in the programme out of which 20 are male and 16 are female.
Information and communication technology (ICT) has become, within a very short time, one of the basic building blocks of modern society. Because, its play an important role for economic and social development. The people of Bangladesh are now getting the benefits of the ICT for their day to day life. But still, we are far behind in the high way of ICT. Especially visually impaired and the people living in the village are deprived of benefits of ICT.
This training programme is one of the major initiatives of ICT activities in our country. The main objective of this training programme is to empower Visually Impaired Student through ICT as well as encouraging them to fight against the forth coming challenging in future. Now a days ICT becomes one of the best solutions to empowering the VI people. Due to unavailability of source and resource, most of the students are deprived of getting the benefits of ICT.
In order to make the training programme a success, YPSA has provided with internationally recognized trainer (Namely Mr. Vashkar Vattacharya trained from Japan, Thailand and India, Md. Rashed Chowdhury, Trained from Japan, Mr. Madob, Ex-trainee of YPSA IRCD and Henry Hebol Roy) training manual and software as well as other facilities. All VI students are divided into three batches in equal number so that the students can get proper training and can have sufficient time for practice. The main component of this programme is to acquaint VI students to Computer Screen reading software, speech synthesizers, self-voicing software, using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint with JAWS (Job Access with Speech), using DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Talking Book, Visually impairment friendly Electronic Books, Novels, Stories and different Policy and Legislations of Bangladesh. The training is conducted in six days per week from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM considering the benefits of the students.
It is to be mentioned that Sightsavers International is working significantly to empowering the VI people in Bangladesh for long time. In order to establish a Resource Centre in Central Library of University of Dhaka, Sightsavers has taken several steps for the last few years. At last in 2007, their dream has become reality which is now equipped with computers with necessary software, Plextalk (DAISY Book Reader), Perkins Brailler, Braille Printer, Braille Display and internet facility. With a view to help the VI student for study and operating computer, the authority of Central Library recruited two disable personnel.
This training programme can be the turning stage of the students if they can practice more and imply in their daily life. We expect that more people and organizations will come forward to work for the Visually Impaired persons in our country through which we can go ahead as a developed country.
Best regards,
Vashkar vattacharya, focal person DAISY in Bangladesh.
YPSA ICT and RESOURCE CENTRE on DISABILITIES
For more information,
www.ypsa.org,
Posted by jicafriends at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2009
UN marks second World Autism Day on Thursday Posted: Tuesday, 31 March
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
2009, New York | Author: iSeek
This year’s World Autism Awareness Day, mandated by the General Assembly to raise public awareness about the disorder which affects individuals at their early developmental age, will be observed on Thursday, 2 April.
In December 2007, the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/62/139 set the date aside for the annual event. The inaugural observation was commemorated last year with a series of programmes across the world.
This week, the Department of Public Information (DPI), through its Outreach Division, in partnership with civil society organizations, is holding several activities at Headquarters and other locations to commemorate the day.
The week-long programme includes a briefing session by DPI's NGO Relations on "Human Rights and Autism", a lecture, author’s event and a musical performance offering an understanding of the experience of autism.
Quote
U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I ON S U N I E S
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
--
MESSAGE ON WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
2 April 2009
By designating 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations General Assembly has helped to galvanize international efforts to promote greater understanding about autism. This year’s observance is being marked with lectures, briefings, screenings, musical performances,
video conferences, art installations and other activities carried out by the UN family and a full constellation of partners.
I welcome this growing international chorus of voices calling for action to enable children and persons with autism to lead full and meaningful lives. This is not a far-off dream; it is a reality that can be attained by promoting positive perceptions about autism as well as a greater social understanding of this growing challenge.
I have seen what caring people who work tirelessly for this goal can achieve. Last year, the United Nations hosted a rock concert by Rudely Interrupted, whose members have various disabilities, including on the autism spectrum. They brought the audience to its feet with warm,
communicative songs and showed, through the sheer joy of their performance, how much people with disabilities can offer the world.
The words of lead singer Rory Burnside were especially inspiring. “My advice”, he said, “to kids who have some form of disability is: don’t let it stop you. Use it as your strength; don’t use it as your weakness. One red light can lead to a whole bunch of green lights, with a few orange lights thrown in. And the red lights are just a bit of a test. There are definitely more green and orange”.
On World Autism Awareness Day, let us capture and share this spirit, and let us intensify global efforts to ensure that children and persons with autism everywhere can benefit from the supportive environment they need to reach their full potential and contribute to society.
Unquote
Posted by jicafriends at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2009
Munishowr Memorial Disability Journalism Award; examples of good strategies-Nepal
By K. C. Deepak
No one can deny the power of Medias in 21st century. Particularly if you are an activist and want to change the society but have not made the smooth relationship with Medias you are probably missing the boat. There may different ways and methods but nothings would be more effective and sustainable than working with Medias. Good news is that CIL-Kathamdu has already realized the importance of Medias for its long lasting impacts to popularize our issues and to gain the public support through various ways and methods. One of our strategies is to honor the journalist by establishing the different prizes and awards recognizing their every effort they made to popularize our issues in mainstreaming to society.
A Munishowr Memorial Disability Journalism award is one of them (established to the name of late Disabled Leader who was very active in disabled movement of Nepal) which CIL-Kathmandu is jointly organizing since last 3 years with Munishowr Memorial Society. But this year became extra in so many aspects. On the background of republic Nepal, the awards was distributed by the first president of Nepal nowhere other than the President palace itself by the especial management of President House with bearing all the financial cost!
This single event makes so many senses to CIL-Kathamdnu. One of them is our approaches to made relationship up to such a highest diplomatic position by making this possible for which people used to believe it as almost impossible. This shows our sharp diplomatic approach which would be very helpful to include our issues in new upcoming constitution. Recognizing our sprite and hard work even his Excellency put his encouraging words- “Although every people are just picking the words of inclusion but I have not yet seen any practical reality so I would make every possible effort to include the issues of disabled in new constitution.” These words make especial sense for us.
The second one is the guardianship of our new President and his sensitiveness towards our issues. More than 70 disabled people got an opportunity to participate on this important occasion. Where the entire representative from every organization had invited to participated in interactive programs with his Excellency. This may be undoubtedly the first event where such a big mass of disabled people getting an opportunity to interact freely with such a high class level who used not be possible in Kingship ruled Period.
The last one is – right click on right time! In critical time when new constitution is going to make -the Medias is undoubtedly a important tools without it we can not do any things. This event must have worked as extra catalyst to the sprite of Arati Chataut, a television programs host of Nepal television and Mr Omprakesh Bangade, a blind person of Nepal FM, who got Rs 5000/- and Rs 1000 respectively with certificate from the president. But this is also an examples and motivation to other journalist in this period to support and to be the part in such a historic movement to be the voices of voiceless people. CIL-Kathamdnu would always like to promote and eager to works with our friends of Medias to be the part of our mission in creating a right based society treating equally for all.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)
April 01, 2009
First CDSHOD in Central Asia adopts the Bishkek Statement-APCD
The following report on CDSHOD was downloaded from APCD 26th Newsletter. Former participants of both Vocational Rehab. Course and Leadership Development Course played important roles at the workshop. You can find familiar faces in the newsletter.
Bringing partners together and forming the foundation for partnership
APCD organized the "Regional Workshop for Central Asian Countries on Capacity Development of Self-Help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CDSHOD): Rights-based Approach to Disability in Central Asia", in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the Government of Kyrgyz Republic, JICA, UNESCAP and organizations of persons with disabilities (PWDs) of Kyrgyz Republic at Ak-Keme Hotel, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from 21 to 24 October 2008.
Continue...
http://www.apcdproject.org/publications/2009/newsletter26/CDSHOD.html
"Bishkek Statement" is available at http://www.apcdproject.org/others/Bishekek_Statement_Final.pdf
Report on CDSHOD by Mr. Asadullo Zikrikhudoev.
http://www.jicafriends.net/archives/2009/03/report_on_cdsho.html
Posted by jicafriends at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
Cities and provinces issuing IDs for persons with disabilities-Philippines
The following information regarding ID for persons with disabilities in the Philippines was downloaded from withnewshttp://www.withnews.org/
Persons with disabilities cannot avail of privileges if they don’t present special IDs
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:55:26
List of cities and provinces issuing IDs for persons with disabilities
Republic Act 9442 or the amendment of Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons and for Other Purposes (RA 7277) states that a Person with Disability shall be entitled to the following:
Twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments like hotels, restaurants, etc.;
20% discount on admission fees charged by theaters, concert halls, amusements, etc.;
20% discount for purchase of medicines in all drugstores;
20% discount on medical and dental services;
20% discount on fare for domestic air and sea travel;
20% discount in public railways, bus, etc.;
educational assistance through scholarships, books, etc.;
discounts in special purchases;
provision of express lanes in all commercial and govt. establishments; and additional tax incentives.
Cannot avail of these privileges if they don’t present their special identification cards
However, persons with disabilities cannot avail of these privileges if they don’t present their special identification cards. According to the law and the Implementing Rules and Regulations, only the municipal, city and provincial government units are allowed to issue these IDs.
In my pre-employment preparation subject, I assist my deaf students in getting vital documents that they would be needed before they apply for jobs. Since most of them live in the National Capital Region, we were also able to visit some government offices of the surrounding cities. To my surprise, out of the seventeen highly urbanized cities, only six of them issue these IDs!
Special “thank you” goes to Quezon City government most especially to one of their well-loved officials, Ma’am Luz Cabauatan for assisting us. She said that our students simply show our school’s ID. That’s already a proof that they are a PWD. No need to submit any other requirements. Congratulations too to the mayors of cities of Manila, Malabon and Makati. Their processing procedure is very efficient and fast. Aside from that, Makati City also provides free all-day entrance to any movie theaters for their PWD constituents.
List of cities and provinces issuing IDs for persons with disabilities
I received a copy of the list from National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) office. To my PWD brothers and sisters, here is a list that will guide you in getting your IDs. Some LGUs require you to present your Barangay Certificate, ID photos and medical certificate indicating your disability. They will then give you a form which you can fill up and submit together with the other requirements I mentioned. As of October 2008, here are the cities and provinces that has issued special IDs:
National Capital Region - Manila, Muntinlupa City, Malabon City, Makati City, Pasay City, Quezon City, Valenzuela City
Region I - Dagupan City, Candon, Agoo, Aringan, Aringay, San Fernando City
Region II - Enrile, Santiago, Kasibu
Region III - Gerona, Olongapo City, Bulacan, Tarlac, San Fernando, Palayan City
Region IV - Binan, Dasmarinas, Sta. Rosa, Tagaytay City, Cavite, Cuenca, Calapan
Region V - None
Region VI - Iloilo
Region VII - Cebu, Garcia, Talisay City
Region VIII - None
Region IX - None
Region IX - Malaybalay, Gingoog
Cordillera Autonomous Region - Baguio City, Ilogan, Atok
CARAGA - Bislig, Surigao, Butuan, Tandag City
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao - None
Here is the list of good cities and municipalities that care for their constituents who are disabled. If your local government has begun issuing IDs and are not included in the list, kindly post a comment here so I can add it.
For those mayors of cities and municipalities that are not on the list, shame on you! This law has already been passed by the Philippine government since April 2007. It’s already February 2009. When will you follow the law and take care of people who need it the most?
Tags: Luz Cabauatan, Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons, Makati City, Manila, National Capital Region, National Council on Disability Affairs, persons with disabilities, Quezon City, RA 9442
Jose Pepito Manansala Cunanan pepz2002@yahoo.com
Posted by jicafriends at 11:07 AM | Comments (4)
March 24, 2009
Braille Without Borders - India
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs is a not-for-profit educational training center for blind and partially sighted adults who have a desire to foster social change in their communities and throughout the world. Located in Kerala, India, this eleven-month training course founded by Braille Without Borders offers full scholarships and transport to qualified, motivated candidates.
The course covers business management, communication, project and financial planning, open source computer technology, English, public speaking, and fund-raising, among other subjects.
The institute is now accepting applications for the course beginning January, 2010. In order to ensure that we reach as wide a pool of potential candidates as possible, please refer to the following information.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Do you experience social discrimination?
Is it your dream to change and improve the situation?
If yes, the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) is the right place to be. The IISE seeks to empower people, especially blind and partially sighted, to become social entrepreneurs in your communities.
Candidates from all over the world who are at least eighteen and older and who can read and write English are invited to apply for this one-year program before the 30th of June.
Computer literacy training, public speaking, fund raising, and management are some of the courses offered here.
For more information please visit our website at http://www.bwb-iise.org/ You can also write to BrailleWB@gmx.net or per regular post to:
Braille Without Borders
International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs c/o P. Kronenberg Vivekanenda Nagar, Vellayani, Ookode, Nemom PO, TRV 695020 KERALA, INDIA or fax your questions to: Fax 0031848307904
More languages of the above text can be found on our website
Please find below the application form for the 2010 course. If you feel like you are the right one for this training, please copy the questions in a Word or Open Office document, answer them by yourself with the English knowledge you have and send it together with your CV to BrailleWB@gmx.net. Add in Subject: "application" and your full name.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
APPLICATION FORM: 2010 IISE COURSE:
Name
First
Surname
Date of birth
Address
Post code
City/town
Country
Tel
Fax
Email
Gender
Gradation of blindness
Language skills
Education
Please send two letters of recommendation, pererably from a present or former employer, teacher or colleague which include their contact details.
1. Please tell us your reason(s) for applying for the IISE Course in Kerala in no more than 100words.
2. Please tell us more about your rough idea or vision on setting up your own social project or improvingexisting ones? What is your motivation?
3. Where do you plan to set up your project?
4. What target group will benefit?
5. Why do you believe your idea is important? Please give your reasons.
6. How will you achieve your vision?
7. What help will you need?
- what people can help, what resources do you try to find, where would you find funding
8. How long do you think it will take to set up your idea/vision?
9. What is your current profession?
10. Braille and language skills: Do you read, write and speak?
what languages: Local Braille, English grade 1, English grade
2, other languages. Black print, regular print, large print.
11. How do you judge your mobility and orientation skills?
12. Do you use computertechnology? If yes, what are your skills? What programmes do you use?
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
With best regards,
Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg
Founders
Braille Without Borders
Contact details project Kerala:
E-mail: BrailleWB@gmx.net
Posted by jicafriends at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2009
Disabled for job help - Fiji
Last year we had a participant from the Fiji Vocational Technical Training Centre for Persons with Disability and today I found the news about the center in the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
5-Mar-2009 08:51 AM
THE Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons (FNCDP) has urged interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama to assist people with disabilities to enter the workforce.
The council made the plea when Bainimarama visited the Fiji Vocational Technical Training Centre for Persons with Disability on Tuesday.
Fiji Disabled Peoples Association president Akuila Rewatabua said they were fortunate to have a visit from the PM and informed him of what the centre offered for people living with disabilities.
Rewatabua informed Bainimarama of the difficulties the council faced such as the employment and absorption of disabled persons into the workforce and the ability to recruit specialised teachers to teach students living with disabilities.
“I sincerely request if the policy of employing people with disability who are qualified is taken up. From the workforce, two percent should be given job opportunities for people with disability,” he said.
Rewatabua said they needed qualified teachers to come and teach our students, however the education system was not favourable to them.
“It is very difficult to get qualified teachers to provide vocational training and our special schools have been graded similar to the ordinary schools in Fiji – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.”
“One teacher has to teach about 30 children but with us it is different as we need more teachers to cater for quality learning process of the students with disabilities,” Rewatabua said.
Bainimarama said his visit had been helpful in giving him an insight of the activities offered and learnt more about people living with disabilities.
http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=2&fijidailynews=22358
Posted by jicafriends at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)
Vanuatu to host Pacific Disability Conference
We found the name of Mr.Setareki Macanawai, a former participant of Leaders' Course 1999 in the mailing list of "Disability and Development" which is published Mr. Soya Mori.
08 March, 2009 12:00Author: Florence Kuali-IautuVanuatu Daily Post
Vanuatu will be the host nation to this year's Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) Conference to be held in April where more than 100 participants around the Pacific and Asia will attend.
The conference, which is scheduled from April 20 to 23, will include three meetings - the Pacific Regional Forum on women with disabilities, Disability conference and workshop and lastly the PDF general and council meeting for PDF members.
The Chief Executive Officer to the PDF Setareki Macanawai confirmed the meeting this week to Daily Post when he was in the country inpreparing for the big meeting.
Mr Macanawai during his visit also met with the Prime Minister Edward Natapei to discuss the conference. The conference will be hosted by Vanuatu's Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (DPA) headed by Andy Lynch as the countrycoordinator.
Mr Macanawai said the theme for the conference is 'Advancing in disability in the Pacific Island Countries'. According to the PDF CEO, Vanuatu was selected to be the host nationduring the organisation's last meeting in 2007. "This year's conference in Port Vila will be very rewarding for our participants because they will have the chance to learn and share ideas from our counter parts here as the only Pacific nation to ratify the Convention on the rights of people living with disabilities," he said. He said the main issues that will be discussed during the conference are the issues on women with disabilities and the promotion of the new United Nations' Convention, which Vanuatu ratified. "We will be promoting the new convention on disability and will encourage governments to ratify it," he said. During his short visit to the country this week, Mr Macanawai together with the members of DPA inspected possible venues for the conference and seeking government's support towards next month's conference.
Participants to the four-day regional conference are expected toarrive on April 19 and will return home on April 24 2009.
http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=3924&VivvoSessionId=6be09d949b4fddfa097b
photo caption: Mr Macanawai and DPA's national coordinator Andy Lynch and a DPA member during their meeting this week in Port Vila
Posted by jicafriends at 10:23 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2009
Report on CDSHOD-Mr. Asadullo Zikrikhudoev from Tajikistan
CDSHOD was held in Kirghizstan last October. Mr. Zikrikhudoev had an opportunity to attend the regional seminar as an representative of Tajikistan and sent us the following report.
Report of the regional seminar of developing of potential
organization of self-help of Persons with Disabilities (CDSHOD) and legal way to solve the problem of disability in Central Asia countries.
Bishkek, 2008 October 21-24.
In August 2008 representatives of JICA and APCD were on a visit in Dushanbe for getting information about the activity of disabled people movement in Tajikistan. There was a meeting of representatives of Organization of visually impaired, deaf and physical impaired persons and disabled women. In course of the discussion representatives of JICA and APCD decided to invite representatives of our organization (Society of Disabled persons of Dushanbe), Society of Blind and Women's league to take part in the CDSHOD seminar, holding in Bishkek in Akke-Me Hotel. There were participants from different countries such as Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. There also took an active part representative of international organizations and government of republic of Kirghizstan. This seminar was supported by Ministry of Labor and Social Development of Kirghiz Republic, JICA, APCD, UN ESCAP.
During 4 days we managed to get a lot of information and know about the activity of our colleagues. There also was a group work where appeared interesting situations. The most interesting was the discussion of the term of "disabled person". There were a lot of questions during the discussion and participants with a great interest discussed how to call the person with disability in our region. But this question was not solved completely. During the seminar there also was discussed a question regarding the legal standard in relation of persons with disabilities. Participants informed us about that situation in their countries. There also was a lot of information of UN CRPD. My presentation was directed on the Convention and also touched the theme "Role of NGOs in accepting the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In my presentation I informed the audience about the history of accepting the Convention and about the activity of NGOs of Tajikistan of the sooner rati fication of the Convention.
Besides daily work representatives of Kirghizstan organized a soirée where participants could discuss different questions. And we also admired singing and dancing of the participants.
Next to the last day there was chosen the Committee of developing of the total document Declaration. The members of this Committee are representatives of Kazakhstan (Lazzat Kaltaeva, Kairat Amanaliev), Kirghizstan (Gulmira Kazakunova), Tajikistan (Asadullo Zikrikhudoev, Kholmakhmad Tengniev), Uzbekistan (Guljamol Mamadkulova) and Turkmenistan (Jannat).
In course of accepting Declaration there occurred a stormly rough discussion and a number of questions. In the final document there was decided to apply to the Heads of State with a request of accepting the UN CRPD, open a resource center of coordination of net of Central Asia Disabled Persons Organizations which will be functioning in Bishkek and also to develop a regional cooperation between Central Asia DPOs. At the end of the seminar the Minister of Labor and Social Development of Kirghiz Republic Ms.Abdullaeva gave all of us certificates.
I think the seminar was very useful and fruitful. For the present time the resource center began its functioning and we exchange the information with our colleagues.
Best regards,
Asadullo Zikrikhudoev.
You can obtain related information from APCD website,
http://www.apcdproject.org/publications/2008/newsletter24/missions.html
Posted by jicafriends at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2009
Retrenching foreign workers, get back levy in a month-Malaysia
In Japan the actual employment rate for general private companies as of 1 June 2008 was 1.59, a rise of 0.04 percentage points above the previous year, but it has still not reached the level of 1.8% stated by the Law for Employment Promotion etc., of the Disabled.
The following is one of the measures of Malaysian government to promote employment of persons with disabilities. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
PEKAN: The government is dangling millions of ringgit to employers to retrench foreign workers and hire locals instead. Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said in Pekan, Pahang that employers who retrenched their foreign workers would get the balance of the levies that they had paid for the workers within a month, compared with up to two years previously.
"This is some sort of an incentive to the employers to lay off their foreign workers and take in locals," he said.
He said there had been encouraging response from employers. It was reported that the Immigration Department collected about RM2 billion in levies from foreign workers annually. Subramaniam said his ministry would work with the Home Ministry to expedite the reimbursement of the annual levy, which is between RM1,200 and RM1,800 for each foreign worker. He could not give an estimate of how much money would be returned to employers but 6,000 of the 15,000 workers retrenched so far, due to the economic downturn, were foreigners. Subramaniam said the quick return of money to employers would help them use it for other purposes.
He also urged companies affected by the economic slowdown to send their workers for training under the ministry's programme.
"They should utilise this programme rather than retrench their workers.
" It will help employers reduce cost," he said, adding that the government would pay a monthly allowance to the workers.
He said this after presenting business grants to handicapped entrepreneurs in Pekan yesterday.
Subramaniam also presented a certificate to Vacuumschmelze (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Karl Heinz Michmann for the company's continuous effort to employ the handicapped. On handicapped workers, he said a special rehabilitation and vocational training centre for them would be opened in Malacca by June next year. He said it was important to train more handicapped workers as the one per cent quota allocated for them in the public and private sectors had yet to be achieved.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2478505/Article/index_html
Posted by jicafriends at 04:55 PM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2009
1st Asia Pacific CBR Congress and Network
Dear Friends,
Please find Report of First Asia Pacific Congress and Network Report.
The First Asia-Pacific CBR Congress organized with over 650 participants from the entire Asia Pacific region and round the globe. It was indeed a big gathering of CBR people – planners, policy makers, implementers, People with Disabilities, organisational representatives, UN Agencies, Developmental Agencies, Government agencies and individuals in Bangkok, Thailand. Leading experts from across the world shared their experiences. As a joint initiative of the UN agencies, Governments and civil society. The major theme of the Congress was "Community-based Inclusive Development: people with disabilities and their families" with several sub-themes such as "CBR as grass-root strategy to promote Inclusive development" and "Stakeholders' roles for promotion of CBR and inclusive development".
Objectives of Congress were:
• Bring key stakeholders together to share resources and to be updated
• Develop an alliance and resource base for the Asia-Pacific region among UN, Governments (GO), NGOs, DPOs and others.
• Promote CBR as an effective multi-sectoral strategy to reduce poverty, ensure rights and enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities and their families
• Promote the importance of the implementation of the CRPD, the BMF and BMF plus Five.
• Promote community-based inclusive development for people with disabilities and their families.
• Introduction of CBR Guidelines; a joint publication of WHO, ILO and UNESCO in in partnership with civil society.
• Promote research and evidence - based practice related to CBR artnership with civil society.
Achieved outcomes:
• Formed CBR Asia-Pacific Network which will be ultimately part of CBR Global Network
• Developed multi-sectoral partnership and establishing Multi-sectoral CBR Strategy to operationalize the provisions of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Linked up CBR with BMF, Millennium Development Goal (MDG), Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), and other mainstream development initiatives.
• Active participation of persons with disabilities and their families/organizations in CBR.
• Member states to initiate/support/strengthen CBR within the country.
• Future Plan of Actions on identified needs including research and good practices.
The colourful programme was initiated by traditional Thai dance and was followed by the opening ceremony. There was representation from senior level people from the Thailand government, United Nations, WHO, ILO etc. Post all this the proceedings of the Congress was initiated. The Organizers of the Congress were Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) Thailand, World Health Organization (WHO), Foundation of Asia Pacific Development Center on Disabilities (APCD Foundation) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and supporters were different Ministries of Royal Thai Government, JICA, APCD, CBM and LCDI. Many other stakeholders also played a vital role like DPI AP, HI, WVI, AIFO, Sightsavers, APDF and many other organizations.
During the 3 days a range of topics were covered through discussions, presentations, debates (as well as side meetings over tea and lunch). Some of the topics that were covered included UNCRPD, CBR Matrix, CBR and women with disabilities, BMF, CBR and alliances, Research and evidence based practice in CBR, CBR and accessibility, CBR networks, CBR and self help groups, etc. There were pre-cbr and post-cbr congress events, like AIFO's CBR and Rights of Person with Disabilities 16 and 17 February, APCD CBR training workshop on 21 February, Leprosy Workshop 21 and 22 February 2009. In side meetings people from different organizations like AIFO, HI, Sight Savers, LCDI and People with Disabilities held meetings. Same time many countries have separate meetings and elected coordinators for their respective countries to represent in CBR Asia Pacific Network.
While some of the presentations were really useful, some were not at all informative and some did not even speak on the topic assigned (and rather spoke on their organisation and what they were involved in). While at times it was hard to choose which of the concurrent sessions to attend, at times the choice was evident (but not the learning’s that we all garnered!). People with Disabilities also provided opportunities to express their views about CBR.
The Congress provided an excellent platform to network with representatives from across the region and interact with many others about whom we had only heard or just were introduced on emails only. Sending this report will also support those who not attended the CBR Congress and now may contact with their country coordinators and support them to develop a strong CBR Network on national level with equal opportunities to Organizations of People with Disabilities.
A CBR Network developed, evolved or formed among CBR implementers/practitioners, People with Disabilities, Gender equalization and various type of organizations to promote and strengthen CBR, really it is a natural network without any out side intervention. Now the strength of the network depends on the strength of individual or organizational members and the co-ordination and collaboration between members. It is expected that the benefits from the network will be greater than those from individual efforts.
It is anticipated that the CBR AP Network will become very active in promotion of CBR across the World, continent and in countries. The Congress provided a great opportunity to form the assembly of the proposed CBR AP Network and a group of leaders. First meeting of CBR AP Network held in Hotel Prince Palace and three immediate tasks adopted:
1. Website of CBR AP Network will be designed. Till CBR AP Congress website can be used (see link below).
2. Constitution of CBR AP Network will be drafted.
3. Action plan of CBR AP Network will be developed up to 2011 (till next congress).
The other tasks for the CBR Asia Pacific Network, defined:
• Develop the CBR Asia-Pacific Network, set up a secretariat and seek funding (APCD will be requested to provide facility for the secretariat and WHO will provide initial funds for staff)
• Collate or develop a regional resource base, promotional materials in regional languages on National level.
• Facilitate the formation of CBR National Networks and provide support to the countries. As the each country coordinator will be responsible to strength National CBR Network.
• Organize training workshops to promote CBR and strengthen CBR implementation in line with the forthcoming CBR Guidelines at continental level and support similar initiatives at country level
• Support research initiatives that will contribute to making CBR more evidence-based, such researchers forum separately met and will support CBR AP Network in research field.
• Develop and establish the linkage between CRPD and CBR.
• Facilitate linkages between different stakeholders and develop a strong alliance with Government, National/International NGOs including DPOs
• Organize regular CBR continental congress. Next congress proposed in 2011 India and Philippines showed interest to organize in their respective countries.
• To provide support towards CBR World Congress to be held once in four years starting from 2012.
The key to the success of CBR Asia Pacific Networks is linked to the CBR National Networks or sub-regional networks.
Major Source: http://www.cbr-asiapacific.org
Regards
Ghulam Nabi Nizamani
Ps: Minutes of CBR AP Network meeting will be circulated among the members (country coordinators) and treat this email just as report of CBR AP Congress (as Personal views)
Posted by jicafriends at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
Disability Rights Watch Group Launched-Bangladesh
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Disability Rights Watch Group Launched
'No school facilities for 16 lakh children with disabilities'
Staff Correspondent
A new forum under the banner of 'Disability Rights Watch Group' was launched yesterday to monitor the present condition of the people with disability and help implement the CRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) in the country.
The forum was launched formally at the initiative of the National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) at the National Press Club in the city.
“This watch group has been formed as a shadow watch group of the government committee, which was formed under its obligation for signing the CRPD which was effective from May 3 of last year,” said Forum Director Dr Nafisur Rahman.
It will help ensure the comprehensive rights of the people with disabilities, he added.
People from all walks of life including experts and rights activists, acid survivors, lawyers, development workers, indigenous people, two wheelchair users Mahua Paul and Antara Ahmed and one hearing impaired person Khaled Osman are the members of this group.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam called for enacting laws for implementing the convention in the country.
Otherwise, the government would not feel it necessary to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, she added.
Although there is government instruction for building infrastructure accessible to people with disabilities, but most of the government organisations do not comply with this instruction, said Rasheda K Chowdhury, former adviser to immediate-past caretaker government.
She suggested for awareness among the policymakers and media people in this respect.
Forum Chairman Khandaker Jahurul Alam chaired the launching ceremony.
He said, “There are 16 lakh children with disabilities in the country who are now waiting for going to school, but we do not have the capacity,” he said.
Prof Abul Kalam Azad, Prof Abdul Mannan, Prof Shuvagata Chowdhury, Advocate Syeda Rezwana Hasan, Supreme Court lawyer Dr Naim Ahmed, columnist Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Prof Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed and CM Shafi Sami were present on the occasion.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=76257
Posted by jicafriends at 11:37 AM | Comments (2)
March 03, 2009
United Voice Food & Fun Fair
Dear Friends of UV,
United Voice will be organising a Fundraising Food & Fun Fair in March. The Food & Fun Fair will be on 14th March 2009 at the Bandar Utama Community Center and targeted to have over 60 stalls offering food delights and a wide range of products from the employment project. Members of United Voice will be making greeting cards, bookmarks, fridge magnets, festival greeting cards, handicrafts and food products for sale as part of their employment project. Included in the programme are creative fun activities for children and adults, a colouring contest sponsored by Pelikan where persons with learning disabilities can take part and a Yo-Yo performance by the Malaysian Yo-Yo Club. There will also be a display of paintings by talented artists of United Voice.
Please find attached is a copy of our Flyer. Feel free to pass it around to your friends & family.
Looking forward to seeing you there! Thank you
Regards,
The United Voice team
www.unitedvoice.com.my
Posted by jicafriends at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2009
DEF SCHOLARSHIPS 2009
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
International Centre for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies, Preston, UK
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India
Deaf Empowerment Foundation, The Netherlands
1. THE COURSE
Applied Sign Language Studies brings together the study of sign language and deaf communities with areas of study in applied linguistics, such as first and second language acquisition, bilingualism, language planning and policy, and language pedagogy. Graduates may become sign language teachers, professionals in the field of language supportfor deaf people, teaching assistants in deaf education, and interpreter trainers.
The course is designed specifically to be accessible for deaf students and is taught through sign language. Learning by doing is included in work placements, lab work, and experiential modules. Deaf students without standard secondary school qualifications can take a one-year preparatory course (Foundation Entry) and continue with the BA course afterwards.
The BA in Applied Sign Language Studies is a joint international initiative. The course was developed at the International Centre for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies in the UK and will be taught at the Indira Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi, India. The beginning of the programme in 2009 is subject to validation.
2. THE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Deaf Empowerment Foundation is providing scholarships for deaf students in the preparatory Foundation Entry course in the 2009/2010 academic year. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FOR TUITION FEES ONLY AND DO NOT COVER TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION OR LIVING EXPENSES.
Scholarships for Indian students These cover one year of tuition fees at Rs. 10,000 and are available to Indian nationals. Students from other developing countries may also be eligible and should confirm their status when applying.
Scholarships for international students These cover one year of tuition fees at GBP 1,500 and are available to non-Indian students. This includes all students from industrialised countries and certain categories of students from developing countries other than India. The latter should confirm their status when applying.
The Foundation Entry course programme focuses on English literacy and other academic skills in these modules (HE means Higher Education, i.e. BA level and beyond):
English for deaf learners in HE
English reading skills for deaf learners
Text composition skills for deaf learners
Study skills and Personal Development Planning
Information Technology and Numeracy in HE
Applicants should check that are likely to meet admissions criteria for the Foundation Entry course, which include (for full details see the application pack):
- Sufficient sign language skills (determined through certified learning or interview)
- Sufficient English literacy skills (determined through certified learning or admission assessment)
3. CONTACT
For further information is available at http://www.uclan.ac.uk/ahss/research/islands/index.php or
http://www.def-intl.org/
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 29 MAY 2009.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2009
Workability International Annual Conference 2008 in Sapporo
The Workability International Annual Conference 2008 "Developing the Future Workability of Six Hundred Million" was hosted by Workability International Japan on 9th –11th September 2008 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, JAPAN, Sapporo Prince Hotel.
You can access to the conference presentation and downloadable presentation from the follwoing page;
http://www.workability-international.org/events.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2009
“Municipality has 1,000 Buses, Disabled Can only Get on 10”-Turkey
One of the participants of Leadership Development Course 2008 was from Ankara, Turkey, who works for protecting rights of persons with disabilities there in Turkey. Today we found the following information related to persons with disabilities of Ankara in the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
The Turkish Association of Disabled People has accused local authorities of token gestures towards the disabled rather than real service.
Bıa news centre - Ankara
05-02-2009
Bawer ÇAKIR
Murat Şahinbaz, head of Ankara’s Turkish Association of Disabled People evaluated the services of local government for bianet in the run-up to the local elections on 29 March.
“Local authorities do something for the disabled, but always without including them. These ‘token’ arrangements and services do not help us.”
Those affected are not consulted.
Şahinbaz thus criticises municipal councils which carry out projects without consulting relevant NGOs and people actually affected by disabilities.
He emphasises the need for structural changes that would allow disabled and able people to live together, telling bianet:
“The disabled live in isolation from public life anyway. We do not want schools for the disabled; rather, we want everyone to profit from municipal services equally.”
Urgent demands for improvements
According to the association, municipalities must consider the following issues as a priority:
Inner-city transport: Public transport vehicles need to be accessible for the disabled. In Ankara, for instance, there are over 1,000 buses, but only 10 have access for the disabled. In addition, buses in most cities charge the disabled. However, so the association, public transport should be free of charge nation-wide.
Pavements: according to the laws, pavements must have an 8 percent slope so that the disabled can use them easily. However, in Ankara in particular, many pavements have a 70 percent slope. This makes life very difficult for those people trying to get around. When there are overhead and underground walkways with escalators, these can often only be accessed after negotiating stairs.
Representation in councils: local authorities are obliged to represent the disabled. That is why they should consult NGOs and disabled people on their city planning projects.
Employment quota: The Law on Disability has made it obligatory for workplaces to employ disabled people. The quota has been set at 3 percent. Although there are more than 10,000 people working in the public sector, this quota has not been fulfilled.
Support teams: In other countries, city councils create support teams for the disabled. The association demands similar implementations in Turkey to make it easier for the disabled to take part in public life.
No more tokenism
Şahinbaz voiced other criticism: “When there is a physiotherapy centre opened, there is one physiotherapist to 60 disabled people. The therapist cannot be of use to all of them. That is why we need more expert professionals employed in services for the disabled.”
He emphasised that many of the current “services” were token gestures and did not contribute to a more positive life experience for the disabled. (BÇ/EÜ/AG)
Posted by jicafriends at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
1st Asia-Pacific CBR Congress-Bangkok
The 1st Asia-Pacific CBR Congress “Community – based Inclusive Development: Persons with disabilities and their families” to be held at the Prince Palace Hotel, Bangkok from 18 to 20 February 2009.
With collaboration among the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), WHO, Foundation of Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD Foundation) and UNESCAP and with great support from many stakeholders including international and national organizations,
More information will be obtained from the following site;
http://www.cbr-asiapacific.org/
Posted by jicafriends at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2009
Newsletter from YPSA, Bangladesh.
Ms. Sadia Tajin, a former participant of Vocational Rehab. Course 2008 belongs to this organization and she sent us her progress report on 3rd of January. We will upload her report soon.
http://www.ypsa.org/index.php
The secretariat of jica friends
Posted by jicafriends at 11:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2009
More opportunities for disabled advocated-Saudi Arabia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Arab News - 27 Jan. 2009
Fatima Sidiya | Arab News
JEDDAH: Participants of a three-day symposium in Jeddah on disabled people discussed the difficulties that the physically-challenged people face and called for them to be given more opportunities to work and get education.
The event — entitled “Young Adults & Beyond, Toward a Secure & Stable Future” — has been organized by the Help Center and began on Monday with speakers from around the globe speaking about the rights of the disabled.
Many of those who addressed the conference were themselves disabled professionals who — in spite of their disabilities — had achieved international excellence. Participants also included the disabled with sign language interpreters to communicate with the deaf.
Qusai Filali, director general of the Jeddah Labor Office, discussed problems facing disabled people at the workplace. He also told participants that the disabled are always known to be punctual.
Representatives of Effat College and Al-Zahrah Private School spoke of their experiences in enrolling disabled girls into their employment programs, something they described as remarkable and instrumental in helping the disabled become involved in society.
Kaltham Al-Matrooshi, a board member of the UAE-based Handicapped Guardians Association, told Arab News about the UAE’s experience in employing and rehabilitating disabled citizens and expatriates.
“We treat them alike, all clubs and committees are open to everyone,” said Al-Matrooshi, who is also disabled. She added that rehabilitation should begin with the family. “The family is the first stage. Families should help disabled children come to terms with their conditions. This would happen with the help of consultation teams at different rehabilitation centers. This would build trust in disabled people,” she added.
Al-Matrooshi said disabled men and women receive equal rights in the UAE and are given priority in public help regardless of whether they are local or foreign. She said that a system is being developed to allow the disabled to work from home, adding that more effort is needed to encourage families to allow their disabled relatives to work rather than just provide them with comfortable atmosphere at home.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=118649&d=28&m=1&y=2009&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Posted by jicafriends at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2009
Special Olympics in China
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
on Jan 12, 2009 By Special Olympics.org
Special Olympics has long been a champion for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Some may be surprised to learn that China is one of Special Olympics’ greatest supporters, and is making great strides in improving lives for people with intellectual disabilities in their country.
Imagine a needy population – people traditionally shunned, ignored or denied basic rights and privileges like education, medical care and job training. Now imagine their country uniting to help them: committing unprecedented financial and human resources to bring them health care, fitness programs, literacy lessons and occupational training.
China doesn’t need to imagine any of this – they are working to make it happen, thanks to the catalyzing effect of Special Olympics. Since 1982, Special Olympics has been an influential force in China, transforming attitudes one community at a time. In the past eight years, the government has met our challenge head-on – expanding Special Olympics and services and support for people with intellectual disabilities bringing new hope to more than 700,000 athletes and their families.
Zhang Xinhui is one of these athletes. As a child, she contracted a serious illness that left her with an intellectual disability. She became unhealthy and withdrawn, refusing to talk to other children. In 2003, her devastated parents looked to Special Olympics for support. Zhang quickly discovered a love of table tennis. Months later and with the encouragement of her family, she won two gold medals – changing her life forever. Today, she is healthy, active and outgoing. In April 2007, she participated in the Special Olympics East Asia Athlete Leadership Program training course and later became a torch carrier in Japan and Korea. Her father says, “Special Olympics has given her and our family new hope.”
Attitudes in China have not always been this welcoming. Traditionally, Eastern people view the birth of a child with an intellectual disability as a punishment for misdeeds in a previous life. Xie Jin, a famous film director and father of two such children, was persecuted and made to
wear a dunce cap during the Cultural Revolution. People with intellectual disabilities were often restricted to their homes. In extreme cases, it has been suggested to parents to kill their babies.
Thanks in large part to the commitment of disability advocate Deng Pufang, the Honorary Chairman of Special Olympics China and the Chairman of the China Disabled Person’s Federation, Special Olympics China has made great strides to protect the human rights of people with
intellectual disabilities and reduce the suffering and exclusion of them and their families.
The results have been impressive. Under the leadership of Jiang Xemin and supported by now President Hu Jintao, China pledged a 5-Year Plan, later passed into law, that devoted significant government resources to growing Special Olympics China and providing new and expanded public
services for people with intellectual disabilities. In the eight years since the 5-Year Plan was put into effect, more than 500,000 new athletes participate in Special Olympics in every Province, and other changes are happening around the country in support of people with disabilities, including:
Sunshine Homes. China opened 240 Sunshine Homes in Shanghai, serving 11,500 people with intellectual disabilities. These centers teach students life skills, like reading, cooking and navigating their way in their communities.
Friendlier Facilities. Specific sports training centers have been developed for Special Olympics. And over 30 sports venues in Shanghai alone have been made more accessible to the disabled. Additionally, handicap accessible taxi-cabs are now available and education on working with people with intellectual disabilities is provided as part of training in select fields.
Inclusive Education. Inclusive preschools and kindergartens where children with and without intellectual disabilities can learn together are now available in Shanghai. These will serve as a model for additional schools throughout China. The government also conducted awareness research among 4,000 middle-school youth to assess their awareness and understanding of intellectual disabilities.
Better Medical Care. The Chinese government helped to establish the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Special Olympics Sports Health Center in Shanghai, a collaboration between the Wenzhou Medical College and Special Olympics. The Health Center provides for health-care services and medical research benefiting people with intellectual disabilities throughout East Asia.
This amazing growth of inclusion and opportunity throughout China culminated in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, hosted in Shanghai. The Games brought together 7,300 athletes and 40,000 volunteers from 164 countries, filling Shanghai Stadium to its 80,000-seat capacity during the Opening Ceremony. The ceremony was a show of unity and a demonstration to everyone in attendance just how powerful Special Olympics can be in bringing people from every corner of the world together to focus on a shared goal.
The next morning, at the 2007 Global Policy Summit on People with Intellectual Disabilities, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China Hui Liangyu credited Special Olympics with inspiring all of its positive change: “Special Olympics came to China more than 20 years ago and is now an important part of our communities, schools and families. These Games have brought hope to thousands of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, and have become an important force driving the cause of human rights in China.”
Though we have had a measurable impact in China and in other countries, there is still so much work to be done for people with intellectual disabilities around the world. Even in places with laws that protect the rights of the disabled, they and their families continue to suffer without the support of their communities.
Help us bring Special Olympics to more places where the need is great. Your donation empowers families by giving them a place to gather, a chance to cheer for their loved ones and a voice to raise in support of their children.
http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=3644319
Posted by jicafriends at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2009
Make internet more accessible to the disabled: rights group-India
We found the name of Mr.JaJaved 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.
Jan 5th, 2009 | By Sindh Today | Category: India
New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) In order to make the internet more accessible to all, including the disabled, a rights group has asked for adoption of web accessibility standard which has already been adopted in a number of other countries.
‘India had ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Oct 2007. However, no move has been made till date to adopt or make mandatory web accessibility guidelines in our country,", director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) said.
‘Consequently, a lot of government and private web sites are inaccessible for persons with disabilities, defeating the very purpose of Information and Communication (ICT) for development,’ he added.
According to Abidi, countries like the US, Britain, Canada and Australia have enacted laws which make it mandatory for creators of web pages to follow the minimum standards so that they are easily accessible to all.
‘It’s not a huge task to increase the web’s utility so that everyone can take advantage of it. Web page creators can take care that text descriptions are provided for those pages which contain images and graphics which cannot be understood by screen readers. Key board alternatives for every function which has to be executed with a mouse can also be of great help,’ he said.
Some other suggestions like avoiding colours to convey any meaning and creation of links so that a screen reader can directly go to the content page instead of getting confused with a whole lot of directions would also help in making the web more accessible to the disabled, he added.
‘Countries like Britain and Australia, which have a disabled population of 10 million and 3.9 million respectively, have successfully made web accessibility initiative. But India, with a much larger population of disabled people, at 21.9 million according to the 2001 census, has not made any such efforts.’
‘It is important that a policy which not only requires government sites, but also the sites of all publicly listed companies, to conform to web accessibility standards,’ Abidi said.
http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/48105.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2009
Firms urged to give 2pc of jobs to disabled-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
PEKAN: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak proposed yesterday that private sector companies reserve two per cent of their jobs for the disabled.
"In this way, more disabled would be able to serve the companies and lead a better future," said Najib.
"It's part of your corporate social responsibility.
"You have been providing financial assistance to them, so now you can offer them suitable jobs in your organisations," he said after attending the Excellence Day ceremony for Pekan Community
Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) at SMK Sri Pekan yesterday.
The deputy prime minister said that countries like Japan had a legal provision compelling the private sector to offer jobs to the disabled.
"If they fail to provide the jobs, then the firm must provide financial assistance to the government to help the disabled.
"This is just my suggestion to the private sector. I hope they will offer assistance to the disabled"
Najib said the PDKs must adopt a culture of excellence to improve further.
"As human beings, we will never be able to achieve our dreams if we fail to adopt the excellence culture.
"We have to always equip ourselves in all aspects as the people will evaluate us through our achievements."
Najib later handed out excellence awards to outstanding disabled individuals and their parents at the function.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/2443420/Article/index_html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
E-Newsletter from YPSA-Bangladesh
We've received a following newsletter from the Young Power in Social Action, NGO which Sadia san, a participant of Vocational Rehab. Course 2008 belongs to.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 08:45 AM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2008
Seven Regional Survey Reports of Global HumanRights Project
We found the following information via "Intl-Dev mailing list with
cooperation of Dr. Amy Wilson, Gallaudet University."
Regional Survey Reports plus other information about the Global Human Rights
of Deaf People Project that are available from:
http://www.wfdeaf.org/projects.html
Seven regions are
- Eastern Europe and Middle Asia Regional Secretariat of the WFD (EEMARS)
- WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (RSA/P)
- WFD Regional Secretariat for South America (RSSA)
- WFD Regional Secretariat for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (WFD MCAC)
- WFD Regional Secretariat for Eastern and Southern Africa (WFD RSESA)
- WFD Interim Regional Secretariat for Western and Central Africa Region (WFD WCAR)
- WFD Interim Regional Secretariat for the Arab Region (WFD RSAR)
Posted by jicafriends at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2008
Information and Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities opened in Bishkek-Kyrgyz Republic
The following information is from Mr. Minoru Hiramoto, JICA Expert for the Project for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities into Society in Kyrgyz Republic. We assume that Mr. Bakyt Kakiev, former participant of Leadership Development Course took part in the following activities.
*******************************************************************************
3rd December, the occasion of UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities*, the opening ceremony of the Information and Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities took place. The center was opened in the compound of Ministry of Labor and Social Development Building in Bishkek under the technical cooperation project between the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the Government of Kyrgyz Republic, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Around 50 people consists of the representatives of both Kyrgyz and Japanese government, disabled peoples’ organizations, NGOs and international organizations participated in the event.
The Information and Resource Centre will serve not only for providing information and communication on disability to persons with disabilities and their organizations within the country but also function as the hub of network among disabled peoples’ organizations in Central Asia.
At the ceremony, Her Excellency, Ms. Ibraimova Elmira, Vice Prime Minister,
Government of Kyrgyz Republic, thanked the cooperation of Japanese government through JICA.
Referring to the international workshop ‘Capacity Development of Self Help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CDSHOD)’ which Ministry of Labor and Social Development conducted 21st - 24th October, jointly with the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), she said “We are grateful for what we have discussed is now being realized step by step.”.
His Excellency, Mr. Yuichi Iizuka, Charge d'affaires, Embassy of Japan in Kyrgyz Republic, praised Kyrgyz Government for their initiative towards persons with disabilities and wished the cooperation between two countries will continue and enhance bilateral relationship.
“JICA believes that persons with disabilities are not target of charity but holder of rights and the agent of change. To be effective agents of change and to increase the ‘capability’, JICA provides persons with disabilities with training, information and opportunities of networking through our
experts, volunteers and training courses. The Centre will be a place of the human resource development.”, Mr. Hideaki Maruyama, Chief Representative,
JICA Kyrgyz Republic Office said in his speech.
Her Excellency, Ms. Uktomkhan Abdullaeva, Minister of Labor and Social Development, wished the center and its activities will be expanded. “The present center is a small one. But by the initiative and unified effort of persons with disabilities, we will make it bigger in the future.”, she said.
At the end of ceremony, Mr. Kalyk Mambetakunov, President of Association of Disabled Persons in Kyrgyzstan expressed gratitude on behalf of disabled community. Ms. Asipa Musaeva, Vice President of Association of Disabled Persons in Kyrgyzstan was handed over the donated items from Kyrgyz Government as well as the key of the center.
The center is equipped with computers and seminar room for information exchange and training. It is also made accessible for wheelchair users. The entrance has ramp and floor is leveled. Toilet has sliding door and hand rails for physically disabled.
“We follow the building code of Kyrgyz Government. We also consulted with local persons with disabilities including wheelchair users. The country already has guidelines and disabled persons who can work as professional consultants. Creating this kind of barrier free environment is easier and
less costly for new construction. I hope the center will be a model for other public facilities. “, said Mr. Minoru Hiramoto, JICA expert, Project for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities into Society in Kyrgyz Republic.
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* The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3rd of December, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and
well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of the Day is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities, established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by General Assembly in 1982. This year’s theme is "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us".
http://www.donors.kg/en/news/?news=454
Posted by jicafriends at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2008
People with disabilities must play key role in development, says Ban-UN News Centre
3 December 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today by stressing that people with disabilities – the vast majority of whom live in poor countries – have a fundamental role to play in development processes.
The Day falls a week before the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and both occasions are being commemorated with the theme, “Dignity and justice for all of us.”
Mr. Ban pointed out that the General Assembly has underscored the need to include people with disabilities in efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets, by their 2015 deadline.
“With 80 per cent of persons with disabilities – more than 400 million people – living in poor countries, we need to do much more to break the cycle of poverty and disability,” he said.
Noting that the international disability community’s slogan is “Nothing about us without us,” the Secretary-General called on governments and others to guarantee that persons with disabilities are an integral part of all development processes.
“In this way, we can promote integration and pave the way for a better future for all people in society,” he said.
Mr. Ban stressed that there is much to celebrate this year, with the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May.
The first Conference of the Parties to the pact met in October, and the resulting progress is due to the “active participation and leadership of persons with disabilities, by ensure that they have access to – and are included in – all aspects of our work,” he said.
Addressing a commemoration in New York today, he stressed the world body’s commitment to promoting accessibility in many forms, such as with communications technologies and political processes.
The Secretary-General also noted the need to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities at UN Headquarters. “I share your frustration, and sometimes I feel ashamed, at how difficult it can be to navigate our building here in New York,” he said, adding that efforts are underway to improve the Organization’s facilities by rebuilding rooms and adding ramps, among other measures.
Events marking the Day in New York included a multimedia presentation by the UN Mine Action Service on disability rights. There were also musical performances by Tamas Erdi, a Hungarian pianist who lost his eyesight shortly after he was born, and Rudely Interrupted, an Australian rock
band almost entirely composed of members who have physical and intellectual disabilities.
Meanwhile, with an estimated 1 billion people on course to gain access to the Internet in the coming years, it is essential to ensure that people with disabilities are taken into account, a senior UN official said today in Hyderabad, India.
“The access needs to take into account the diversity of the world’s population, the diversity of languages but also the diversity of people with different abilities,” Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said at the opening of a gathering of the Internet Governance Forum.
The four-day meeting is bringing together representatives from government, the private sector, civil society, the Internet community, international organizations and the media to discuss how to make the web accessible to the greatest number of people while guaranteeing that cyberspace remains safe, secure and reflective of the diversity of the world’s people.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29168&Cr=Disab&Cr1=Human+rights
Posted by jicafriends at 07:21 PM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2008
UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities-Rehabilitation International
We have received the press release from Venus Ilagan, RI Secretary General, former participant of Leaders' course.
********************************************************************************
Dear members,
It is marking the first UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities since the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol. This is a special year, since we also celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
The press release has been sent today to media contacts, which we hope you will use to raise awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and urge States to follow up with their commitment to the disability community worldwide. Please feel free to modify the press release for your own organization, to increase our media outreach and public awareness of disability rights and inclusion.
We would be very grateful if you could share with us any media articles, photos or information on events commemorating December 3 in your country.
Best regards,
Anne Hawker, RI President
Venus Ilagan, RI Secretary General
********************************************************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On International Disability Day, Emphasis is on Universality of Human Rights
Global Disability Network Calls on Governments to Take All Steps to Implement Disability Rights
(United Nations, New York, 3 December 2008): Today marks the first UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities since the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol on May 3, 2008. This year’s theme “Dignity and justice for all of us” is linked with the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, emphasizing the universal nature of disability rights and the need to include the disability perspective within the human rights agenda.
“Given that at least 10% of the world’s population – even more in developing countries – lives with a disability, today draws attention to the rights of persons with disabilities and the importance of treating all people with dignity and respect. We must continue to work together to ensure that persons with disabilities are treated as equals in society and are fully included in the community,” said Venus Ilagan, RI Secretary General.
To date, more than half of the world has signed the CRPD and its Optional Protocol and over 40 countries have ratified the treaty into national law; reflecting the broad commitment of governments to disability rights. RI continues to urge all countries to ratify the CRPD and the Optional Protocol as soon as possible and without reservations and declarations – and calls on States to undertake the necessary efforts to comprehensively implement the Convention.
RI President Anne Hawker noted, “The important factor now, however, is how well States implement the rights in the CRPD through the development of effective laws, policies, programs and action plans, to bring about real change in the lives and communities of persons with disabilities.”
At its first meeting last month, the Conference of State Parties elected the 12 members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—nine of whom are persons with disabilities – who are charged with monitoring and evaluating States’ implementation of the Convention. The CRPD, the first human rights treaty of the 21st century, represents an important legal instrument prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities in all areas of life, and includes specific provisions related to rehabilitation, habilitation, education, employment, health and access to information, public facilities and services. The Optional Protocol concerns how individuals or groups can seek redress for violations of the CRPD once national remedies are exhausted.
For more information on the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities and a complete, up-to-date list of signatories and ratifications, please visit: http://www.un.org/disabilities.
# # #
About RI
Founded in 1922, Rehabilitation International (RI) is a diverse, global network of experts, professionals and advocates working together to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. RI is currently composed of over 1000 members and affiliated organizations in 93 nations, in all regions of the world. For more information about RI, please visit our accessible website: http://www.riglobal.org
Posted by jicafriends at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)
December 03, 2008
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December
Today, 3 December is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economical and cultural life.
This year’s theme is "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us". In many countries worldwide, a number of activities such as forums, campaigns and cultural programs are held to celebrate this day and to promote the above goal. At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, a seminar, multimedia presentations, and musical performances are programmed for today. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=109)
How is the Day observed in your country?
We are looking forward to hearing from you, jicafriends, and to know how you are celebrating this day!
Secreatariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2008
UN Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities observed 3 December
SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES,SAYS MUCH TO CELEBRATE WITH ENTRY INTO FORCE OF RIGHTS CONVENTION
Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed 3 December:
This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities falls just a
week before the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. The United Nations is commemorating both under the theme, “Dignity
and justice for all of us”.
We have much to celebrate this year. The entry into force of the Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May was a turning point. When
the first Conference of the Parties convened in October, participants
immediately began considering how the Convention can serve as a tool to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This progress has been made
possible thanks to the active participation and leadership of persons with
disabilities, by ensuring that they have access to -- and are included in --
all aspects of our work.
The United Nations remains committed to this approach. The renovation of
our Headquarters complex through the Capital Master Plan will bring our
facilities up to the latest standards of accessibility. These advances are
long overdue.
The General Assembly has stressed that, to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals, we must include persons with disabilities in all
processes. With 80 per cent of persons with disabilities -- more than 400
million people -- living in poor countries, we need to do much more to break
the cycle of poverty and disability.
The slogan of the International Disability Alliance is: “Nothing about us
without us.” A disabled person from Swaziland, who has been fighting for
the implementation of a disability policy there, has said: “We need total
integration to do away with the evil of stigmatization.”
In that same spirit, I urge Governments and all stakeholders to ensure that
persons with disabilities and their organizations are an integral part of
all development processes. In this way, we can promote integration and pave
the way for a better future for all people in society.
Posted by jicafriends at 06:48 PM | Comments (0)
Human Rights Day - 10 December
The following informaion was found from Disabled Peoples' International's
(DPI) E-news and downloaded with permission of its publisher.
Human Rights Day - 10 December
Please find attached this year’s information kit for 2008 Human Rights Day
to be observed on 10 December. Feel free to use its contents as you wish for
your events and activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) You can adapt them to your
audiences and translate them into your local language. The kit includes:
・ Summary of events that took place around the world throughout 2008 to
mark the 60th anniversary
・ Information on the “Stories on Human Rights” films
・ Background information on the Human Rights Prize
・ Useful tools and contacts
・ Human Rights Education
The Information Kit is posted at
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx
Posted by jicafriends at 06:45 PM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2008
AusAID Development for All - Towards a disability-inclusive Australian aid program 2009–2014
Word copy available from website.
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/disability.cfm
MEDIA RELEASE
BOB MCMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE MEMBER FOR
FRASER
AA 08 67 25 November 2008
The Australian Government has for the first time made people with disability a priority for Australia's international development program.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, will today launch Australia's first strategy to guide Australia's aid program in supporting people with a disability in the developing world.
An estimated 10 per cent of the world's population, or around 650 million people, live with a disability. Of these, about 80 per cent live in developing countries.
"Australia is committed to including people with disability in the fight against global poverty and supporting them to improve the quality of their lives," Mr McMullan said.
"People with a disability are among the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries," he said.
The new strategy, 'Development for All', aims to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, strengthen prevention efforts and promote international leadership on disability and development.
It also seeks to improve understanding of disability and development across the Asia Pacific region.
"With good leadership, attitudes towards people with disability can change, services can be improved and people's lives can be transformed - not only the lives of the person with a disability, but their families and those around them," Mr McMullan said.
People with a disability face many barriers preventing them from participating in society, and are more likely to be socially excluded. Women and children with disability often face the greatest challenges.
The Australian Government recognises that poverty and disability are linked and is committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reach those who are most excluded.
Australia has recently ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and, in addition to launching the strategy is also preparing a national disability policy to be released in 2009.
Posted by jicafriends at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)
African Decade of Persons with Disabilities Extended
The following informaion was found from Disabled Peoples' International's
(DPI) E-news and downloaded with permission of its publisher.
As most of you may know, the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities has been extended to December 2019. The extension was declared at the AU ministers in Charge of Development meeting held in Windhoek, Namibia on 27-31October, 2008.
With this declaration, the African Union adopted a Continental Plan of Action (CPOA) with twelve objectives that African States were to implement over the period. The twelve objectives cover a wide range of themes that are of critical importance to improvement in the lives of persons with
disabilities in Africa. These themes include ideas and strategies to:
a.. Formulate and implement national policies, programmes and legislations to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities
b.. Promote the participation of persons with disabilities in the process of economic and social development
c.. Promote the self-representation of people with disabilities in all public decision-making structures
d.. Enhance support services for disabled persons
e.. Promote special measures for children, youth, women and elderly persons with disabilities
f.. Ensure and improve access to rehabilitation, education, training, employment, sports, and the cultural and physical environment
g.. To promote and protect disability rights as human rights
h.. To support the development of and strengthen Disabled Persons’ Organizations
i.. Mobilize resources
Posted by jicafriends at 02:01 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2008
Personal / Organizational Report Presentation
Nine participants for Leadership Development Course are arriving in Japan on
Oct. 21.
Presentation on their Personal / Organizational Report is programmed on Oct. 31, last day of the month, at Waseda University International Communiction Center.
Please refer to the following event information.
http://www.jicafriends.net/archives/08101601.pdf
Posted by jicafriends at 03:47 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2008
New software for the visually challenged-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
THE National Council for the Blind Malaysia (NCBM) recently presented a new software known as 'Save As DAISY XML', which allows the creation of documents with contents that can be accessible by people who are visually impaired.
'Save As DAISY XML' is an add-on, designed specially for MicrosoftWord 2007, Word 2003 and Word XP. It will allow users to save OpenXML-based text files into Digital Accessible Information System(DAISY) XML – the foundation of the globally accepted DAISY standard for reading and publishing navigable multimedia content.
NCBM president S. Kulasegaran said: "Through this software, thevisually-impaired will have a better opportunity to access books,texts, literature and poetry."
Previously a variety of assisting technologies such as screen readers, refreshable Braille and text-to-speech synthesisers were used.
"But it was not possible to navigate complex page layouts. 'Save As DAISY XML' makes it possible to navigate quickly through a document byheading or page number as well as the use of indexes and references. And by burning the content into CD, the visually impaired can play it on the CD player, computer or notebook," he said, adding that he hopesa Bahasa Malaysia engine will be developed in the future.
Microsoft Malaysia National Technology Officer Dr Dzaharuddin Mansorsaid: "Because Microsoft Word is a commonly used tool, this add-on allows for content creators in different fields to produce accessibledigital material by and for Malaysians, especially individuals withassisting needs." – Tan Teong-li
For more information on the 'Save As DAISY XML' tool, visit the NCBMwebsite at http://www.ncbm.org.my/
Updated: 01:19PM Mon, 13 Oct 2008
Posted by jicafriends at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2008
Duskin Leadership Training Program 2009
he "Duskin Leadership Training Program in Japan" was launched in 1999, the year marking the intermediate stage of the "The 10 years for persons with disabilites in the Asia-Pacific region," a development program announced by UNESCAP, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in order to better respond to the needs of the Asia-Pacific region in improving welfare programs.
The Duskin program invites from 5 to 10 young people with disabilities who have potential to be community leaders. To help achieve their goals, this program provides an opportunity for them to learn about welfare measures, policies and services for persons with disabilities in Japan and thus improve their knowledge and skills.
Eight trainees for the 10th Duskin Leadership Training Program arrived in Japan at the beginning of this September and now they are intensively studying Japanese language.
The Application deadline for the 11th Training Program is November 14, 2008.
If you are interested in this program, please visit the following page.
http://www.normanet.ne.jp/~duskin/english/
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 03:26 PM | Comments (2)
October 01, 2008
Society of Physically Disabled wants to be represented at the assemblies-Ghana
The following information is about the organization which Mr. Michael Kweku OCRAN, former participant of Leaders' Course 2004 belongs to and it was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By gna
Social Affairs | Mon, 29 Sep 2008
The Ghana Society of Physically Disabled has advocated for the enactment of a law that would give the physically challenged one quarter of the seats in Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies.
The Society said this was necessary to help them to participate effectively in decision-making whiles also championing the cause for their own progress.
Mr Osei Bonsu, chairman of the Adansi North District branch of the Society, made the appeal at a day's HIV/AIDS sensitization programme for the disabled at Dompoase near Fomena organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission.
Mr Bonsu said he was not happy about the misconception majority of Ghanaians have about the disabled and said this was as a result of their continuous neglect and marginalization at all levels of the society.
He said in spite of these challenges, disabled persons should not lose hope but strive to take advantage of the opportunities made available by government, non-governmental organizations, corporate bodies and philanthropists to learn trades.
http://www.modernghana.com/news/184240/1/society-of-physically-disabled-wants-to-be-represe.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:36 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2008
Infotech firms to employ the visually-impaired-Philippines
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
MANILA, Philippines - Information and communications technology (ICT) companies are planning to employ persons with disabilities (PWDs), helping fill up positions in an industry that is expected to produce a million jobs by 2010.
Organizations such as IBM Philippines, Inc., Resources for Blind, Inc. (RBI) and Adaptive technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (Atriev) and the Asia Pacific College are helping visually-impaired individuals to secure employment in the ICT industry.
IBM and RBI launched on Monday its 7th training program for the blind nicknamed “Computer Eyes."
The week-long training aims to equip 19 blind students from all in high school and college levels in basic computer applications, such as keyboard skills, word processing, and web page creation.
More than 150 blind students from all over the country have already been trained under the program since its introduction in 2001, said IBM Philippines country manager and president James Velasquez.
Continue...
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/122605/Infotech-firms-to-employ-the-visually-impaired
Posted by jicafriends at 06:27 PM | Comments (0)
Pakistan signs disability rights pact
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25 (APP): Pakistan on Thursday signed an international convention which is designed to protect the rights of the estimated 650 million people worldwide who have disabilities.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi put his signatures on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan during the annual United Nations event designed to increase participation in global pacts.
Qureshi was received at a conference room especially set up for the event by Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Patricia O’Brien.
The annual treaty event, held at UN Headquarters in New York since 2000, seeks to promote the increased participation of countries in the more than 500 multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, and by so doing, to strengthen the rule of law.
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53987&Itemid=1
UN webpage regarding signatories and ratifications:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/countries.asp?navid=12&pid=166
Posted by jicafriends at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)
September 24, 2008
International Deaf Day
The International Deaf Day falls on the last Sunday during September of every year all over the world.
This day is held to create awareness among the public to show how much the deaf could contribute to society and the country’s economic growth.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:39 PM | Comments (0)
People With Disability Derserve Our Attention-Zambia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
EDITORIAL
22 September 2008
Posted to the web 22 September 2008
For a long time, the rights and plight of children with disabilities have not been given the due attention they deserve and, in fact, for most institutions, people living with disabilities are at the bottom of their priority list.
There are many reasons for this scenario, but top on that list are the historical cultural attitudes that remain deeply rooted in our customs and traditions.
Unfortunately, many parents in society still regard having a child with disabilities as a form of misfortune and in some extreme cases, some believe that it is a curse or punishment.
As a result of such beliefs, both parents and children are generally stigmatised and isolated from many social activities.
But the situation is especially worse for children whose parents feel ashamed and want to keep their children away from public sight, including denying them education.
As a result, many people have grown to be dependent on their parents or believe that they cannot engage in any activities because of their disabilities and sadly, such kind of people end up as beggars on the streets.
We are, therefore, glad that the ministry of Education is taking practical steps to halt this practice and ensure that children with disabilities access education.
But apart from provision of specially trained teachers, there must be a deliberate move that infrastructure in these learning institutions is designed in such a manner that it caters for those with disabilities.
There must be a well thought plan to ensure that children with disabilities are given an environment that will positively impact on their socialisation and development process.
There must be minimum situations where institutions are specifically built for them away from able-bodied children because this creates a sense of isolation and stigmatisation.
In fact, these situations must not even arise in the first place because other than their physical challenges, disabled children are human beings who must not at any given time be discriminated against and isolated from society.
Let us strive to uphold and even double the kind of love and care that disabled children receive from their own family members - brothers, sisters and parents in their various homes, or we will be failing in our duty to do according to the dictates of the Holy Bible. It is not impossible.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
September 22, 2008
Distinguished Disability Advocate Venus Ilagan Appointed as New RI Secretary General
We would like to congratulate Ms. Venus Ilagan, former participant of Leaders' Course 1994 on her inauguration of Secretary Genreal for Rehabilitation International. Please refer to the following information.
(New York, New York, US, July 14, 2008)
Rehabilitation International
(RI) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Secretary General, Venus Ilagan of the Philippines. As a woman with a disability from the South, Venus has worked tirelessly to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly during the negotiations for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Venus is expected to commence this important new role in September 2008, subject to resolution of visa and contractual arrangements, and Venus will be based at the RI headquarters in New York City, New York.
Venus is a well-known advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities for years. As a leader in the National Organization of Disabled Peoples’ of the Philippines (KAMPI) and the Differently-Abled Women’s Network (DAWN) of the Philippines, as well as holding various positions, including Chairperson, of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), Venus has promoted disability rights at the national, regional and international levels. Her vast experience with UN agencies and other international organizations includes her consultancy work with the Asian Development Bank and the World Health Organization.
As a representative of DPI, Venus has strong links within the International Disability Alliance (IDA), a coalition of 10 international and regional organizations of persons with disabilities, and served as IDA Chair from May 2004 -May 2005. She is well regarded within IDA and the newly created IDA CRPD Forum, of which RI serves as the Secretariat.
RI President Michael Fox remarked, “We are extremely pleased that Venus will be joining the RI team. She will be leading the RI Secretariat at a critical time in our growth, with the focus on implementation of the UN Convention and growth of the RI Foundation. We very much look forward to working with her and sharing her insights and experience.”
RI will formally welcome Venus as our new Secretary General during the RI World Congress, to be held in August 2008 in Quebec City, Canada. For more information about this event, please visit
Posted by jicafriends at 04:37 PM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2008
Big challenge (Regarding Paralympics)-Malaysia
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Wheel Power: By Anthony Thanasayan
For the disabled participants at Beijing's Paralympics Games, the event is often regarded as the highlight of their lives.
As you read this, as many as 4,000 disabled athletes (including a dozen Malaysians) are taking part in Beijing's Paralympics Games.
The event, held once every four years, traditionally takes place about three weeks after the Olympics. It is also held in the same country that the Olympic Games took place.
To the disabled sportsmen and sportswomen involved, the Paralympics is often regarded as the most important event in their lives. (From left) Oscar Pistorious of South Africa, Heros Marai of Italy and Christoph Bausch of Switzerland in the heats of the men's 100m T44 classification race at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
To me, the event is not only about who wins what and how well they performed. That is important, of course. But what is more important is how a particular sporting event has contributed to the people, and how it will continue to change their lives.
How will life change for the disabled community after major sporting events are over? BBC Online's web page gave a peek into the lives of the handicapped in China.
The online page's reporter followed an Olympic volunteer who used a wheelchair and travelled across Beijing by bus and subway, before the Games. The exposure made him realise how serious disability issues are in the country.
Although ramps and lifts were newly added for the Paralympics, this wasn't so in other towns and villages in China.
The 82.7 million people with disabilities in China still face discrimination and prejudice, which make their daily lives difficult.
Universities in China are still reluctant to take in students with handicaps.
Human Rights Watch based in New York says that "8.58 million employable people with a disability in China did not have jobs last year."
This even though the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities laws had been enacted and ratified not long ago.
"So far these protections have meant little to (disabled) persons (and) their advocates in China to be able to fairly compete for employment," the organisation pointed out.
Despite this dismal outlook, the BBC says the good news is that the Chinese government has made a big effort to educate its citizens on how to talk to the disabled athletes during the Paralympics.
One pamphlet advises locals to be helpful, but not too pushy. It also suggests they should be more sensitive to those with disabilities.
Over here in Malaysia, it was announced that we had won the bid to host the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) world general assembly in Kuala Lumpur. The event will be held in November next year.
Even though this is joyous news for the disabled community, many of us are concerned about the issue of accessibility for the international disabled guests when they arrive in KL.
We know what a nightmare it is for a wheelchair user to move around in the capital.
Will the respective local councils be able to tackle these problems by the time our overseas guests arrive next year?
Or will our disabled visitors be restricted in their movements and told where they can go in the city?
Will they stay in posh hotels (with accessible shiny toilets) during their stay or will they be allowed to mingle with the rest of us and have a chance to see what Malaysia is really like?
If nothing is done from now until November next year, will our disabled guests want to come to Malaysia again?
And how would our disabled citizens benefit from such a visit? That is what I really like to know.
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/9/11/lifefocus/1977248&sec=lifefocus
Posted by jicafriends at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2008
Disneyland work is just magic for disabled-Hong Kong
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Nickkita Lau
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hong Kong Disneyland has worked its magic on disabled employees Jenny Lam Man-shan and Chloe Liu Lai-to by restoring their confidence and putting smiles back on their faces. Lam and Liu joined the park's first apprentice program for the disabled in June last year, and since then have waved goodbye to the unhappy drudgery of working for fast-food chains.
Liu, 25, who has Down syndrome, works in the staff restaurant after graduating from a nine-month apprenticeship.
Now she enjoys her work, a far cry from being yelled at by her previous boss.
"I'm always in a good mood. I get to meet so many people and make so many friends."
Fellow apprentice Lam, 23, has a septal defect - a hole in the partition separating the left and right sides of the heart - and used to see the doctor every month.
But after the tonic of working at the park she now sees the doctor only once a year.
Secondary Four-educated Lam said she did not think the park would hire her when she was referred by the charity Caritas.
She now works four days a week at Fantasyland. Director of staffing and human resources Greg Morley said the park has been hiring the disabled on an ad hoc basis since opening three years
ago for tasks that include making calls and packing.
In 2006, the park hired 80 disabled people through regular recruitment.
Last year, the park began recruiting by referral and so far 15 people have been employed through the scheme.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=71630&sid=20554639&con_type=1
Posted by jicafriends at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)
September 08, 2008
Free Toolkit for Persons with a History of Mental Health Issues and Child
The following informaion was found from Disabled Peoples' International's (DPI) E-news
and downloaded in cooperation with its publisher.
The UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration has developed a free tool
kit for parents with serious mental illness. Research indicates that mothers
with serious mental illnesses are almost three times more likely than
mothers without such illnesses to be involved in the child welfare system;
many have lost custody of their children.
The tool kit
・ Helps parents who have lost custody or are at risk of losing custody of their children
・ Helps parents in recovery from mental illnesses with parenting issues
・ Offers guidance for professionals on the above
The tool kit titled, "Helping Behavioral Health Clients with Parenting &
Child Custody Issues," can be downloaded at
http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=185
Posted by jicafriends at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)
September 04, 2008
Professor gets relay going-China
The opening ceremony of Paralympic is going to be held on September 6, 2008. http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Song Wenwei
China Daily Staff Writer
Updated: 2008-09-03 10:02
NANJING: The sun shone as the Paralympic torch relay arrived Tuesday in the capital of Jiangsu province, the latest stop along its "ancient China" route.
The first torchbearer of the Nanjing leg of the Paralympic relay, Hou Jingjing, holds the torch September 2, 2008. The college teacher is a role model having earned herself a PhD at Nanjing Normal University. [Xinhua]
The 3-km, 90-minute run began at Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and involved 60 torchbearers, six of them disabled.
University professor Hou Jingjing, who has been confined to a wheelchair since losing her legs to polio at the age of 11, was the first to carry the torch.
"I feel really happy and honored to be the relay's first torchbearer," she said.
Despite her physical disability, Hou, a native of Ma'anshan in Anhui province, has always had a passion for life, and a love for the English language, which she began studying as a young girl.
In 1997, she completed a bachelor's degree in English and followed that a year later with a master's in the same subject from Nanjing Normal University. In 2004, she completed her PhD to become China's first wheelchair-bound doctor.
"I always felt I could achieve the same things as able-bodied people because I have confidence in myself, and have always received strong support from both my family and society as a whole," Hou said.
She has given back to society by working with young people at delinquency prisons, as well as donating the money she was awarded for being a model worker to poor students and orphans across China.
Running the last leg of yesterday's relay was local sports coach Zhou Zengfu.
He said six athletes from Nanjing will take part in the Beijing Games and he expects them all to do well.
"I am confident that Nanjing athletes will win about 10 medals at the Paralympics," he said.
Over the past 20 years, 67-year-old Zhou has trained several Paralympic champions.
"The Paralympics is a not only a sporting event, but also a chance for disadvantaged people from around the world to get together and learn from each other and get to know more about the world," Zhou said.
Mu Guiying, president of the Nanjing Disabled People's Association, said that over the past several years, local authorities have done much to improve the lives and working conditions of Nanjing's 441,500 disabled residents, who account for more than 6 percent of the city's total population.
The proportion of disabled people in work has risen from 60 percent in 2003 to 80 percent last year, while 99 percent of all disabled children now receive compulsory education.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/03/content_6993724.htm
Posted by jicafriends at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2008
Feat at 200 kilometers length-Kyrgyzstan
On August, 18 from Balykchy city has started an unusual (pedestrian) marathon called "For equal opportunities": Rinat Janaliev, vice-president of Issykkul Union of people with disabilities and four volunteers who are Occupational Therapists from Japan accompanying him should overcome (216)
two hundred and sixteen kilometers for two weeks. This marathon is organized in support of the rights of disabled people. Besides we can call on people with disabilities once again to make them to believe in themselves.
Most part of the way is already behind. He had to replace even tyres on the wheel-chair as they were rubbed out. At the end of the route the group is planning to take part in the celebration of Independence Day in Karakol, the capital of Issykkul oblast. But for Rinat and people accompanying him this day will be the day of small but memorable victory.
http://www.stan.tv/news/6798/Taken from Stan.TV: Information videoportal
Posted by jicafriends at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
UN convention on disabled takes effect in China
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Source: CCTV.com | 09-02-2008 08:53
Special Report: Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
The United Nations convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities became Chinese law on Sunday.
The United Nations convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities became Chinese law on Sunday. The convention aims to protect the right of all disabled people to enjoy fundamental freedoms fully and equally, also promoting respect for their dignity. It was approved by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006.
China notified the UN's Secretary-General of its ratification of the convention on August the 1st. Starting August 31st, the convention took effect in China, including Hong Kong and Macao.
Editor:Zhang Ning
http://www.cctv.com/english/20080902/100846.shtml
Posted by jicafriends at 02:43 PM | Comments (0)
September 01, 2008
New guidelines released on wheelchairs to support use rs in developing countries-WHO
On the occasion of the 21st World Congress of Rehabilitation International, WHO, the US Agency for International Development, the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics and Disabled Peoples' International have launched an important new document: Guidelines on the provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced settings.
The wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing the personal mobility of people with disabilities. An estimated 1% of the world's population, or just over 65 million people, need a wheelchair. In most developing countries, few of those who need wheelchairs have access, production facilities are insufficient and wheelchairs are often donated without the necessary related services. Providing wheelchairs that are appropriate, well-designed and fitted not only enhances mobility, but also opens up a world of education, work and social life for those in need of such support.
The guidelines, developed for use in less resourced settings, address the design, production, supply and service delivery of manual wheelchairs, in particular for long-term wheelchair users. The guidelines and related recommendations are targeted at a range of audiences, including policy-makers; planners, managers, providers and users of wheelchair services; designers, purchasers, donors and adapters of wheelchairs; trainers of wheelchair provision programmes; representatives of disabled people’s organizations; and individual users and their families. By developing an effective system of wheelchair provision, Member States support implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the May 2005 World Health Assembly resolution A58/23 Disability, including prevention, management and rehabilitation.
You can also order the full document via the online order form
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/orderform/en/index.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
Resource on Disability Rights and Policy
We found the following informaion from Disabled Peoples' International's (DPI) E-news.
Handicap International is proud to present the “Disability Rights and
Policies” CD. This CD contains key reference documents and resources
around the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is
invaluable to international organizations working in human rights,
development, capacity-building, and emergency relief.
The contents are grouped by the following themes:
1. Understanding disability
2. Human rights and disability
3. The rights-based approach to relief and development
4. Mainstreaming disability
5. Disability and development policy
Free download in French or English at
http://handicap-international.fr/bibliographie-handicap/
Or email info@handicap-international.us
Posted by jicafriends at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2008
Dhaka University in Bangladesh Creating Disability-Friendly Environment
The following article was found at We Can Do website (wecando.wordpress.com) and we thank to Md. Aktar Uddin, Communication and Fundraising Officer at ADD, for kindly permitting us to circulete this notice.
Dear Friends
Action on Disability and Development (ADD) and Disabled Students Rights
Forum in cooperation with Dhaka University organized a roundtable discussion
titled ‘Right to education for students with disabilities: Barriers and
moving forward to inclusion into mainstream’ held at Senate Bhaban,
University of Dhaka on Aug, 2008. Professor S.M.A. Faiz, Vice-Chancellor,
University of Dhaka attended the roundtable as Chief Guest while Mr.
Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD moderated the event.
Disabled friendly environment should be ensured in university for disabled
students in acquiring higher education. This is why; the authority of the
university should be sensitized in building a sustainable infrastructure
paving the advancement to the disabled students in getting higher education
smoothly. The speakers demanded at the roundtable discussion.
Key findings of the roundtable
・ 5% quota should be reserved for the students with disabilities in the
university admission process.
・ Formulation a policy to ensure higher education uninterruptedly for the
students with disabilities
・ Set up ramps and disabled friendly spacious and talking lifts in all
buildings of the university and introducing Braille readers and writers at
the halls of residence.
・ Allocation of seats of residential halls should be reserved for student
with disabilities
・ Seats should be reserved for disabled students at university bus which
should also be disabled friendly
・ The process of getting scribes (interpreter) for visually impaired persons
in delivering examination should be easy and allowed necessary extra time
for examination
・ Scholarship should be reserved for the students with disabilities
・ Every department of university should appoint a disability sensitive
teacher to minimize the barriers of the disabled students
・ Attitudes of teachers, administrative officers, students should be
sensitive to the disabled students, so, the authority should organize
training on disability for those groups in a view to deal the disability
issue from rights based approach
・ UGC should constitute a specific guideline on disability for the
universities to deal the students with disabilities and take actions for
implementation properly
・ Inclusive education should be materialized managing all facilities for the
students with disabilities
・ Disability issue should be included at policy making body of university as
a serious agenda to ensure congenial atmosphere for students with
disabilities to obtaining higher education
・ Authorities should appoint officials at the university dormitories who
would read newspapers for the visually impaired students.
To read more...
http://wecando.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/dhaka-university-in-bangladesh-creating-disability-friendly-environment/
Posted by jicafriends at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2008
Reunion with former participants-Mr. Hiroshi Ueno
Mr. Hiroshi Ueno, Course Leader of the Leadership Development Course visited
Costa Rica this month as an expert for the JICA Support Project of Persons with
Disabilities in Costa Rica. Mr. Ueno made time in his busy schedule to see
former Costarican participants, Andrea (2006) and Pablo (2007) of the said
course. Andrea is now working as a writer under contract with a newspaper
company which specializes in disability issues. Pablo is running a company for home delivery service.
Mr. Ueno reported us that both of them are fine and miss Japan and all jica
friends.
The Secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)
August 18, 2008
Good news from Pakistan
Dear Leaders of disabillity movement
Milestone national network of DPOs has achieved a big target.
1- Disabled persons of Pakistan can get 1000Rs every month directlly from the provicial government.
2- Severe disabled persons can get 2000Rs as BENAZIR SOCIAL SECUTRITY FUND FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, So its mean that now the severe disabled persons could use Personal attendent services.
3- Disabled persons of Pakistan can get their own wheelchair due to their requirement of disabillity from government ( first 120 wheelchairs allready distributed on 14th Augest by the Zumard Khan sahab and Dr.Israr shah sahab with collaboration of Milestone. Hearing Aid also available free of coast by the federal Government. 500 white can also distributed on 14th Augest. All assesstive devices are by the Pakistan Bait ul Mall and the federal government. For devices you can send the application in milestone office or in Pakistan Bait ul Mall. An apllication with the copy of Nation ID card.
4- If a familly have 2 or more the 2 disabled persons in a same familly that familly will declared a special respected familly and will supported by the government.
Dear friend we did this and implementation is also started and if you will not take responsiabillity to make it social movement it will be fail. Share this information with your collegue organizations and members with disabillities.
Lot of Love
Shafiq Ur Rehman
President
MILESTONE
Posted by jicafriends at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)
August 08, 2008
jicafriend became new RI Secretary General
Dear jicafriends,
Ms. Venus Ilagan, former participant of Leader Course 1994 was appointed as new RI Secretary General.
Please see this press releas.
RI Secretariat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Distinguished Disability Advocate Venus Ilagan Appointed as New RI Secretary General
(New York, New York, US, July 14, 2008) Rehabilitation International (RI) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Secretary General, Venus Ilagan of the Philippines. As a woman with a disability from the South, Venus has worked tirelessly to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly during the negotiations for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Venus is expected to commence this important new role in September 2008, subject to resolution of visa and contractual arrangements, and Venus will be based at the RI headquarters in New York City, New York.
Venus is a well-known advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities for years. As a leader in the National Organization of Disabled Peoples’ of the Philippines (KAMPI) and the Differently-Abled Women’s Network (DAWN) of the Philippines, as well as holding various positions, including Chairperson, of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), Venus has promoted disability rights at the national, regional and international levels. Her vast experience with UN agencies and other international organizations includes her consultancy work with the Asian Development Bank and the World Health Organization.
As a representative of DPI, Venus has strong links within the International Disability Alliance (IDA), a coalition of 10 international and regional organizations of persons with disabilities, and served as IDA Chair from May 2004 -May 2005. She is well regarded within IDA and the newly created IDA CRPD Forum, of which RI serves as the Secretariat.
RI President Michael Fox remarked, “We are extremely pleased that Venus will be joining the RI team. She will be leading the RI Secretariat at a critical time in our growth, with the focus on implementation of the UN Convention and growth of the RI Foundation. We very much look forward to working with her and sharing her insights and experience.”
RI will formally welcome Venus as our new Secretary General during the RI World Congress, to be held in August 2008 in Quebec City, Canada. For more information about this event, please visit www.riquebec2008.org
Posted by jicafriends at 05:01 PM | Comments (2)
Report on Disability among Refugees
We found the following informaion from Disabled Peoples' International's (DPI) E-news.
Published in June 2008 by the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and
Children, the report titled “Disability among Refugees and
Conflict-Affected Populations” profiles Nepal, Thailand, Yemen, Jordan and
Ecuador. It discusses risk indicators for disability, types of disability,
and access to services for refugees with disabilities.
Report available at http://www.womenscommission.org/pdf/disab_fulll_report.pdf
Posted by jicafriends at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)
Regarding Disability inclusive ICT policy
Dear Colleagues friend and well-wishers,
Greetings!
We are very glad to know that Bangladesh Government going to review National ICT Policy.
I have attached some information on ICT accessibility issues, and legal obligation of Bangladesh Government regarding Disability inclusive ICT policy. The current policy has reviewed by ICT Thematic Group of (NFOWD). And came with some specific suggestion for a persons with Disability friendly ICT policy.
Your cooperation will help us to have Disability Inclusive ICT policies.
Best regards,
Vashkar vattacharya,
Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) Convener ICT Thematic Group of National Forum of Organization Working with Disability (NFOWD)
www.ypsa.org
PDF files
World Program of Actions on ICT and prospect of Bangladesh
National ICT Policy_proposed
Posted by jicafriends at 04:30 PM | Comments (0)
Accessible Handbook on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
We found the following informaion from Disabled Peoples' International's (DPI) E-news.
The Harvard Project on Disability has published a Handbook with an easy to
read explanation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. This publication targets persons with intellectual
disabilities, their organizations, and their advocates.
It is available at: http://www.hpod.org/pdf/we-have-humna-rights.pdf
Posted by jicafriends at 04:14 PM | Comments (0)
August 05, 2008
Infromation from Philippines
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
New law entitles differently-abled persons with more privileges by Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (24 July) -- A new law amending RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons has been passed reinforcing the rights and privileges of the persons with disability in the country.
RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for the Person with Disability (PWD) amends the earlier RA 7277 and mandated more privileges for the differently-abled, said Tony Fabruada, president of the Provincial Federation of Persons with Disabilities in the province.
Under the new law, differently-abled persons are entitled to a minimum of 20% discount on various services from business establishments such as hotel and lodging, restaurants, recreation centers, theaters, cinemas, carnivals, concerts, etc.
PWDs are also entitled to the same discount on medicine purchases and medicine and dental services.
The same discount also applies for domestic air, sea and land travel and public railways for PWDs, said Fabruada.
Fabruada, speaking during a Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here, explained that the said incentives under the new law are available for PWDs upon submission of any of the following: identification card or ID, passport and discount card for transportation.
Furthermore, RA 9442 now prohibits the ridicule and vilification of the differently-abled. "Ginidili na ang pagyaga-yaga ug pagbinuang sa mga PWDs,"said Fabruada.
Violators of the new Magna Carta for People with Disability face penalties ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 and imprisonment from 60 months to six years at the discretion of the court.
The law also mandates that any person who abuses the priviliges granted by the law shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than 6months or a fine of not less than 5,000 but not more than 50,000 or both at the discretion of the court.
If the violator is a corporation, organization or any similar entity their officials shall be liable. If the violator is a foreigner, he shall be deported immediately after serving his sentence without further deportation proceedings.
He also noted that the term used in the new law referring to the differently-abled is now "Person with Disability" instead of "disabled person" which was used in the old law.
The Magna Carta for the PWD aims to fully integrate differently-abled persons into the mainstream of Philippine society. (PIA/RMN)
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080724.htm&no=42
Posted by jicafriends at 04:14 PM | Comments (0)
July 03, 2008
Gov't Raises Minimum Quota for Disabled Employment-South Korea
Starting next year, the government will raise its mandatory employment quota for the disabled, translating into hundreds of new jobs for such people.
The Labor Ministry says the government and state-run institutions will raise their mandatory quota of disabled workers from the present 2 percent to 3 percent. The announcement came at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.
At present, only 1.6 percent of all workers in the government are disabled and a little less than 2 percent at state-run institutions.
There are 87 government branch offices and 250 public institutions in Korea.
The increased quota is the latest move by the Lee Myung-bak administration, which favors creating job opportunities rather than strengthening welfare programs. An increase in the number of public institutions has also raised demand for more workers.
Labor Minister Lee Young-hee says employment is the best public welfare program for the disabled who are capable of working. In addition to employment, the ministry also plans to negotiate with educational institutions to encourage disabled persons to enroll at schools.
Arirang News
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200807/200807020004.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:48 PM | Comments (0)
July 02, 2008
China ratified UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
News: China ratified UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
By Eric Guozhong Zhang (China Disabled Persons Federation)
On June 26th 2008, the 11th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China- China’s top legislative body, has ratified a bill submitted the Central Government for China’s accession to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
As just reported by Xinhua Net, this was done at the 3rd session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in today’s afternoon (Beijing Time) (Original report in Chinese, see http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/26/content_8443666.htm)
China has actively advocated and supported to the UN in its efforts in formulating the CRPD Convention. Delegations and representatives of the Chinese Government and China Disabled Persons Federation participated the full process of drafting the CRPD Convention and made an important contribution to the process. China was on of the first countries signing the Convention on March 30th 2007, when the treaty opened for states to signing and ratifying.
The CRPD Convention is the first international legally-binding convention designed to protect and
promote the rights of persons with disabilities in a comprehensive manner. To date, there are 27 countries have become parties to the Convention by ratification and it has entered into force internationally on May 3rd 2008.
Posted by jicafriends at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2008
Disability Rights Fund Opens Grantmaking to DPOs in 7 Countries
The following information was obtained from Intl-Dev mailing list with cooperation of Dr. Amy Wilson, Gallaudet University.
The Disability Rights Fund-- which was launched by the Open Society
Institute, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the United Kingdom Department for
International Development, and an anonymous donor on the first
anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) -- is to empower disabled persons organizations
in the developing world and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union to
effectively implement and monitor the CPRD.
In 2008, the Fund plans to give out a total of USD $700,000 in one-year
grants ranging from USD $5000 - $50,000 and aimed at awareness-raising,
strengthening coalitions and networks, and rights advocacy.
To be eligible for this year’s grants program, applicant organizations
must be based in and conduct the majority of their activities in the
following seven countries: in Africa, Ghana, Namibia and Uganda; in
Latin America, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Peru; in Asia, Bangladesh. In
these countries, the Fund will support Disabled Persons’ Organizations
activities that advance the human rights of persons with disabilities at
country-level.
Interested organizations are urged to review the full eligibility
criteria and application details posted at the Fund’s website,
www.disabilityrightsfund.org.
Any questions on the proposal process should be directed to
info@disabilityrightsfund.org by July 15.
The deadline for applications is August 15.
Disability Rights Fund Steering Committee Co-Chair, William Rowland,
President of the World Blind Union, stated "The Disability Rights Fund
heralds an innovative partnership between donors and persons with
disabilities. The flow of new resources to support our struggle for
rights is a development of major significance."
Posted by jicafriends at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2008
Deaf Association Cautions Public-Ghana
We found the name of the former participant of Leaders Course 2003, Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare in the following article. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
3 June 2008
Posted to the web 3 June 2008
Michael Addo
The Ghana National Association of the Deaf has expressed grave reservations, about how some members of the public are exploiting its members, for monetary gain. It has uncovered that some members of the public, have devised a new method to deceive unsuspecting and innocent citizens, to solicit for financial assistance.
This was made known by the President of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare, in Accra.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization workshop in Accra, the National President regretfully anounced how unfortunate, disgracing, heart-breaking and disappointing, their activities were to the association. Often times, he noted, these fraudsters, most of whom are foreign nationals from Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast and Liberia, engage the services of the deaf, to carry out their nefarious activities.
These deaf beggars, with the support of their 'contractors,' often design and print out fake identity cards, forms, letterheads and rubber stamps, all in the name of the association, School for the Deaf, and the Ghana Education Service (GES), which they distribute to individuals, groups and organisations for support.
What the exploited deaf beggars receive in return for their service is a commission, based on the day's output.
Considering the negative image, which this practice is carving for the association, and the entire nation, Mr. Asare has asked the public not to support such persons, since it was against the rules and regulations of the Association.
This, he said, demeaned their personalities and that of the Association.
He also advised members of the public, to refrain from offering financial support to these deaf beggars. Instead, he has urged the public to refer them to the Association, or report them to the nearest Police Station.
In effect, the Association has distanced itself from this shameful act.
Mr. Asare underscored the importance of putting an end to the activities of these contractors of the deaf.
The Association has encouraged its members to do their best, to support their respective families, and the entire nation.
"It was for this reason that the association organizes programs, to create sources of livelihood for unemployed members of the association, by implementing income-generating projects, on a per region basis," he noted.
These programmes include breadmaking, batik and tie-and-dye production in the Central Region, soap-making in the Brong Ahafo Region, gari-processing in the Eastern Region, and farm projects in the Ashanti and Volta regions.
That notwithstanding, he emphasized that the Association also implements Family Welfare Projects, aimed at educating the deaf on reproductive health, family planning and responsible parenthood, gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS.
Sports Development Projects are also implemented in the regional and district branches, to develop and enhance the physical and social well-being of the deaf, as well as promote their participation in sporting activities, in the country and abroad.
On this basis, the National President expressed concern about why the deaf would engage themselves in such shameful acts, with regards to the association's efforts to provide a better living for them.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806030953.html
Posted by jicafriends at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2008
Helping Move-Sri Lanka
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
05 Jun, 2008 08:03:51
Sri Lanka access for disabled campaign gets corporate support June 05, 2008 (LBO) - Only two percent of the public buildings in Sri Lanka have easy access to the disabled,
CEAT Tyres which is backing an organization that is campaigning to improving access to public buildings by the disabled, has said. "Statistics show that less than two per cent of all buildings, private or public, have access for the mobility impaired," Oscar Braganza, managing director of CEAT Sri Lanka , was quoted as saying in a statement.
"Wittingly or unwittingly we are discriminating against this increasingly large sector of the community."
The Tyre Maker is supporting 'IDIRIYA', an organization of professionals that is campaigning to improve access of public buildings to the disabled.
“Very often what is needed is very simple. For example, access to each and every public and private building and its facilities," Braganza said at a ceremony to launch a book called ‘Access Ability For All - Why You?’ by the IDIRIYA organization.
"We know this to be a fact instinctively, but somehow our corporate plans and strategy do not factor in this basic human right.”
Activists say the true extent of the disabled in Sri Lanka is not known.
"Decision makers should not be misguided by the published figures on disability, which are often underestimated," IDIRIYA secretary general Ajith Perera said.
"For numerous reasons, disability in both visible and invisible forms is on the rise in Sri Lanka. Today, the risk of becoming disabled has become a grave social problem afflicting a wide range of people."
"By the way we continue to design our buildings, man is creating more physical barriers to man in attending to normal daily activities. This is wholly unacceptable in modern day Sri Lanka.
Activists are promoting ‘designing for inclusion’ in Sri Lanka’s construction industry to accommodate the increasing numbers of people who are physically or sensorily disadvantaged.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1002742863
Posted by jicafriends at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)
June 02, 2008
Helping hands from a disabled farmer-China
We found the following information from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" and it reminded us of Pakistan earthquake. On hearing of the quake Pakistanees with disabilities rushed to the stricken area and helped those who became the disabled. We are proud of them and the following disabled farmer.
Source: CCTV.com | 06-01-2008 14:58
Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China
Many people lost their homes and relatives in the earthquake. But instead of feeling hopeless, some are managing to be strong and help others. Our reporter Pan Deng follows a disabled farmer who lost his son in the quake in one of the worst-hit areas. Helping hands from a disabled farmer(Photo: CCTV.com)
It's a long way to recover. This road is now tougher for Huang Gang. He lost his son in the disaster.
"Every time I think about my boy, I feel so sad. It's fine when I am not thinking about anything, but I feel sad when I touch this scar. He was just 16. Actually he didn't even reach his 16th birthday, it was still couple of months away. Yes, I am deep in sadness, but I have to help others to carry their children's bodies home. All the kids are the same. They studied in the same class. I have to take all of them back. I'm disabled, so I can't carry them, but I have my vehicle."
As well as losing his son, he also lost his newly-built house, which cost nearly all of his savings. It will have to be torn down and rebuilt.
http://www.cctv.com/english/20080601/102760.shtml
Posted by jicafriends at 03:08 PM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2008
War disabled the most marginalised in Iraq
During the training program of Leadership Development Course we visit Hiroshima Prefecture to learn about "War and Disability." http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1022.html
Today we found the the following information from the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
According to a recent study, more than a million people have been disabled on account of the war. The government and civil society are not taking care of them, with serious psychological consequences and tensions within families.
Baghdad (AsiaNews) - More than a million civilians have been disabled by the war in Iraq, and represent the most marginalised sector of society. The psychological traumas they bear create serious imbalances inside their families, and the central government is not paying enough attention to the problem. The denunciation comes from Faris al-Ubeidi, an Iraqi researcher, i