In this quarter, SARO hosted an International Conference on Disability in the Commonwealth Asia. Details of this conference and some other key highlights are given below -

Regional Conference on Disability in Commonwealth Asia

The Commonwealth Foundation and Leonard Cheshire Disability jointly organised a 'Regional Conference on Disability in Commonwealth Asia' at Bangalore (India) from 6th to 8th December 2008. The conference was held to create a common understanding of challenges faced by disabled people in Commonwealth Asia (specifically related to health and rehabilitation, education and livelihoods) and to understand the status and issues involved in implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). 33 representatives from Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, UK and Sri Lanka shared their experiences in the conference.

 On the last day of the meet, the delegates developed an action plan to follow-up on ratification and implementation of UNCRPD in their respective countries. The conference report, presentations and photos can be viewed online at http://www.lcdsouthasia.org/commonwealth-asia-regional-conference

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

LCD-SARO partners celebrated 3rd December  The International Day of Persons with Disabilities  with fervour. The theme for this year was “UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Dignity and Justice for All”. Thousands of persons with disabilities participated in the various cultural and social programmes organised this year. Here are few excerpts from the celebrations held by LCD partners.

The LC projects located in Mansehra and Islamabad (Pakistan) conducted various programmes to showcase the skills, abilities and achievements of persons with disabilities. A stall was also set-up to display products developed by persons with disabilities.

Contributions made by organisations and individuals to the disability sector were recognised through certificates.

To commemorate the Disability Day, LCDRC Colombo along with Development with Disability Network organised a sensitisation workshop for members and staff of the Municipal Council of Kotte (Colombo, Sri Lanka) on - UNCRPD and Access to Built Environment. As a result of the sensitisation, the participants identified 12 public places where accessibility should be provided. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor took the responsibility to ensure accessibility in these places within the next 10 months. As a first step, they invited LCDRC to conduct an access audit of the places and submit a report.

The photos above depict the celebrations undertaken by Wester Seaton Cheshire Home and few other disability organisations at Negombo, Sri Lanka. 321 disabled persons participated in a street march that was aimed to pressurise the government to ratify the UNCRPD. Following the march, many activities like the - wheelchair basket ball match, wheelchair race, musical chairs, lemon and spoon race etc. were held.

Participations

• Programme Manager, SARO, participated in the Regional Programme Meeting held by LCD at London. He also, participated in a workshop organised by Handicap International on development of a 'Training manual on Disaster Risk Reduction' at Delhi and a 'Partners Meet' organised by Tata Trust in Bhopal (India).
• Programme Officer, SARO, attended a 3-day workshop on Resource Mobilisation in Sri Lanka

Capacity building

• SARO staff visited the programmes in Bhopal, Mumbai, Coorg (India) and reviewed their activities. In Mumbai, discussions were held for recruitment of a new Project Manager. Also, the staff was trained on Right to Information Act and SHG Maturity Index
• A 7-day visit was made to the LC Project in Nagapattinam (India) for planning and implementation of the programme supported by World Jewish Aid. Discussions were also held with the Project Manager on expansion of the programme and recruitment of staff
• A 3-day capacity building programme on “SHG and Project Management Skills” was organised for 28 persons with disabilities from LC programmes in Prakasam and Nagapattinam. Later, the participants were sent on exposure visits to various organisations to understand best practices in management

India

Cheshire Home, Mangalore

With support from the Government Polytechnic Centre, the Cheshire Home has started a training course on 'Screen Printing' for people with disabilities. As part of this 3-month course, the Cheshire residents have printed visiting cards, vouchers, bills etc. Also classes were held on production of Soap and Phenyl (disinfectant). On completion of the trainings, a formal function was held and certificates awarded to the trainees. In the near future, the Home intends to start trainings on tailoring, knitting etc.

LCD-ARUSHI programme, Bhopal

The Election Commission in Bhopal had issued a directive to the district administration to ensure that ramps were constructed at all polling booths for the convenience of people with disabilities participating in the election process. The directive also stated that, the officials should review the ramps built at “Gudbela School” by LCD-ARUSHI programme and construct similar ramps at the polling booths.

Following this, ARUSHI programme staff alongwith persons with disabilities started lobbying with the district administration to implement the directive. They also used the media to highlight this issue (see picture on the left). As a result, for the first time in the history of the state, wheelchair users were able to cast their vote without any assistance.

LC Disability and Development Programme, Prakasam

Following the research on “Accessible Transport and Health”, the programme staff have used the findings to undertake advocacy in their target area. As a result,
 

• A Bus shelter and toilet in Kothapatnam village have been made accessible
• The project staff have sensitised and provided technical support on accessible design to 'Sri Rama Charitable Trust', a welfare organisation constructing bus shelters and toilets for general public. As a result, the bus shelters created by the Trust are not only accessible for persons with disabilities, but also, their maintenance has been handed over to one of the disabled groups in the area, thus, helping in income generation
• Due to advocacy efforts by the programme staff and disabled people's groups, the approach road from the Primary Health Centre (PHC) to the main road has been cemented in Kothapatnam. As a result, the centre is now accessible for tricycle and wheelchair users.  Also, the PHC doctors who are authorised to issue medical certificates for people with disabilities have become more perceptive to the needs of disabled people At the district bus terminal, authorities have instructed staff to issue bus passes (travel concessions) for people with disabilities in the ground floor. This initiative would support people with locomotor disabilities

“LICENSE TO BEG”  An unique campaign by LCD-SARO promoted federation in Jharkhand

SARO is promoting a federation of disabled persons in Jharkhand state called Jharkhand Viklang Manch (JVM). The federation members are quite active in advocating disability rights and fighting for the redressal of grievances of disabled people in the state. Recently, to highlight the lack of livelihood opportunities for people with disabilities, they took up a campaign titled “License to Beg”. They protested in front of the state administrative building, demanding a license to beg as they were not able to find a job. This unique campaign brought a lot of media and public attention to the issues faced by disabled persons. As a result, the chief minister of the state met with representatives of JVM and promised to initiate time-bound specific programmes for the benefit of disabled people in the state.

Livelihood Resource Centre, Cheshire Home, Bangalore

Persons with disabilities have been enrolled into the LRC and an exposure visit to different corporate companies was organised for them. Also, the new LRC resource centre building was inaugurated and made operational from this quarter.

Sri Lanka

Young Voices initiative

Members of the young voices group promoted by LCD in Galle, Sri Lanka have undertaken various activities like meeting ministers and government representatives, conducting street marches, letter campaigns etc. to ensure speedy ratification of UNCRPD by their government. On 25th November, the members organised a road march with 256 persons with disabilities in Galle. As part of the march, they educated the public on the importance of UNCRPD and started collecting signatures of support from people. More than 4309 signatures were collected in 90 minutes. The young voices representatives then, met the Minister for Social Service and Health and handed him a memorandum with the signatures requesting him to bring to the notice of the government the need to ratify the UNCRPD.

Other Key Events in Sri Lanka

• Due to the request made by self help groups of people with disabilities and LCDRC the following buildings were made accessible  the premises of Hatton National Bank, New bus stand, Vocational Training Centre and the New Divisional Secretariat Office of Habaraduwa. All the buildings have been made accessible as per the national guidelines on accessibility. The Department of Special Education in the Southern Province has requested LCDRC-Galle to develop four schools into model inclusive schools in the area
• A media sensitisation programme was held for 33 representatives from the press on UNCRPD and the work being undertaken by LCDRC in Sri Lanka

PAKISTAN

• Staff of LC Disability and Development Programme, Pakistan, were trained on disability and development concepts. They were also oriented on the concepts of Participatory Rural Appraisal and Disability Resource Centre
• Programme Manager, Pakistan, attended the Disability Day programme organised by Sight savers UK and STEP at Islamabad
• In this quarter, 25 disabled leaders underwent training on leadership development and were oriented to the various national/international legislations and government schemes on disability

BANGLADESH

• LC Disability and Development Programme, Bangladesh (LCDDB) became one of the members of IDPD observance committee at the national level
• LCDDB facilitated a daylong session on “Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the context of CRPD” for senior officials of Leprosy Mission on 6 October 2008
• Executive Director of LCDDB participated as a core group member in a national level workshop on Inclusive Education, organised by NFOWD, a national forum on disability