Dear Reader,

Welcome to our first bi-annual newsletter and as always, I would like to thank you for your consistent support.

It is obvious, by way of how we are being encouraged to take a closer look at our publications in terms of their role to put forward our work with growing efficacy that you have been our greatest contributor so far. Your suggestions have been one of the strongest driving forces in the development of our communication and outreach materials.

In keeping with our regular magazine feel, we bring you news, updates and stories from across our projects in South-Asia, and I am sure that you will find a lot of material useful. There are new case studies and examples of best practice.

In this issue, we highlight the need for Inclusive Transport. Despite the issue being repeatedly discussed, there is a lack of consistent 'pushing' without which the interface between the government and civil society weakens. Our Guest-Speak article explores the persistent ignorance of our policy makers and the need for a co-operative resurgence of all stakeholders, dedicatedly working towards removing perhaps one of the biggest barrier to accessibility.

While assessing our work in the region, two initiatives promoted by SARO underwent an evaluation during this period. We would like to share with you, major achievements and the impact it has made in the lives of persons with disabilities in the region.

We also bring you an inspiring photo-story from Sri Lanka in our Changing Lives section. Although you will find it familiar to some stories that we have featured in our previous issues, it is a great way to emphasize the possibilities that exist in building a partnership of people and the community as a whole.
We have been eagerly following up on the development of Esarudin and his family from Bangladesh, which you will read towards the end of the newsletter. We hope that you will be happy to follow their developments with us, through this case dairy.

Have a pleasurable reading and please keep sending your valuable feedback,
Leaving you to read lots more inside,

Warm Regards,

Rajendra K R
Regional Representative - South Asia
Leonard Cheshire Disability
International
South Asia Regional Office