“Full participation and equality of people with disabilities in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region”

Introduction

The “Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability” (APCD) is a regional center on disability, which will be established in Bangkok towards 2004 as a legacy of the Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, under the joint collaboration of the Government of Japan and the Government of Thailand. In this context, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started the APCD project in Bangkok on 1 August 2002.

The Center will be collaborating with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations agencies, international non-governmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations of people with disabilities.

Overall goal

To promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region.
*Rural areas and towns in the countryside, as well as isolated and outer island communities are being fully considered.

Activities

1. Networking and collaboration:

   The Center will facilitate a regional network and collaboration among disability-related organizations by establishing focal point organizations for collaboration and information-sharing, as well as seeking associate organizations for strong relationships and information sharing in each country in the Region.

2. Training implementation:

   The Center will prepare and implement a variety of disability-related human resource development training in the following fields:

   • Capacity Building of Self-help Organizations of People with Disabilities (SHO)
   • Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR)
   • Independent Living (IL)
   • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/ assistive technologies for people with disabilities
   • Non-handicapping/ barrier-free environment

   People with all types of disabilities will be encouraged to join the training. Since necessary expenses will be provided by the Center, the trainees will be required to be a focal point for the Center to further develop collaboration of regional activities with the Center.

3. Information support:

   

   The Center will serve as a disability-related information center for the region in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations, particularly grass-root organizations, to promote and develop an accessible information system such as the Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY). This will encourage grass-root organizations to share disabilityrelated information and disseminate it in a reachable way to all types of the disabilities in the Region. The Center will release a quarterly newsletter and update the website regularly to disseminate significant activities and news in the Region.

Concept Chart

Outputs

The Center will:

• facilitate networking and collaboration among relevant organizations in the Asia-Pacific Region.

• provide accessible information services through the homepage and newsletter by utilizing an accessible information system such as Braille, audio and multimedia products.

• develop disability-related human resources in cooperation with relevant organizations.

• take the necessary administrative measures to ensure its sustainability.