[page 1] Promoting Deaf Activities Together: Lao and Thai Deaf Members APCD organized a one day workshop in collaboration with the Deaf Unit, Lao Disabled People’s Association (LDPA) in Vientiane on 28 May 2009. Twenty-nine deaf persons, 2 sign language interpreters and 3 volunteers from the Deaf Unit participated and discussed the situation of Lao deaf persons regarding career, education, community participation, and livelihood/family life. They identified the main problems they are facing in each area, facilitated by 4 deaf leaders who had joined the internship program from Thailand in the morning session. In the afternoon, participants learned the role of self-help groups from the Thai deaf leaders and exchanged their ideas on what they would like to do as a group. The next day, members of the Deaf Unit, Thai resource persons and APCD developed a plan for future collaborative activities on training for family members of deaf persons to promote their understanding of the issues concerning deaf persons and deaf culture to enable them to accept and support deaf persons. The Deaf Unit proposed that 3 trainings be conducted for 30 families with deaf children. For the first training, APCD will collaborate with the Deaf Unit to organize a 2 days training; for the second and third trainings, the Deaf Unit, LDPA agreed to seek other organizations to be their sponsors. APCD was also able to meet with a representative from intellectual disabilities (ID) organizations for information on activities concerning ID in Laos since the previous APCD workshop in 2008. At the present time, Laos has three groups concerning ID; 1) an organization for ID persons over the age of 11; 2) Baan Saensuk for children with ID and cerebral palsy aged 3-10 and 3) an unofficial group of parents with autistic children initiated by German parents. The focus of the groups is on education. There has not been much development in the area of self-help groups. The future plan of ID groups is to have more volunteers and teachers to take care of ID children as well as train teachers, volunteers and parents concerning education for ID persons. APCD encouraged them to plan their own projects and submit them to APCD for support and to coordinate with other related organizations. [page 2] Deaf Groups in Cambodia Get Together with Thai Deaf Leaders! “It’s the first time for deaf people from different groups to get together and for organizations supporting them to discuss how we can work together.” [Father Charles Dittmeier, Director, Deaf Development Program (DDP), commented on the activities organized by the APCD mission] On 9th-10th June, APCD, in collaboration with its partners in Cambodia, organized a workshop in Phnom Penh with 23 deaf persons from three groups (DDP, Krousar Thmey and Cambodia Development Mission for Disability) as well as representatives from other organizations in the disability sector. The deaf participants conversed actively through sign languages and shared their ideas and experiences in such areas as education, employment, access to health services and communication. Family members and supporting organizational staff also discussed in what ways they could effectively support deaf people. Mr. Kong Chamroeun, member of DDP, said in his summary of the workshop that deaf people are part of a larger community of persons with disabilities and that deaf people should work together as a group. Thai deaf resource persons who facilitated the workshop were much impressed by recent developments concerning the deaf community in Cambodia, such as sign language research and training as well as community center activities supported by DDP, and the Cambodian deaf people’s active participation at the workshop. Following the workshop, organizations supporting deaf persons had a meeting at the Disability Action Council. Proposed future joint activities include: 1) regular meetings of organizations supporting deaf people; 2) regular meetings of deaf people; 3) training of Cambodian deaf leaders (in-country leadership training and a training program in Thailand) and 4) a sub-regional workshop of deaf leaders from neighboring countries. APCD is very glad to have played a role in facilitating collaboration among deaf people from different groups and supporting organizations. Many thanks to our partners who made the workshop and the meeting fruitful! [page 3] Cambodian Disability Legislation on the Promotion and Protection on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Recently the National Assembly and Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia passed new “Legislation on the Promotion and Protection on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” This has been achieved through the hard work, commitment and cooperation of all the stakeholders such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) in cooperation with persons with disabilities, disabled people’s organizations, and local and international NGOs. The outline of the legislation below to be implemented is very important to promote and ensure the sustainability of the national welfare for persons with disabilities. a. Nation: • Fulfil the obligation to implement international/ regional proclamations including UNESCO- Education for All and UNESCAP. • Promote relationships with other ASEAN countries when comparing the similarities and differences of each country’s disability legislation. • Inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in the development, implementation and monitoring of policies, plans, and programmes. • Awareness raised on the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities to their communities among persons with disabilities and their families, communities, professionals and authorities at all levels to promote inclusion. • Promote economic activities with the participation of people with disabilities. • Enhance social welfare and preserve national tradition and culture. b. Government: • Promote implementation of the government policy on poverty reduction. • Clearly define the roles and responsibilities between the Ministries to address disability issues. • An easy system to follow up, monitor and evaluate law enforcement and implementation of policies of the government Ministries and civil society on disability. c. Society: • Promote awareness on disability and disability prevention. • Reduce discrimination and promote integration of people with disabilities into the community. • Reduce the burden of care and support for people with disabilities. d. Private: • Investment incentives, tax deduction and get capable employees. • Contribute to socio-economic development by absorbing the potential productivity of people with disabilities. • Promote vocational skills training for people with disabilities. e. People with disabilities: • Confidence in self-capacity and ability, receive incentive and support. • Use remaining potential to contribute to socio-economic development. • Access to quality and quantitative services. • Rights and benefits legally protected, thus helping to improve the standard of living of persons with disabilities, their families, and society. • Social equality and justice between people with disabilities and other citizens in society. • For persons with disabilities who run their own businesses or handicrafts individually, as a family or collectively, reduce their taxes and provide other privileges in accordance with the applicable laws. [page 4] Learning Together at Community Learning Center, Thailand UNESCO Bangkok Office organized a Sub-Regional Training Workshop on Empowering Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Learning and Community Development through the Community Learning Center (CLC) and Social Integration on 18 – 20 May 2009. APCD dispatched resource persons and nominated participants from Laos and Cambodia. Three persons from Jodnongkae Sub-district Administrative Organization in Khon Kaen Province also joined based on APCD’s network. Twenty-three persons from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, UNESCO and APCD participated. The participatory approach of the agenda included: UNESCO, APCD, Ubon Ratchathani Social Development and Human Security Provincial Office and, Ubon Ratchathani Non-formal and Informal Education Center sharing their experiences; group work to review implementation of their countries’ policies and programs in regards to PWDs; a field visit to Det-udom District Community Learning Centre where Mr. Sompong Rakkot, the leader of persons with disabilities lives; group work on the development of effective strategies and activities to integrate persons with disabilities into CLC activities and, country team work to prepare a follow up action plan. Discussion on the first day centered on concept ideas of CLC and Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR). It was agreed that CLC could be a delivery mechanism for implementation with CBR as the main approach to promote an inclusive society for all. Both CBR and CLC have the common principles of learning together, networking and collaboration, and resource mobilization in the community. Outputs of the workshop included developing country-based action plans for promoting the empowerment of PWDs through community activities, participants sharing their experiences on inclusive community development and exchanging ideas on good practices. Also participants could observe good practice in Ubon Ratchathani by visiting a CLC, Non Sawang CLC in Det Udon district which has inclusive activities for both PWDs and non-disabled persons and is effectively working in partnership with local authorities. APCD believes that for future collaboration, CLC could be an effective mechanism for implementing CBR. Collaboration among APCD, its Associate Organizations and UNESCO on such issues as the inclusion of PWDs in CLCs or the utilization of CLC in CBR activities can be very effective. [page 5] Networking of Three Sub-districts for CBR, Khon Kaen, Thailand In collaboration with three Sub-district Administrative Organisations (SAOs): Jodnongkae SAO, Soknokten SAO and Nongwangnangbao SAO, in Phon district, APCD organized a workshop to share and get feedback on the documentary film, “CBR Initiative in Jodnongkae”. The highlight was the networking of the three SAOs in Phon district for CBR activities. Even though some participants were unfamiliar with CBR, the workshop enabled them to understand the background of CBR in the Thai context. One interesting suggestion was how to develop and sustain CBR activities in their communities with SAO. With many good practices and resources in Jodnongkae SAO, many stakeholders agreed that the Jodnongkae SAO should build a CBR learning Center in order to share information and their experiences. Each SAO expressed a willingness to follow suggestions and are positive about acting as a coordinating body for CBR activities at the provincial, district, and village levels in cooperation with other key stakeholders on CBR, such as, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, and Special Education Centre Region 9. International Conference on Disaster, Phuket, Thailand The 2nd International Conference on Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities was organized by the Thailand Association of the Blind in collaboration with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NEP), DAISY Consortium and APCD Foundation in Phuket, Thailand from 12 – 13 May 2009. The main objective was to establish an international network to promote disaster preparedness of persons with disabilities according to the WSIS (United Nations World Summit on the Information Society) Plan of Action. Mr. Tri Akradecha, Vice Governor of Phuket Province extended a warm welcome, followed by: 1) keynote addresses, 2) review of the current situation: legislation and policies, 3) progress in technology development and, 4) practice and experience sharing including traditional knowledge. At Patong beach, there was a demonstration of disaster preparedness for persons with disabilities, with support from various local municipalities. Issues and concerns such as budget for preparedness were exchanged between local municipalities and participants. For example, participants with hearing disabilities shared their concern of timely access to information and recommended warning signs. In closing, participants adopted the Phuket Declaration on Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities. [page 6] CBR Project in Nargis Cyclone Affected Areas, Myanmar Mr. Nay Lin Soe, CBR project manager of AAR-Japan (Myanmar) and ex-participant of APCD’s training on CBR, has been implementing a CBR project in three townships of the Nargis cyclone affected area. Of the 7 project staff, 4 are persons with disabilities. Many activities have been conducted such as, training for CBR concerned staff, developing assistive devices, promoting inclusive education, creating a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities, home visits, and having physiotherapists teaching children with disabilities and care skills to their parents. As a resource person for CBR activities, Mr. Nay Lin Soe emphasizes that it is important for communities to adopt a CBR approach to develop the quality of life of persons with disabilities. According to Mr. Nay Lin Soe, it was a great experience for him to participate in the first CBR Congress in Thailand since he could gain knowledge and develop ideas concerning the CBR movement in the Asia-Pacific region. His contribution has been included in the CBR Booklet “Inclusive Community Development: Future Direction of CBR in Asia-Pacific”. A Company of PWDs in Danang, Vietnam Ms. Dang Thi Ngoc Anh, a lady with a disability, established “Tam Thien”, a tailor company in 2005. The number of employees has increased annually, with more than 70 employees with disabilities as of June 2009. It is not easy for persons with disabilities in Danang to get a job. In this regard, “Tam Thien” demonstrates community-based activities for those wanting to have a vocational life; accommodation and food are provided for those who live far from their homes. However, employees with disabilities at “Tam Thien” need to work day and evening shifts due to the economic crisis and limited facilities. The good practice of “Tam Thien” with the strong commitment of Ms. Anh has been included in the documentary DVD “Community for All”. [page 7] SbKM Documents in Various Fields, the Philippines Three documents have been made according to the Story-based Knowledge Management (SbKM) approach. The topics below have been selected as APCD’s good practices in the Philippines. A Blind Architect: The Vision of Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) The document focuses primarily on the passion and tacit knowledge of one blind architect, Jaime G. Silva, who is one of the key persons promoting the NHE movement throughout the Philippines. It illustrates how Architect Jaime bridged persons with and without disabilities. In collaboration with JICA’s NHE Project (NCDA as the key implementing agency), American and Filipino sign languages have been filmed for information accessibility. The document was shared in National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week from 17-23 July, particularly targeting specific viewers such as groups of persons with disabilities, their families, and Local Government Unit (LGU) officers in barangays (unit of a local community in the Philippines). The Heart of SM SM Supermalls, the largest shopping mall in the Philippines, has collaborated with APCD to develop a documentary film which demonstrates the background of inclusive community business development, and a commitment to disability issues such as a mega mall. The production cost was shouldered by SM Supermalls. The contents of the story have described the inspiration of SM Supermalls in their disability initiatives. Since SM Supermalls provide staff training every six months, the film is going to be included in their training program. In addition, SM Supermalls is committed to show the film in their cinemas (approximately more than 200 cinemas and 7 million viewers per year) to raise awareness in public. As a first step, a launching ceremony was organized on 17 July, the first day of the 2009 NDPR Week in the Philippines. From Why to How through ICT The essence of this story is how and why deaf and blind persons use ICT to empower themselves. There are several ICT related organizations in the Philippines that participated in the production process. Among various ICT practitioners with disabilities, Mr. Marx Vergel, a blind entrepreneur in Manila has shared his commitment and knowledge in the film. [page 8] Full of Unique Experiences, India India has a long history of CBR activities. With many good practices of CBR for persons with disabilities, it can be useful for disability-concerned people to learn from India. APCD and Thai government officers conducted a field study in Madanapalle, Bangalore and New Delhi in India to learn about their CBR and building capacities of persons with disabilities. The participants of this field study consisted of 6 persons with disabilities, 1 sign language interpreter, 2 Thai government officers, and 2 APCD coordinators. Firstly, the participants visited the Movement for Rural Emancipation or “MORE” located in Madanapalle, Bangalore. The feature of CBR activities by MORE is a bottom-up approach. Participants had opportunities to join various workshops and meetings in communities during the stay. After completing the field study in Madanapalle, the participants had an opportunity to see the progress of Non-Handicapping Environment activities in public transportation (subway and public buses) and World Heritage places in New Delhi. The key organizations to promote the initiative are Samarthyam and Savayam. Visiting India’s good practices enabled the participants to understand and realize the importance of awareness-raising on disabilities issues. These good practices highlighted the significance of collaboration among local authorities, persons with disabilities and organizations of/for persons with disabilities to access society. On the last day, participants made their own action plans to implement according to their knowledge and experiences gained through the field study. Further “STEP” with Different Stakeholders, Pakistan One of APCD’s targets in Story-based Knowledge Management (SbKM) activities is the Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in Islamabad, Pakistan. The documentation has been initiated and developed between STEP and APCD in collaboration with enthusiastic leaders from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education and the National Institute of Science and Technical Education (NISTE), Ministry of Education. The document will clarify the background of how and why STEP has been developing their activities in cooperation with different stakeholders including the government and international organizations. [page 9] CBR movement: “We are the Initiators!”, Uzbekistan APCD in collaboration with JICA Uzbekistan Office and World Vision conducted a series of workshops for five days in Tashkent from 26th to 30th June in Uzbekistan. The main participants were “CBR implementers”, most of whom were PWDs. Some of the mahalla leaders as well as government representatives and members of a working group who are currently drafting a position paper on CBR promotion in Uzbekistan also took part in some of the sessions. One of the highlights of the workshop was Disability Equality Training conducted by two Uzbek PWDs. The two Uzbek trainers, Ms. Halima and Ms. Saodat, were supported by APCD resource persons, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamani from Pakistan and Ms. Ukei Muratalieva from the Kyrgyz Republic. Ms. Halima and Ms. Saodat did a great job facilitating the one-day training, although they had had only a couple of days’ training. It should also be mentioned that Ms. Ukei herself has been recently trained as a DET trainer through CDSHOD (Capacity Development of Self-Help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities) held in the Kyrgyz Republic last year and additional training by Japanese experts. Now she has become a resource person to share her skills with others. The workshop was filled with positive energy and eagerness to share experiences. Voices from the Uzbek participants are: “When we get together with other peers, we can think of different ways of solving our problems.” “By going out together, we can become more visible in the public, creating awareness. People become used to seeing us.” “Now I have a clear vision on CBR – it’s about every part of life. The first thing is to get ourselves activated and spread the information to our family members and other mahalla members.” The CBR project adopts a truly community-based approach by working with the mahalla members. Through the project, many PWDs who used to stay home have come out to take part in the activities with their peers. The first step in moving CBR forward has been taken in Uzbekistan. The approach they are taking can be a model for other countries in the region in the future. [page 10] Message from APCD Foundation The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand has recently designated the APCD Foundation to manage APCD. Dr. Tej Bunnag, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the APCD Executive Board, expressed his strong commitment to promote APCD’s activities to achieve its goals. “As the regional cooperation center, APCD will continue to work actively with Focal Points and Associate Organizations of APCD as strategic partners. Networking and collaboration will enable APCD to become the hub on disability and development in the Asia-Pacific region”, said Dr. Tej. Dr. Tej is determined to use his experience in international cooperation in leading APCD into the future. Greetings from Mr. Akiie Ninomiya The past 7 years have flown by, and the time has come for me to bid farewell to my many dear friends and colleagues. I want to express my sincere thank you and deepest appreciation to APCD’s Stakeholders who have empowered me by promoting an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for all, especially leaders with disabilities, United Nations Officers, Government Officials, International Government Organizations and Organizations of People with Disabilities. A special thank you to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the privilege of serving as Chief Adviser for APCD Project since its inception in 2002. My assignment for Phase I, 2002-2007, was to establish APCD in Bangkok, which was successfully accomplished with over 30 focal point countries, approximately 160 associate organizations and more than 650 ex-trainees. It was persons who became empowered that passed on the spirit of empowerment to more persons with disabilities. And so the disability movement continues….. APCD Foundation was established to support financial sustainability and is now becoming a Counterpart of JICA Technical Cooperation. APCD Phase II is focusing on networking and collaboration in the Asia and Pacific region, particularly the Great Mekong River Sub-region for persons with hearing impairments and intellectual disabilities. Community-based rehabilitation has become more popular in the global community with APCD taking a leadership role. Story-based Knowledge Management (SbKM) is developing with focal points and associate organizations. I feel that all of us are persons with a disability. God has sent us into this world with a severe disability in that we were born totally dependent and in the last stage of life we also face disability. I leave honoured and empowered to have been part of a “community” united in the same passion to strive for the rights of persons with disabilities. Much progress has been made due to your commitment and perseverance, but there is still much to be done! I look forward to following the disability movement and seeing the “fruits of your labour”. Thank you again for your unfailing support over the past 7 years. [page 11] APCD Activities Tentative APCD activities for the next 6 months (July 2009 – December 2009) July 2009 13 – 18 SbKM Mission to the Philippines 21 – 29 Training on CBR/SHG in Thailand August 2009 4 – 6 Blind Dialogue Follow-up in Thailand 19-21 SbKM Mission to Vietnam 24-28 HRD Mission to Cambodia 31 Aug – 11 Sep Regional Training on Web-based Networking September-December 2009 Not yet confirmed [page 12] WXYZ Kana-chan: Let’s start with the first letter for today! Raise you hand and make the Victory sign by opening the index and middle fingers and closing all the other fingers. To say “W”, just add your ring finger. Juk: Wow! That’s easy!! “X” is not difficult either. Just lift up your index finger up with the others closed, and then, bend it halfway down like a hook. Kana-chan: I’ll tell you how to say “Y”. Please open the palm of your hand and face the viewers; then, fold your first, middle, and third fingers down. Juk: Thanks a lot. To say “Z”, just lift your index finger up with the others closed, and then, write “Z” with the finger in the air. Kana-chan & Juk: Anyway, time to go. Sayonara!! (Goodbye in Japanese)