30 May, 2009

India: 50 government websites to be made disabled friendly

Disabled rights groups have approached the IT ministry with a list of 50 government websites like that of the Indian Railways, Central Information Commission and Income Tax Department which they want to be made disabled friendly.
“We have identified 50 organisations and departments in the government. We have sent a proposal to the IT ministry to make sites of these WCAG (web content accessibility guidelines) 2.0 compliant, thereby making them disabled friendly. The ministry has shown a very positive outlook on this,” Javed Abidi, convener of the Disabled Rights Group, told IANS.

According to Abidi, such a move would simplify the Internet interface for people with disability by making the websites compatible with the special software they use to access websites.

“With an aim to enable disabled people to be a part of e-governance, we came to a consensus on the list after discussions with various disability groups across the country. Simple things like booking a rail ticket will be possible for people with visual impairment once the site carries out technical changes,” he said.

Abidi, who is also director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) - an umbrella organisation of various NGOs and civil society organisations working on disability issues - said that 99.99 percent of the estimated 5,000 websites and web portals hosted by the government of India listed by the National Information Centre (NIC) can’t be accessed by people with disability.

At the e-governance conference in Goa Feb 12, it was announced that all government websites would be made WCAG 2.0 compliant.

These government websites would now enable web access to a wider range of people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities and photosensitivity.

The challenge, Abidi said, was to make existing sites WCAG 2.0 compliant and sensitise concerned government departments.

“While the IT ministry initiated immediate action and made India’s largest sites - india.gov.in and bharat.gov.in - accessible to the disabled, the social justice and empowerment ministry continues to drag its feet. It is ironic that it is this ministry that is supposedly nodal for various issues concerning disabled people,” he said.

Abidi added the website of the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH) was not accessible to visually impaired people.

“Similarly, the CCPD (Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities) website is still not accessible to people with disabilities. And they are supposedly the watchdogs for any Disability Act violations that may occur,” he said.

BBC: DANCING ON WHEELS

Ballroom glamour and glitz come to BBC Three as celebrities join forces with wheelchair users in a dancing competition like no other

Singer Heather Small, gold medallist Mark Foster and actress Michelle Gayleare among the celebrities that will be dancing with wheelchair users in a groundbreaking new six-part series for BBC Three uniting wheelchair users and celebrities in a dance competition with a difference.

Actor Kevin Sacre, rugby legend Martin Offiah and presenter Caroline Flackare also set to partner wheelchair users who have never danced before – with only five weeks to master everything from the cha-cha to the paso doble.

The wheelchair users are: Simone, a 22-year-old Cambridge graduate; Diana, a 48-year-old magazine editor and mother; 27-year-old Carolyne, who enjoys nothing more than a night out; James, a cocky 31-year-old whose impressive acrobatic ability puts most able-bodied people to shame; Paul, a 24-year-old festival-goer who is looking forward to Glastonbury this summer; and 23-year-old Harris, who recently got married to a girl he met whilst travelling in Thailand.

They will all be learning the art of Wheelchair Dance Sport, a popular international sport where at least one dancer is a wheelchair user.

Wheelchair Dance Sport is practised widely by athletes in 22 countries, with competitions and championships held across the world.

In Dancing On Wheels (working title), the couples will be compete in the "combi" event where a standing able-bodied dancer partners a wheelchair user.

The winning couple will go on to represent the UK at the Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships in Israel this autumn.

Lead choreographer Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer who appeared in the last series of Strictly Come Dancing and who has been teaching wheelchair dancing for the last eight years, will be putting the couples through their paces.

Under the guidance of Brian and some of the other top names in dance, the couples will be trained intensively each week to compete in a variety of exhausting and challenging dance disciplines as they battle for supremacy.

A panel of judges will decide each week which couples stay in the competition.

The judges will then select the two strongest couples who will get the chance to take part in a final dance-off, before a winning couple is chosen to represent Britain in the European Championships in October 2009.

The programme will be shown later this year.


26 May, 2009

Faith - Walking without two legs

This is 'Faith'                                                           
                                                                         

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 3    
legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which needed           
to be amputated.   He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his  
mother did not want him.                                                   
                                                                         

                                                                         
His first owner also did not think that he could survive. Therefore, he    
was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.                                
By this time, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to 
take care of him.                                                          
She was determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself.         
Therefore she named him 'Faith'.                                           

                                                                         
                                                                         
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfing board to let him feel the     
movements.                                                                 
                                                                         
Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him to    
stand up and jump around.                                                  
                                                                         
Even the other dog at home also helped to encourage him to walk.           
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance   
on his 2 hind legs and jumped to move forward.                             
                                                                         
After further training in the snow, he now can walk like a human being.    

                                                                         
                                                                         
Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he just attracts  
all the people around him.                                                 
He is now becoming famous on the international scene. He has appeared on   
various newspapers and TV shows.                                           
There is even one book entitled 'With a little faith' being published      
about him. He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter        
movies.                                                                
                                                                         

                                                                         
                                                                         
His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and    
plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect  
body, one can have a perfect soul'.                                                                                                                   
                                                                         

                                                                         


   

                                                                         
                                                                         
In life there are always undesirable things. Perhaps one will feel better  
if one changes the point of view from another direction.                   
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and  
that everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day that  
follows.                                                                   
Faith is the continual demonstration of the Strength of Life.

INDIA: No Place to be People with Disabilities In

"There are very few options in wheelchair production, especially for children, with no regular supply of whatever is available," K.N. Gopinath, assistant director of the Bangalore-based Association of People with Disabilities (APD), a national organisation working to empower the physically challenged told IPS. 

Technology in locomotion and mobility for the disabled has progressed worldwide, but India continues to use antiquated tricycles and wheelchairs as mobility devices. 

"Basic understanding of mobility is lacking in India today," APD director V.S. Basavaraju told IPS. 

Thirty-two-year-old Usman, who works for a company manufacturing aids and appliances for the disabled in Bangalore, says he has never boarded a bus or train. "Even though people are willing to help you, it is still nearly impossible to use public transport here." 

Nineteen-year-old Hanumantha says he has an arrangement with a colleague to drop him home every evening. In return Hanumantha buys him a ticket to the movies once a fortnight. "My father brings me to office everyday, carries me and sits me down," he says. 

Only about 15 percent of the loco motor disabled in India are able to use public transport, as compared to over 65 percent of disabled populations in developed countries. The rest struggle to commute daily - or are immobilised. 

India's social support network of family and friends is much stronger than in developed nations, but there is little barrier-free access to public facilities. 

Usman is one of the luckier ones. His inputs on what suits the disabled most were used by his employers, the Bangalore-based Indian company Flexitron, to design a low-cost, motorised, rechargeable bike for the disabled, priced Rs. 18,000 (356 dollars). Similar bikes cost around 3,000 dollars in western markets. 

Most of Flexitron's labour are disabled or challenged individuals who test their own products for usability and durability, thereby serving both their own livelihood interests and those of the company. 

But private companies like Flexitron lack access to government channels which use the public sector Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Company (ALIMCO) to source disability appliances. 

Not surprisingly, Flexitron now has a major market outside India, selling low- cost, low-wattage consumption technologies, including 53 disability- assistance devices, to 16 countries. 

Flexitron director R.S. Hiremath acknowledges that India has a poor record in research and development, but says there are several low-cost options that could be made in India for everyday needs, such as cutlery that can be grasped by those without fingers, or mats that allow a person to transport himself from wheelchair to bed, or bathroom devices. 

"These would be simple devices, so very useful for the disabled, at half the price compared to western countries," he says. 

But progress is patchy. "There is no actual discussion across all sectors of related users and manufacturers," Gopinath told a gathering at the APD golden jubilee celebrations in Bangalore last month. He said that the 1995 law, the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act is dependent on funding without designating a specified source for it. 

India's Deputy Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, T.D. Dhariyal, says each state in India has its own priorities to arrange funding. 

India is a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asia-Pacific Region and to the Biwako Millennium framework for action towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society. The Biwako framework of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) was agreed in Japan in 2002. 

Barrier-free systems use appliances and designs such as stair lifts at metro stations, wheelchair-friendly ramps, Braille signboards, and accessible ticketing counters. 

The only places in Asia with near-total barrier-free public environments by UNESCAP standards are Hong Kong and Japan. 

Dhariyal says India's Disabilities Act of 1995 provides a strong fillip to ensuring the rights of the disabled. 

"I am currently fighting a case in court of a visually impaired government officer who has been denied the position of District Collector (a senior administrative rank) because of his disability," says Dhariyal. The Act now makes it possible to take up such cases, he said. 

India's Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, responsible for the disabled, has six schemes for rehabilitation, livelihood, education and assisted device grants, more than what most other nations have. 

The amount of assistance on offer is, however, inadequate. "How much can Rs. 6,000 (118 dollars), given as grant for aids and appliances by the government really help?" says Hiremath. 

But many are not able to access even this fund. 

"My experience is that most of the current funding available (for disability- related aid) remains unused," Dhariyal told IPS. 

"We (APD) are now saying that what we have today in India is not enough, that we need value addition to mobility issues," says APD director V.S. Basavaraju. 

Dhariyal agrees that quality could be improved. "If aids of better quality are the issue, then somebody should approach the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (looking after disability-related governance) and put it to them," he says, sending the ball back to the court of organisations like APD.

25 May, 2009

Data, information and research for people with disabilities

Research – there is presently no co-ordination or integration between research on disability and research on gender, social development and so on. Disability–related research tends to focus predominantly on the health and/or social welfare aspect of disability.
Research needs to overcome the person–centred approach where, to understand performance problems, equal attention is given to person, physical environment and machine environment. Attention must be given to the conceptualisation and measurement of disability so that research can incorporate insights on the interplay between people, resources and environment.
It needs to be acknowledged that the research process is as important as the outcome (results) of the research, and the specific attention needs to be given to both qualitative and participatory components in research methods to ensure that the different dimension of disability are appreciated.

Information – the ultimate responsibility for the dissemination of information on the living conditions of people with disabilities lies with the Government. 
It is the Government’s responsibility to disseminate information on disability throughout both political and administrative levels of the national and all spheres. 
People with disabilities should have access to full information of personal health, education and social aspects affecting their lives.
All strategies and mechanisms developed to make information accessible to citizens should be available in a format accessible to people with disabilities.

Within Policy objectives the following should be incorporated:

  • There must be regular, appropriate data collection on the living conditions of people with disabilities.
  •  Research should reflect the gaps between people’s physical or mental conditions and their resources/capacity (personal, economic, social), and the environment (geographic, architectural, social, political) in which they live, work and play.
  • Disabled people should have full access to all information that affects their lives.

Strategies necessary for proper data collection and research include:

  • Data collection in conjunction with national censuses and household surveys, undertaken in close collaboration with, amongst others, universities, research institutes and l Disabled People’s Organisaitons (DPOs).
  • The facilitation of better co-ordination of disability-focused research.
  • The facilitation of access to disability-focused research by the general research sector.
  • The integration of disability-focused and general research through the establishment of a forum where researchers and the disability sector can exchange information related to disability and research.
  • The development of a national database on existing research aimed at identifying gaps.
  • The development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for disability related research.
  • The development of national guidelines for the integration of disability into general research.
  • The facilitation of the publication of market relevant and significant research findings.
  • Networking with regional and international research and international research institutions.
In the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities article 31 also emphasizes on the importance of collecting appropriate information, including statistical and research data of people with disabilities, to enable our governments to formulate and implement policies to give effect to the present Convention and moreover to identify and address the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in exercising their rights.

21 May, 2009

New Poll

In previous poll we found majority voting was in favor of CBR. Now here is a fresh poll and we will compare between Independent Living and CBR that which approach is better for People with Disabilities. If you may have extra comments, opinions or articles related to the poll question please write to us we will post good comments or opinions and will share with all.  

18 May, 2009

Pakistan: Artificial limbs camp in Sindh

Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said on Friday that the provision of artificial limbs to the disable persons is one of the best services in a physical impaired society, which is ultimately the reparation for development of country. This he said while on inauguration of Free Medical Camp under the “Amputees Rehabilitation Project” by the Department of Prosthetics Institute of Physical Machine and Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) here at Chandka Medical College teaching hospital Larkana.

Nisar Khuhro said the human societies are shaped through noble causes and service of mankind by good deeds. He said society should step ahead and utilize such a resource of physically impaired people and make them a useful citizen. He said now the disables should make them a normal human and try to avert the situation after getting this opportunity of medical camp.

Speaker said the prime responsibility of all should to make our selves aware and educate the society by their skills. He is much impressed the services of DUHS and experts who came to deliver their services in Larkana and the people of Sindh appreciates further their efforts for amputees rehabilitation by the department. He said the local NGO in Larkana has registered 557 disable patients and hoped the institution will organize medical camps in future. 

Head of the department (DUHS) Dr. Nabeela Soomro said in Pakistan disability rate is high and there is no one institution except this one which recently established in Karachi, while for this purpose in India about 57 institutions are working and providing artificial limbs facilities to the people.

She said there is shortage of technical staff and experts due to the long run training of professional we have to struggle and will make it possible in next few years she said. She said in Karachi there are 1500 registered cases and the institutions have completed artificial limbs to the 1370 disables.

Dr. Nabeela demonstrated and showed the team of disables came from Karachi and they told that how they are easy survive due to the artificial limbs as they were neglected elements of the society. Those were included Zakir Baig, Sarfaraz, Fakher Shaikh and others also performing job in the institution simultaneously. 

On the occasion, Head of Department DUHS Dr. Nabeela Soomro along with team, Principal CMC Larkana Professor Sikander Ali Shaikh, Medical Suprintendent Syed Mehboob Ali Shah, District Coordination Officer Larkana Mohammed Jaffer Abbasi, Khair Mohammed Shaikh, Kamrani Ali, Mohammed Panjal Sangi, Ali Gohar Sangi and other doctors were among the Medical Camp inauguration ceremony.

In one day medical Camp 110 disable people were registered and half of the cases were due to polio and diabetics’ reasons the limbs were cut.

16 May, 2009

The 10th Asia Pacific Congress on Deafness – APCD2009

The 10th Asia Pacific Congress on Deafness – APCD2009 will be held in connection with 10th Hearing International - HI Annual meeting and 2nd ASEAN Academy of Neuro-oto-audiology at Landmark Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand during 4-7th August, 2009. This will be another great event. It is my great privilege and pleasure to warmly invite all of you to participate in these three combined conferences.

Organizing Committee of APCD2009 will ensure you of the innovative programming, latest technology and opportunity in Medical, Surgical, Rehabilitation and Education for the Hearing Impaired and the Deaf. Conference offers professional development for deaf education, teachers, interpreters, support staffs, professionals in the field of deafness and parents, audiologists and hearing specialists. The scientific programme will include special lecture, plenary, tutorial, free paper and poster sessions. You will have the opportunities to site visit of professional interest such as diagnostic and rehabilitation technology and school for the deaf in Bangkok.

The conference has grown to become the major meeting in the Asia Pacific region and Worldwide. It is the opportunity for all those involved to share research, clinical and educational practices.

For Registration, Abstracts and program detail please click on  the title


12 May, 2009

Pakistan: Job Opportunity Communication Specialist (Islamabad Based)

Communication Specialist (Islamabad Based)  

The mission of Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) is to strengthen and support community organizations and public interest institutions of Pakistan. Its democratic governance, social justice and peace and social harmony programmes seek to achieve enhanced capacity of its partners with increased levels of accountability and transparency.

SPO offers a challenging opportunity to the one who sees her/his work as commitment rather than a job. Reporting to the Head of Technical Support, s/he will be responsible for planning, coordinating and editing newsletter, annual report and other publication(s)/reports etc. S/he will ensure all aspects of production of multiple publications and quality assurance stages.  The prerequisites include a Masters degree in a relevant subject with at least five years experience. Knowledge of social, political and development sector, clear and concise verbal and written communication skills both in English and Urdu, proficiency in MS-Office and In-page Urdu are essential requirements. Linkages with media are highly desirable for this position.

Job Description                       

DepartmentTechnical Support and Research  
 Communication Specialist
Reports toProgram Manager/Head of Technical Support and Research
Line Management responsibility forAssociate Development Resource Centre
 

 

 
Job Purpose
 
S/he is responsible to ensure all aspects of production of multiple publications, editing, fact checking and quality assurance stages, planning designing and editing newsletter, annual report and other reports.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main duties and responsibilities

  • Improve internal/external communications through developing strategies
  • Write, draft and/or edit, and submits for final approval: press releases, articles, newsletters, case studies, profiles, annual reports, marketing/advertising materials
  • Coordinate and supervise the development of video documentary films
  • Edit all elements for style, substance and organization. Reorganize text to create consistency in grammar, format, and message.
  • Oversee all aspects of production, often of multiple publications; copy editing, fact checking and quality assurance stages
  • Provide text and technical services to developing and maintaining web pages and/or other forms of electronic communication
  • Serve as liaison to contributors/authors for research papers: solicits material to be published, edit submissions, convey editorial comments, resolve issues, ensure deadlines are met
  • Ensure that the content and image are consistent and documented; coordinate post production activities, coordinating copyright registration, and permissions activities
  • Oversee distribution of press releases to media; take photographs; maintain photo, clip and contact files; organize and over see photo shoots, reporter visits, media launches, and related events as directed
  • Establish and strengthen linkages with other support organizations to exchange relevant information

Human Resource Management

  • Monitor and review staff performance and achievement on a regular basis including supervision and annual appraisals; and offer timely constructive feedback
  • Liaise with HR about staff performance and attendance issues
  • Help to recruit, interview  and induct staff
  • Coach and mentor staff to ensure they achieve their objectives

Other

  • Adhere to SPO policies and promote participatory culture and demonstrate SPO’s values
  • Prepare annual/quarterly work plans and reports
  • Participate in the programme planning and review meeting at least once a year to review the past achievements future planning
  • Participate in professional development training as identified and approved by SPO
  • Any other duties as required

Applications should reach the Manager Human Resources, SPO National Centre, House 429, Street 11, F-10/2, Islamabad, Email: jobs@spopk.org  by Thursday, May 14, 2009.  Candidates, who have applied for this position before, need not apply again. Candidates who try to influence the recruitment process would automatically be disqualified.

Women and minority candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

SPO is an equal opportunity employer.

 

 

11 May, 2009

Pakistan: Report on Awareness Raising Seminar

Group photo after the seminar 

PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS

An awareness raising semianr

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2009,

Time: 11:00am to 01:30pm

Venue: IDA RIEU Teachers' Resource Center, Karachi

Organized by:Danishkadah and IDA RIEU Teachers' Recource Center.

Audience : Teachers, Parents and Students

Program Detail

    • Introduction to hearing loss (Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened)
    • How it is living with hearing loss
    • Accommodation in education and medial setup is your right (UN CRPD)
    • Need of platform for People with Hearing loss, and role of parents and teacher
    • Existing local and International organization and available opportunities for people with hearing loss.
      (WFD, IFHOHYP, IFHOH, EFHOH, ALDA)

    Danishkadah and IDARIUE Teachers' Recourse Center jointly organized an awareness raising seminar on "People with Hearing Loss". The aim was to raise batter understanding about different types of people with hearing lost, their international organizations, right of accommodation in education, medical setup, and encourage to established self-help organizations.

    During seminar teachers were encouraged to refresh their knowledge and learn ICT skill so they can keep themselves update about latest development from all over the world. Teachers, parents and students were given links of international organization of people with hearing loss, organization of interpreter and other web site where they can learn more and can published their work.

    Accommodation in inclusive setting also was discussed specially in education and medical setup, in our environment usually parents or relatives helps people with hearing loss, and it observed that professional services is missing in Pakistan. It also be observed that neither the teacher nor the student aware about assistive devices because they are not available in Pakistan. We suggested that teachers, parents, and students all should aware of assistive devices and technologies so they can demand the same or collaborate with different companies to develop local assistive devices.

    Different available resources, tools also shown to the audience, and different CD with sign language got attention of the audience, special about Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Later on audience's interest, it was decided that a workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) will be organize some time later at mutual agreed date.

    Muhammad Akrm from Danishkadah and Ms. Shazia Hasan and Ms. Rabia from IDA RIUE TRC jointly manage this program.

     

Photos from the Seminar

audience 1 Shaiza Husan and Rukhsana R. Jaffer member Managing Committee Idariue visible at front leftSpeaker Muhammad Akram

different view of speaker and interpreter

audience 2- Shazia Husan visible at left most seat

Source: DanishKadah

09 May, 2009

International Labour Organisation seeking Experts in Disability Issues

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a tripartite UN agency that brings together governments, employers and workers throughout the world to promote decent work for women and men, including those with disabilities. The ILO has a long history of promoting the rights of disabled people to vocational rehabilitation, training and employment, and is frequently asked to provide technical advice on laws, policies, programmes and services related to disability. We are developing a database of consultants who can assist us to meet the demand for disability-related expertise in a various countries with an emphasis on the inclusion of disabled persons in regular and mainstream services. We welcome CVs from disability experts with several years of national or international experience in research, training, legal issues or project planning/management and evaluation relating to vocational training and employment of disabled persons. We currently have a particular interest in identifying people with disability expertise in the following content areas: Crisis and disaster, trade unions, human resources, corporate social responsibility, employment, and entrepreneurship. People with disabilities are strongly urged to submit CVs. Please send the attached form and your CV, summarizing the relevant experience in the beginning to disability@ilo.org . 

08 May, 2009

2010 International VSA arts Festival


AXIS Dance Company. Dancers Sonsheree Giles and Rodney Bell. Photo by Trib LaPrade.

From June 6-12, 2010, VSA arts will bring together artists, educators, researchers, and policy makers with disabilities from around the world for a multicultural celebration of the arts and arts education. Featuring visual, performing, literary, media artists, and a guest list that includes over two thousand participants from all corners of the globe. 

 

Picture of a kid playing puppet

Highlights of the Festival will include Dame Evelyn Glennie, the Scottish virtuoso percussionist, performing with the National Symphony Orchestra; internationally renowned educational innovator Sir Ken Robinson, the jazz stylings of Diane Schuur, R&B legend Patti LaBelle, Last Comic Standing season four winner Josh Blue, and renowned actors Claire Danes (Romeo + Juliet), andMarlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God/The L Word). 

Picture of a group of kid doing sign language

VSA arts will also convene an international arts education conference. Geared towards professional educators and working artists, the conference will focus upon advancing inclusive education through the arts and will host a career development forum for artists with disabilities.

In addition to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, venues, such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, the H Street Playhouse, and the D.C. IMPROV, will showcase performances and exhibitions.

South Africa: Politician with disability forced to resign

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille is under fire for “unscrupulously” preventing a leader with a disability from representing the party in Parliament.

Ari Seirlis accuses the arms deal whistleblower of being the mastermind behind a “fraudulent” scheme which saw him removed from the party’s parliamentary list to make way for her “crony” Joe Mcgluwa.

Seirlis is the national director of the QuadPara Association of South Africa.

“You (De Lille) invited me to join your party as number three on your candidate list for the National Assembly.

“When you didn’t perform as well as you had hoped ... achieving only four seats, you tried through your secretary- general Haniff Hoosen to bully me into resigning so that one of your old cronies could take my rightful place in Parliament.”

Seirlis further charged that her submitted a “fraudulent and false” resignation letter on his behalf. The letter bears Seirlis’ signature but he denies authoring it.

Seirlis says Hoosen made she sign two blank forms when he visited him at his home to persuade him to give up his number three spot.

Hoosen said he was “surprised” about Seirlis’s allegations. “We have absolutely nothing to hide,” he added.

De Lille insisted that Seirlis did in fact resign.

Sources: http://www.news24.com/News24/Elections/News/0,,2-2478-2479_2512587,00.html

Job Portal - A Step Forward for Persons with Disabilities

Did you know that there are over 16 million persons with disabilities in Pakistan? And did you know that majority of these people are unemployed and do not have a job? Did you know that Government of Pakistan requires, by law, every enterprise to hire 2% of the workforce from persons with disabilities. Did you know that there are over 65,000 private limited companies registered with Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) yet, hardly 1% if registered enterprises comply to these rules set by the Government?
BrightSpyre in collaboration with STEP (Special Talent Exchange Program) has embarked on an initiative to support people with disabilities seek better and qualified jobs within Pakistan and abroad. The Job Board was inaugurated by Mr. Zamrud Khan, Managing Director of Bait-ul-Mal, Pakistan. Mr. Khan in his speech talked about the need to influence the government to understand their needs and hoped that together we can prevail on the government to have atleast five seats reserved in the Parliament and Senate for people with disablities.This year, STEP and BrightSpyre will promote the recruitment of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in all across Pakistan and bring awareness to the cause.

Mr. Atif Sheikh, President, STEP emphasized the need to bring people with disabilities into the mainstream by giving them employment opportunities just like any other individual. In his speech, we learned that Pakistan government first recognised the need for PWD in 1981 and only in 2002 did the framework was developed and adopted by the government. Still a lot of work has to be done including making places accessible to the disable in Pakistan.The ceremony was attended by the HR managers of leading enterprises in Islamabad.


STEP is a non-profit organization run and managed for the people with disabilities by themselves. It was founded by the Alumni of Special Education Centers who felt the need to form a cross disability self-help group. Students Talent Exchange program (STEP) was then conceived and launched by the alumni of special education centers of Islamabad in order to bring a change in the behavior of society toward People with disabilities (PWDs) in 1997.

BrightSpyre, is Pakistan’s first and largest job portal operating in Pakistan since 2002 with over 600,000 unique registered job seekers and boasts in excess of 2 Million page views for the jobs advertised through its portal. 

07 May, 2009

Pakistan: Latest Technology Laboratory for VIP

Highly  latest technology lab  for visually impaired people  is now situated at  Lahore university of management science (lums) you can sea a complete Detaille

http://chand.lums.edu.pk/~atrrc

thanks

regards Hassan tareen

assistive technology specialist
Lahore university of management sciences(LUMS) opposite sector U DHA Lahore cant
+92425722670 ext 4135

Call for applicaitons: "Global Partners in Action: NGO Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development"

In recognition of the 15 yr. anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Global Partners in Action: NGO Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development aims to strengthen NGOs working in partnership to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights for sustainable development in an uncertain and interdependent world. The Government of Germany and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are the co-hosts of this forum.
Global Partners in Action is led by NGOs and is for NGOs, with considerable emphasis placed on ensuring significant participation from the Global South and of young people. Global Partners in Action will be a highly interactive working meeting, where participants will be able to contribute to approximately 30 breakout sessions, as participants, facilitators, resource persons or rapporteurs. In addition, orientation sessions and regional meetings are being planned for the first day. Participants will furthermore have the opportunity to network and share their work and experiences in a marketplace and at a global café. Plenaries featuring high level speakers will also inspire Global Partners in Action. Finally, all participants will be welcome to assist in the drafting process for the Call to Action throughout the duration of the Forum and outcomes from discussions in various sessions will feed into the Call to Action and an NGO Action Plan.
There will be 400 participants at Global Partners in Action. Out of these, 225 will come from the Global South and will, as far as possible, be fully funded to attend. There are 100 spots for Northern NGOs, these will not generally be funded to attend. However, there will be no registration fee. The forum steering group aims to ensure diverse representation from as many countries, regions and NGO’s working in different fields of health and development as possible. Youth participation is also a priority and a commitment has been made to have at least 25% of participants under the age of 30. In recognition of the vital role that Regional Networks play in implementing and monitoring the ICPD Programme of Action, a commitment has been made to have at least 30 Regional Networks participate at the Forum.
Global Partners in Action is inviting applications from individuals representing NGO's around the world that:
Are committed to the principles of the ICPD Programme of Action;
Focus on activities that address key aspects of the ICPD Programme of Action (for example: sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's rights, HIV and AIDS, youth participation, gender equity, etc.);
Work at either a local, national, regional or international level;
Are interested and able to share best practices, lessons learned and areas for capacity building; Can commit to collaborative follow-up to Global Partners in Action, guided by the NGO Action Plan and Call to Action that will be produced during the Forum.
Can commit to collaborative follow-up to Global Partners in Action, guided by the NGO Action Plan and Call to Action that will be produced during the Forum.
Applications will be reviewed by an NGO-led Selection Committee, which has set up several measures to ensure a transparent and objective process. For example, an external consultant will remove all personal and organizational information from initial applications to make them anonymous. They will also be assigned a code that identifies their region, country and age group. The anonymous applications which fill all of the selection criteria will then be analyzed for content and relevance to the ICPD agenda and the objectives of the forum. Full details about the selection process will be available on the Global Partners in Action website.

Contact detail: application@globalngoforum.org or by fax to 1 (212) 297 4906.
Source: http://www.globalngoforum.org

Aging, Gender and Disability a report

A new study shows that women, though likely to live longer than men, are up to two and a half times more likely to suffer from disabilities than men as seniors.

Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center examined the records of 5,888 people 65 and over; they found that women are more likely than men to have disabling conditions such as arthritis and obesity. Those two conditions accounted for up to 48% of the gender gap in disability, the researchers say.

The findings were presented at the annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society.

"While women tend to live longer than men, this study shows that they are at greater risk of living with disability and much of the excess disability is attributable to higher rates of obesity and arthritis," says study researcher Heather Whitson, MD.

That's important, she adds, because the result of higher obesity and arthritis rates is a "loss of independence in their old age."

The researchers say the study is the first to isolate the impact of specific chronic health conditions on the disparity in disability rates between older men and women. The researchers say they are surprised to see the extent to which the chronic conditions explain the gender difference in disability.

"The reason for this discrepancy in disability has not been well understood, but we found that chronic health conditions that women experience in greater numbers than men may explain part of that gap," says Harvey Jay Cohen, MD, senior author of the study and director of Duke's Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development.

Weight and Disability

Women have a natural tendency to gain more weight than men over their life span, but they may be more motivated to work harder to maintain a healthy weight "if they realize that those extra pounds make it more likely that they will be disabled in later years, potentially becoming a burden to their children or requiring a nursing home," says Whitson.

The researchers extracted their data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, which asked people about their ability to perform common tasks of daily living, such as eating, grooming, dressing themselves, managing money, and upper and lower body movement, which included grasping, walking, climbing stairs, and reaching.

The researchers say the study draws attention to two health trends that could worsen the quality of life of women in the future.

As the nation's obesity rate continues to climb, so will the rates of disability in older adults, say the study authors. And because women are more likely than men to develop obesity, disability will plague them to a greater degree late in life, the study shows.

The researchers also found that women are less likely to have disabling conditions such as coronary heart diseaseheart failure, stroke, and emphysema.

If rates of cardiovascular disease and emphysema start to increase for women, then disability in elderly women will become an even bigger problem.

"We need to help women make better decisions early in life," Cohen says.

The researchers next plan to investigate whether older disabled women can regain function if they undergo treatment to help them control their weight and arthritis pain. A next step would then be to investigate ways to prevent obesity and arthritis in younger populations.

Source: http://women.webmd.com/news/20090505/disability-gender-gap-for-seniors

By the year 2030, the number of disabled Americans is expected to skyrocket 40 percent, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Utah Department of Health reported Monday that arthritis and rheumatism are the most common culprits with Americans who report being disabled, and more than one in five adults in Utah live with arthritis.

Nationally, one-third of Americans say arthritis limits their ability to work, but according to the UDOH release, research shows that engaging in joint-friendly activities like walking, swimming and strength training helps decrease disability. The Utah Arthritis Program promotes a variety of programs designed to keep people with arthritis healthy and active, and the most effective programs in Utah have been the Living Well with Chronic Conditions and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, according to the UDOH.

“These two programs greatly benefit participants,” said Nicole Bissonette, Arthritis Program manager for the UDOH, in the release. “They teach appropriate exercises, proper medication use, healthy eating and how to communicate effectively with family, friends and their health care providers.”

For more information and schedules for the programs, visit  www.health.utah.gov/arthritis/CDSMP, or call (801) 538-9340.