The Hollywood Disabilities Forum

The Hollywood Disabilities Forum, held on October 24 at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, served as a high-visibility reminder that people with disabilities are a significant part of our society – as much as 20 percent of the U.S. population by some estimates – yet people with disabilities remain "virtually invisible" in media portrayals on screen and stage.

"It's crucial for all of us – actors, writers, directors, producers, casting associates – to come together to examine these problems and create solutions," said Robert David Hall, master of ceremonies and national chair of the SAG Performers with Disabilities Committee. "I always think of the little kid that needs to see for him or herself, their own image reflected. To be marginalized, to be cut out of mainstream TV, movies and advertising stinks, and we're trying to change that."

The forum was sponsored by I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts and Media of Performers with Disabilities), a civil rights campaign by the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, Actors' Equity Association Tri-Union Performers with Disabilties Committee, the Writers with Disabilities Committee of the Writers Guild of America West and Alliance for the Inclusion in the Arts, with assistance from the California Arts Council, the National Arts and Disability Center at UCLA and the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. "The mission of the committee is to enhance the status and promote the advancement of actors with disabilities in an industry that, too often, denies access, stereotypes or disregards people with disabilities. This is why the themes of Access, Inclusion and Accuracy are so important and emphasized throughout the I AM PWD campaign," said Rebecca Yee, national director/senior counsel of SAG Affirmative Action & Diversity.

For the morning session, I AM PWD presented an Actors Master Class featuring actors with disabilities performing seven well-known five-minute scenes for critique and direction from Master Teachers Howard Deutch, Bill Duke and Paul Kampf. The Master Teachers were identified and chosen to participate due to their many successful and noteworthy years as a director, producer and actor. April Webster from April Webster & Associates auditioned and casted the following fifteen actors with disabilities to perform the following scenes:

Jesus Hopped the "A" Train by Stephen Adly Guirgis, featuring actors Malik B. El-Amin and Teal Sherer

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, featuring actors Stuart Nisbet and Diana Elizabeth Jordan

Election by Alexander Payne, featuring actors Eugene Feldman and Michelle Marks

Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet, featuring actors Danny Murphy and John Siciliano

The Graduate by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, featuring actors Christopher Imbrosciano and Kerry E. Walsh

A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, featuring actors Allison Gray, Luce Rains and Kurt Yaeger

Light Sensitive by Jim Geoghan, featuring actors Steve Gladstone and Ann Colby Stocking

In the afternoon, Writer-producer Peter Farrelly served as the keynote speaker. He created, along with his brother Bobby, such hit films as Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary and The Ringer. In his remarks, Farrelly referenced the old riddle about a father and son who are in a car accident, taken to separate hospitals, and a doctor at the son's hospital says, "Oh my god, that's my son!" The riddle is: how can that be? For those familiar with the riddle, the doctor is, of course, the boy's mother. It's a classic example of how unconscious bias can creep in when we think of what a person can or cannot be in life. But times are changing, as Farrelly shared with the audience that he asked his 6-years old daughter the same riddle, and she responded, "because the doctor is the boy's mom." Farrelly suggested that we together must change this antiquated landscape for people with disabilities. "The perception that we are fighting here is the exact same thing," he said.

Later in panel discussion, Farrelly talked about the fine line he walks by featuring and casting performers with disabilities prominently in his irreverent comedies. He said persons with disability were a part of his world growing up, so it made sense to him to feature them. But he admitted that when the writing is edgy, it's sometimes harder to get the tone right, and occasionally people will get offended, despite the best intentions.

Actor Daryl "Chill" Mitchell and consulting producer Janis Hirsch talked about their new sitcom Brothers on Fox Television. On the new comedy, Mitchell plays a disabled restaurant owner who shares management responsibilities with his ex-pro football player brother.

Because the networks in general feature so few disabled persons in leading roles, Mitchell, Hirsch and the other panelists let the audience know the importance of writing letters to make sure inclusive shows like Brothers remain on the air.

Others who participated in the panel included moderator Allen Rucker, chair of the WGA West Writers with Disabilities Committee; Linda Bove, activist for the deaf community, best known as Linda the Librarian on Sesame Street; Vince Gilligan, series creator of Breaking Bad; David Milch, creator of Deadwood; Margaret Nagle, writer of the Emmy-winning HBO movie Warm Springs; Olivia Raynor, director of the Tarjan Center at UCLA, which focuses on promoting excellence in the disabled community; R.J. Mitte, star of Breaking Bad; and Danny Woodburn, best known for his role as Mickey on Seinfeld.

The keynote introduction was provided by actor Geri Jewell. I AM PWD and WGAW Writers with Disabilities Committee also made video presentations. The Office and Extras creative team Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant provided light-hearted remarks via video. And Kareem A. Dale, special assistant to President Obama on disability policy, gave words of support from the administration via phone.

The forum was a collaborative success with Screen Actors Guild staff, committee members and volunteers taking the lead in every way. SAG staff showing support or participating in key roles during the day included National Executive Director David White; Deputy National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland; Affirmative Action & Diversity staff members Rebecca Yee, Adam Moore and Yuisa Gimeno; and Communications Executive Director Pamela Greenwalt, along with Communications staff members Hope Barkan and Jimmy Simak.

Special thanks also go to David Lotz, communications director for Actors' Equity.

SAG provided updates throughout the day via Twitter.

Contact Info
Pamela Greenwalt
Communications Executive Director
Screen Actors Guild
(323) 549-6872
Contact via email

India's Parliament will soon become disabled friendly

India's Parliament will soon become disabled friendly, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said Wednesday. 'I have given instructions to the parliament secretariat to make the house disabled-friendly and barrier free soon. I have also asked the parliament to purchase things made by the disabled people for use in the house,' Kumar said during an interaction with women journalists here. Activists working for disabled people have been demanding for long to make the house accessible to the physically challenged. India is home to 60 million disabled people. Of them, 48 percent are visually impaired, 28 percent are movement impaired, 14 percent are mentally disabled and 10 percent are hearing and speech impaired, according to 'People with Disabilities in India: From Commitments to Outcomes,' a report prepared by World Bank in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 'Making the historic Sansad Bhavan (Parliament House) accessible to persons with disabilities will go a long way to help the disabled population get access to public space without any barriers,' K.R. Rajendra, regional representative of Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD), told IANS. 'Leave alone the old buildings, even the newly constructed ones do not have any provisions for the disabled,' said Javed Abidi, president of the Disabled Rights Group and secretary of the Commonwealth Disability Forum. 'The parliament building is a heritage site for all Indians and if it is turned into a disabled friendly zone, then we can hope that rest of the buildings and public spaces in India will turn accessible to the disabled,' Abidi told IANS. The parliament house is a circular building designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker in 1912. The rights activists said besides making the entire parliament building a barrier free zone for the disabled, there should be reserved parking and drop-off area for their vehicles, within 20 metres of its entrance. The area should be marked with symbols and a system should be put in place to ensure that others do not use the reserved parking space, activists say. 'An information board carrying details of these facilities must be set up at the entrance to the building itself, with appropriate signposts installed at various points inside the parliament house to help physically challenged visitors,' said Rajendra. Introduction of Braille symbols, first hand help, ramps, railings, lifts and accessible toilets are the other provisions which the activists believe should be put at parliament house to make it a disabled friendly zone.

Village for persons with disabilities

MANILA – Gawad Kalinga (GK) has officially launched The Village of Hope in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. But unlike many other GK villages across the country, this new village is exclusively made for Persons with Disabilities.

The Village of Hope, considered the first and only village dedicated to people with disabilities, is a two-hectare lot in the capital of Nueva Ecija.

The lot was donated by the provincial governor, Aurelio Umali. Seeing the progress of the GK village in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, Umali asked help from GK for the construction of this special community.

What was once a dream is now becoming a reality as several stakeholders signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of the village.

Among those who signed and attended the groundbreaking event are Umali and his wife Cong. Czarina Umali, GK President Tony Meloto, Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud, several local officials, and representatives from the disabled sector.

"These people will tell us, these people will teach us, these people will inspire us. Because they have been doing this for many years now. It's about time they get the limelight, it's about time they get the headlight, it's about time their stories be heard,” said Umali.

The governor also mentioned that livelihood projects will be organized within the community so that the residents will no longer need to go to the main city to work.

He added that the houses will be customized depending on the needs of the disabled residents.

Equal opportunity

GK President Tony Meloto hopes the project will be a model village not just in Nueva Ecija but in different parts of the country.

"Sana po maging magandang halimbawa sa iba't ibang probinsiya na sana they can design a village where even those with disabilities can live with dignity and they can live productive lives,” said Meloto.

Rodolfo Mendoza, president of the Nueva Ecija Association of Persons with Disability, expressed gratitude for the construction of the village.

With this special project, he said the confidence of his members can be elevated now that they are being given an equal opportunity by the public.

"Kasama na kami sa sociedad. I am thankful na marami kami leaders from the national level na iniiba na namin pananaw ng tao with us. Ayaw namin kami'y kaawaan but to be the partner of the government,” said Mendoza.

“Malaking tulong magagawa namin and given a chance, mapatunayan namin na we can also make it,” he declared.

Nilane Legaspi, who was born with physical deformities and is one of the beneficiaries, also expressed her gratitude for the project.

She just has one message for people without disabilities: "Sana maging pantay-pantay lahat, mag-respetuhan. Kung meron sila nakitang may kapansanan, tulungan nila... bigyan nila ng pagkakataon na mabuhay nang malaya."

Sri Lanka to Ratify UNCRPD

International Campaign Coordinator Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) UK, Gopal Mitra wants the Government to ratify the United Nation Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to protect rights and give due recognition to disabled people in society .

He said that Sri Lanka became a signatory to the Convention in 2007 but has not ratified it by incorporating it in the local legal system. If Sri Lanka ratifies the convention it will help to build the image of the country internationally.

Mitra speaking to the media said that the ratification of the Convention will help to protect the rights of disabled people, they are a force to be reckoned with as they consist 10 percent of the global population.

He said that LCD is playing an important role in urging the Government to ratify this convention in the SAARC region. India and Bangladesh are the only two countries that have ratified the Convention from among 66 other countries. At present 140 countries are signatories to the Convention, he said.

LCD Resource Center (LCDRC) Legal Consultant M.H.P Gunaratne said the UN Convention was set up to protect the rights of the disabled and their inherent dignity. "Its ratification will help us to obtain foreign assistance," he said.

He said that though Sri Lanka signed the Convention in 2007 it has not approved the incorporation of this Convention into its legal system. They also conducted several campaigns under the leadership of young persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka to ratify the UNCRPD including the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.

Gunaratne said that Sri Lanka accounts for 5-6 percent of its population with impairment and disabilities. Majority of them live in rural areas and constitute one of the most excluded and poor sections of the society.

Attitudinal,institutional and environmental barriers have prevented them from accessing, basic human rights such as education, health care livelihoods, social security, participation and rehabilitation services.

First Disability Survey in Pakistan by end of August

After negotiating for a period of six months, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education and World Bank have entered into a final phase to conduct the First National Disability Survey, TheNation has learnt on Monday.

As the project was supposed to be implemented by the end of March but due to some impediments it was delayed. And now it is being expected to execute the plan by end of August.

In this connection, a high level meeting is being held today (Tuesday) between the high–ups of Ministry and the World Bank to give final touch to the proposed plan.

A delegation of the World Bank would meet the Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Samina Khalid Ghurki to brief her on the said project and after getting a nod from her the survey would be conducted.

The proposed survey project is a brainchild of the Ministry while the World Bank is the donor agency.

According to an official of the Ministry, Federal Bureau of Statistics would conduct the survey and initially, the survey would be carried out in selected cities of the four provinces, including AJK. In first phase, the survey would be executed on pilot basis, later a full fledge survey would be conducted across the country.

The official opined that the findings of survey would help the Ministry in policy–making and strategising plans and projects to address the grievances of marginalised segment of the society.

"The first ever survey has been planed with an aim to acquire exact data of disability prevalence in Pakistan as currently authorities are without any authentic statistics regarding disability ratio in Pakistan," the official noted.

He was of the view that the project would help getting first hand information about the social, economical and political situation of the special persons in Pakistan and their access to the basic necessities of life, including health and education.

"During the 1998 census disability related questions appeared for the first time. It is anticipated that during the next census, scheduled for 2009, questions of disability will also be included," he added.

However, the official said, "It would not help to get comprehensive information regarding all types of disability prevalence and its causes in the country". "Whereas this survey is one of its kind and never before in the history of Pakistan such initiative was taken in this regard," he added.

India passes free education bill

The Indian parliament has approved a landmark education bill which seeks to guarantee free and compulsory education for children aged between six and 14.

The bill, passed by the lower house of parliament, will set up new state-run neighbourhood schools.

It will also force private ones to reserve at least a quarter of their places for poor children.

Currently about 70 million children receive no schooling, and more than a third of the population is illiterate.

The bill was passed by the upper house last month.

It now needs presidential assent - a mere formality, correspondents say - to become law.

'New era'

India's Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal described the passage of the bill as "harbinger of a new era" for children to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

"We as a nation cannot afford our children not going to schools," he said.

The minister said the bill covers children with disabilities and that the government is planning to set up special schools for them.

"This bill provides for the inclusion of children who are disadvantaged because of disability. The government is not only setting up special schools for them but doing all it can to provide education to them in all types of schools," Mr Sibal said.

The bill also ends widespread practices by which schools impose admission fees on parents to guarantee their children a place and bureaucrats enjoy discretionary powers on deciding who to let in.

Achieving universal education is one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals to be met by the year 2015.

Critics of the bill, however, say it is not clear how the government plans to pay for this.

Also, they say it does not cover children below the age of six and therefore fails to recognise the importance of the early years of a child's development.

They say it also does little to address India's inequitable school system under which there are vast discrepancies between well-funded private schools and state-run schools with poor quality teaching staff and infrastructure.

At the moment India spends a little over 3% of its GDP on education.

Bollywood first for blind actor

A blind Indian is preparing for what is believed to be the first time a person with such a disability will perform a starring role in a Bollywood film.

Naseer Khan, 36, is all set to make his debut in a film called Shadow.

It features him as a gunman with normal vision who performs various death-defying stunts.

His appearance marks a radical change for an industry renowned for its glamorous women and muscle-flexing men who are free of disability or blemish.

'Normal life'

Mr Khan, from Kanpur in north India, completely lost his vision when he was a teenager. He had struggled with partial blindness since birth.

Bollywood stars such as Akshay Kumar tend to be all conquering heroes

But in the film, he plays a swashbuckling character without any obvious impairment.

"I want to prove to the world that having a disability doesn't change anything, one can still continue leading a normal life," he said.

Naseer Khan's action scenes in the film include racing a jet ski, diving, rotating a motorbike, performing stunts on a burning car and jumping off the 38th floor of a building.

Mr Khan, who co-produced the film, stars alongside actors Milind Soman and Hrishita Bhatt.

He decided to take the plunge into the world of acting a few years ago when he happened to be on the sets of a film directed by his friend.

"I thought that acting wasn't a difficult job at all, all you need is time and money," he said. "Of course I have changed my opinion now!"

Naseer Khan belongs to a family of leather industrialists and real estate agents. His passion for Bollywood films brought him to Mumbai and his new career of film production.

"I have always tried to do everything that a person with normal eyesight can do. For example I have received training in leather tanning and also done a course in repairing electronic goods. I can fix video cassette recorders and dish antennas with ease.

"I do take the help of a normal-sighted person while fixing electronic goods. I instruct them on how to repair the product after detecting what the problem is," he says.

And it's not just action scenes - Naseer also dances in the film, an essential requirement for any Bollywood blockbuster.

This, he says, was one of his most difficult challenges since he could not see what the choreographer wanted him to do.

He therefore learnt his dance moves by touching and feeling the choreographer's movements.

"There were times when I felt scared doing dangerous stunts but I was determined to complete them. I thought if a certain scene was integral to the film then it had to be shot despite the difficulties.

"The primary objective of making this film is not commercial success. I just want to inspire people to follow their dreams and aspirations.

"Impossible is not a word in my dictionary."

The film is set to be released later this month.

India: Nominations Invited For Helen Keller Awards 2009

The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and Shell India Pvt. Ltd. are pleased to invite nominations for the 11th edition of the NCPEDP–Shell Helen Keller Awards that honour individuals and companies who are working towards ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities in their work place. The awards also acknowledge disabled people who have become role models for the community by not allowing their disabilities to become a handicap.

Every year, NCPEDP gives ten awards under the following 3 categories:

Category A:Disabled persons from within and outside the disability sector who have been active as ambassadors of the cause of employment for disabled people and are a positive role model for others (3 Awards).

Category B:Role Model Supporter of Increased Employment Opportunities for Disabled People. Individuals from within and outside the disability sector who have contributed substantially to the cause of promoting employment opportunities for disabled people over an extended period of time (3 Awards).

Category C:Companies / organizations / institutions who share our vision and through their policies and practices demonstrate their belief in equal rights and gainful employment for persons with disabilities (4 Awards).

A total ofsixindividuals andfourorganizations for these awards will be selected.The NCPEDP-SHELL HELEN KELLER AWARDS 2009will be presented at a function on 2ndDecember 2009, the eve of the World Disability Day, at New Delhi. A Sub-Committee will scrutinize the forms, and those selected will be informed directly by NCPEDP.Shri Subodh Bhargava chaired the Sub-Committee from 1999-2005. For the last three years, Dr. V. Krishnamurthy has been chairing the Sub – Committee.Eminent persons from the corporate sector, media as well as the disability sector have also served on the Sub-Committee in the previous years.

The Nomination Forms could be obtained by emailing at: secretariat@ncpedp.org. Complete Nomination Forms should reach NCPEDP latest by Tuesday, 15thSeptember 2009.

- End -

About Helen Keller Awards:

NCPEDP conducted a survey of Indian private and public corporations, included in Business India’s Super 100 list of 1998. Needless to say, the findings of the survey were extremely disappointing. This survey undertaken in 1999, revealed that the private sector employed a mere 0.28 percent people with disabilities, while the public sector employed 0.54 percent. Multinational corporations had hired only 0.05 percent disabled people in India. This led to the institution of the NCPEDP – Shell Helen Keller Awards in 1999. Over a period of time these awards have received incredible support and recognition from the concerned sectors.

About National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP):

National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (N.C.P.E.D.P.) was registered as a Trust in 1996, with a Board of Management which has representation from industry, N.G.O.s, disabled people and international agencies. N.C.P.E.D.P. stresses the need to move away from traditionally held views of charity and welfare to those of productivity and empowerment of disabled people.

Treaty fostered by HLS Project on Disability to be signed by the U.S.

HPOD Executive Director Michael Stein ’88

On Friday July 24, President Barack Obama ’91 announced that the United States will sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, joining more than 100 other nations. The Harvard Law School Project on Disability played a prominentrole in the negotiations leading up to the convention, which is the first global human rights treaty of the 21st century.

HPOD was represented at the White House ceremony on Friday afternoon by the project’s Executive Director Michael Stein ’88, Cabell Professor at William & Mary Law School and frequent visiting professor at HLS. An expert in disability law, Stein played an important role in the convention’s drafting and its adoption by the U.N. in 2006. The convention has since been signed by 139 nations and ratified by 59.

“The United States signing of the CRPD and submitting it to the Senate for ratification reaffirms American commitment to rejoining the global community generally, and to continuing leadership in the area of disability law and policy,” said Stein, who will attend the signing at the U.N. on July 31.

The convention took legal effect one month following the 20th national ratification, on May 3, 2008. Under the direction of Stein and HLS Professor and HPOD Chair William Alford ’77, the project has been working to foster the convention’s implementation. HPOD’s work is concentrated mainly in Bangladesh, China, Korea, the Philippines, South Africa and Vietnam, with growing requests for its assistance from several other nations. HPOD offers scholarly research, legislative development, training programs for disabled persons organizations, and assistance to foreign academic institutions.

Films: The best source to bring awareness on disability and new entry "My name is Khan"

Being touted as one of the biggest blockbusters of the year even before its release, Shahrukh-kajol starrer 'My Name is Khan' recently touched upon another landmark.

Fox Star Studios, who distributed oscar winner 'Slumdog Millionare' in India have reportedly picked up the rights of the Karan Johar biggie for a whopping Rs. 100 crore.

The movie has been receiving rave reviews from the critics who have managed to catch rushes of the movie. 'My name is Khan' has been receiving a lot of audience attention as it brings back the legendary pairing of the Raj and Simran of Bollywood aka Shahrukh-Kajol.

The critics who managed to hear some of music from the movie composed by trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were overwhelmed and consider the album to be potential chartbuster.

Wiritten by Shibani Bhatija, the movie deals with a Muslim (Shah Rukh) who suffers from the Asperger syndrome, a form of autism that impacts social interaction abilities, who is arrested as a suspected terrorist in post-9/11 Los Angeles after authorities mistake his disability for suspicious behaviour.

Just as it is said, nothing sells better in Bollywood than Shahrukh Khan.. all of us await the arrival of 'Khan'.

----------------------

ASIAN ACADEMY Of Film And Television along with the social organisation 'Brotherhood' organised “Look Back We Care Film Festival”- an event of films on Disability at Marwah Studios, Film City, Noida. The collection of films on different issues of disabilities were projected to the large crowd, film and television students of AAFT, ASMS and ABS with an idea to evoke emotions towards people who are sometimes ignored by the community and society for no rhyme or reasons.

“We have joined hands with Brotherhood only to promote the idea of creating awareness towards disability,” said Sandeep Marwah, President Marwah Studios.

“We at brotherhood have pledged to promote our disable brothers and sisters to come forward in life and become independent” said Satish Kapoor, the director of the Festival .The festival is supported by the information Centre of United Nation, National Trust, Shivkala Motion Pictures and International Film And Television Club.

“We have to look back into Hindi feature films like Black, Dosti, Tare Zameen pain, Koshish that share quite some information highlighted the problems of disability” said Sameer Sen Chief Guest of the day and renowned music director who has given music to 150 feature films like Jalwa, Arjun Pandit, Anari No 1, Achanak, Salakhen, Kartavaya etc.

BB Choudhary IPS, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Rajeev Chandran of United Nation Information Centre, RKSingh former Engineer in Chief, Doordarshan, Raghaveddhiraa of Mangolore Port Trust, Sharad Dutt of Channel P7 were the other speakers of the day. The programme was followed by screening of 15 selected short films on disability.

India: Ist International Deaf Conference - 2009

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, the Universal Sanatana Dharma for the Deaf is organizing, for the first time in India, the 1st International Deaf Conference for Spiritual Life and Vision at ISKCON Auditorium, Mumbai, on the 5th and 6th of December, 2009. For this event, a large number of Spiritual Leaders, Mediators, Healers and Moral Educators from various countries are invited to impart spiritual knowledge, and to provide opportunities to the Deaf people in India.

One of the purposes of this conference is to provide a common ground for open interaction between deaf persons and the hearing, in order to create a spirit of brotherhood. It will also help foster a new environment of freedom, life, independence and rich face to face communication with the society. This conference is aimed at encouraging well-being, happiness and love among the deaf persons and extending guidance to them and their significant ones on better education and empowerment so as to eradicate barriers faced by the deaf. Finally, it is platform provided to identify, discuss and work out conclusions regarding issues faced by the deaf.

Five hundred participants are expected to attend the Conference where they will be able to benefit from the Spiritual Knowledge. There will be Drama / Plays performed by the Deaf people portraying the spiritual stories.

White House supports U N Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

In a ceremony that was timed to commemorate the nineteenth anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990, Obama made a pledge to make equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities a keystone of his foreign policy.

On Friday July 25, President Obama signed a proclamation affirming his administration’s support for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This global proclamation is described by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as “a blueprint for ending discrimination” around the world.

The UN treaty calls on all countries to guarantee equal benefits, protection, and justice for individuals with disabilities around the world. 140 others nations will join with the US next week to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The proclamation will then proceed to the US Senate for approval.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton summed up the administration’s position on unequal rights for individuals with disabilities. “Discrimination against people with disabilities isn’t only an injustice; it is a strain on economic development, a limit to democracy, a burden on families, and a cause of social erosion.”

Approximately 25% or 54 million Americans live with some type of disability.

Obama listed his administration’s measures in the area of rights for individuals with disabilities:

• Doubled funding for individuals with disabilities education act
• Lifted the ban on stem cell research
• Beefed up a children’s health insurance program, continuing to cover 7 million children and adding coverage for an additional 4 million children, including children with disabilities
• Signed Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, to aid individuals living with paralysis
• Strengthened enforcement of anti-discrimination of laws
• Started a new assistant position at the Department of Transportation to make transportation more accessible
• Launched the Year of Community Living to affirm the right of individuals with disabilities to live wherever they choose

President Obama stated that he will continue to work “…until every American with a disability can learn in their local public school in the manner best for them…”

Click here to see a C-SPAN video of the signing ceremony.

A study on accidents by World Health Organisation (WHO), Harvard University and World Bank.

Road accidents would move to the third place in the table of leading causes of death and disability by 2020, according to a study by World Health Organisation (WHO), Harvard University and World Bank.

To create more awareness and engaging corporates towards road safety, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region, had organised a day-long seminar on `Road Safety — Engaging Corporates’ here on Friday.

Inaugurating the seminar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic & Security) Praveen Sood said that lack of sincerity among the motorists was the root cause of most traffic violations and not lack of proper awareness.

"The traffic department is in the process of introducing nonintrusive and evidence-based law enforcement. Efforts are on to computerise all RTO branches and traffic stations, so that offenders can be tracked and traffic tickets dispatched to the vehicle owner’s address,’’ Sood informed.

Managing Director of Praxair India Private Limited Gajanan Nabar said that India currently had the dubious distinction of being ranked first in the number of road accidents.

“In Bangalore, 40 per cent of road fatalities were two-wheeler riders and 23 per cent were pedestrians,’’ stated Nabar and added that the major factors contributing to accidents were negligence by road-users, poor road conditions and unsafe or poorly maintained vehicles.

Punj Lloyd Limited Deputy General Manager Mukesh Arora said that non-uniformity in methods of traffic control and placement of signs increased confusion among road-users.

"Majority of vehicle drivers are, at best, only semi-literate,’’ he added.

Arora said that a good road safety device should be bright, placed properly, uniform and durable, which helped in improving road safety. He stressed the importance of self-discipline among motorists.

On the occasion, Praveen Sood launched a FM radiobased media campaign on 'lane discipline and use of indicators’ catering to Bangaloreans.

The campaign is a joint venture by CII and the Bangalore City Traffic Police and is a radio jingle that portrays the illeffects of negligent driving combined with a message asking the listeners to observe lane discipline and use indicators wherever needed.

SAARC tour by disabled for world peace

With the messages of global peace and harmony, a group of specially-abled people has set out on a tour across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

The SAARC is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia.

There are six volunteers including four on wheel chair. They got their pass for the world tour from the Nepal Ministry of foreign affairs. They started off from Kathmandu and will pass through India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and even Afghanistan if possible.

Santosh Yadab, a physically disabled member in the group feels, that there should be peace everywhere.

“Presently the world is caught in vortex of violence. We are on a peace walk. We want to make an appeal to the people around us to stop harming each other. Our sole purpose of this walk is that we want there to be peace everywhere,” Yadab added.

The World Peace tour will conclude in 3 years and 9 months.

Man accused of raping relative with disability

This story shows power of law, if most of countries have such laws the violance against people with disabilities can be reduced.

A man was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting a female relative with a mental disability.

Raymond Burroughs, 61, was charged with first-degree rape and incest. The 58-year-old woman told relatives on March 25 that she had been assaulted, said Capt. Loyd Baker of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit.

Tests at DCH Regional Medical Center confirmed that she had been assaulted. Investigators questioned Burroughs on Thursday and arrested him that afternoon. They collected a DNA sample that will be tested by Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences investigators.

Rape is classified as first-degree if the victim is incapable of consent because he or she is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated, according to Alabama law.

Burroughs was in the Tusca- loosa County Jail on Friday morning with bail set at $30,000 for the rape charge, $15,000 for the incest charge and $300 for a harassment charge.

India: Implementation of Job quota

Section 33 of the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 provides for 3% reservation in government employment, including 1%each for disabled persons suffering from (i) blindness or low vision; (ii) hearing impairment and (iii) loco motor disability or cerebral palsy. Moreover, a special recruitment drive has been initiated recently to fill up backlog vacancies for posts reserved for persons with disabilities.

No directions have been issued to the private sector to create jobs for disabled persons. However, a new Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons has been launched, w.e.f. 01.04.2008. Under this Scheme, the Government of India provides the employer's contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for physically challenged employees employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs. 25,000.

This information was given by Shri D. Napolean , the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

USA: Program started to provide police with information about people with disabilities

During a suspicious situation a police officer can sometimes misinterpret the actions of an autistic person.

Through a new program adopted by the Cape Girardeau Police Department, responders will be taught how to identify and help people with special needs during a crisis.

"Just by simply starting a program like this officers will start asking questions," said Cape Girardeau officer A.C. Walker, who developed the program.

Take Me Home is a database compiled by the department to help people with special needs and increase awareness throughout the police force.

"We can redirect our behaviors as officers to better provide for our community," she said.

How it works

The database includes a photo, descriptive information and contact information for people who register. It could include children who are deaf, have autism or Down syndrome, she said.

When a child with special needs is missing, for example, emergency responders will have information about their condition on hand, Walker said. She said she realized the need for a program like this after seeing distraught parents during similar situations.

"We can help alleviate that if Mom knows we already have the information," she said.

Walker said she worked with software developed by the Pensacola Police Department, which started the program in 2003. After learning about the program during a training session at the Southeast Missouri State University Autism Center in April, she said she decided to adopt it to fit Cape Girardeau.

Dispatchers will have access to the database and can relay information to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The department is working with the Autism Center, the Judevine Center for Autism and the Tailor Institute to help increase awareness of the program and enroll people.

"Anytime you have an emergency situation, anyone becomes less communicative," said Connie Hebert, director of the Autism Center.

Program benefits

During a natural disaster or accident, officers will know how to address the needs of someone who cannot speak or communicate effectively because of a disability.

"These children often do not respond in usual ways," Hebert said.

The program will also help avoid miscommunications, said Elaine Beussink, director of the Tailor Institute. When questioned by police officers, an innocent situation can escalate quickly for an autistic person. Officers sometimes mistake them for being drunk or on drugs when they react to questioning, Beussink said.

"Anxiety is pretty prolific throughout the population," she said.

Walker said she hopes the program will expand to other communities. She said she will also work to include Alzheimer's patients as the Cape Girardeau database expands.

On Friday, Walker will be at Parks and Recreation Day at the Osage Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to register children. The program is voluntary and information is kept confidential, Walker said. Anyone can register throughout the year, and the information will be updated once a year.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

40 S. Sprigg St. Cape Girardeau, MO

920 Broadway Cape Girardeau, MO

Right of access Justice not charity

In early July, millions of people in the country, including thousands of disabled soldiers, may get the hearing they have been waiting for, when the Supreme Court hears a Fundamental Human Rights petition brought before it. It will be the opportunity to ensure access with dignity, like everybody else, to the country’s public buildings and spaces, and thereby, assist them to integrate productively into society

By Samantha Whybrow
Not so long ago, a friend of mine was attending a function at a five-star hotel in the city. Inevitably, as happens at such long events, he needed to heed the call of nature. When he asked the staff where the bathroom was, he was discretely handed two plastic bottles; the bathroom in this lavish hotel could not accommodate him in his wheelchair.

And, while my friend was busy figuring out just what he should do with those bottles, my husband and I were busy wondering which restaurant we could go to with some of our elderly friends, whose previously agile legs did not move them about quite like they used to. We were discovering there were very few places where there was no risk of falling down stairs or tripping over broken pavements.

Meanwhile, across town, another friend was in a genuine dilemma about how he would go to work, after an old back injury flared up. In particular, it was difficult to climb stairs, and since there were no handrails outside his office and the steps were quite steep, he had to forego several days work (and income), until he could be sure he could manage. He too, worried about how he might stand up from the very low office toilet.

Even if you are embarrassed about all this talk of toilets, you, no doubt, understand their significance to a happy and healthy social life. Imagine what your life might be like, if the only toilet you could ever use was the one in your home. Could you go to work? Could you go on holiday? Could you go to a family wedding? But toilets are just a piece of the accessibility puzzle.

Imagine your indignity, if a security guard sat outside the local post office, bank, hotel room, cricket stadium, eatery, bus or market and told you that you were not allowed to enter, even though he let other people in.

It might sound unlikely, but this is effectively what happens every day to thousands of people with mobility impairments. Only, it is not a security guard turning them away, it is an architect, engineer, town planner, politician, manager or the average citizen who has placed an obstacle in their way.

Empty legislation

Interestingly, Sri Lanka has had legislation designed to combat such problems in place for almost 15 years. This includes physical access standards with specific measures designed to remove these barriers, although these latter guidelines were only legislated in 2005.

Yet, despite the talk of equal opportunities, there is little evidence to show that people with mobility problems have the opportunity to physically access places in their communities. This is a significant oversight, since physical access is often considered a pre-cursor to other opportunities such as employment and education. After all, if you cannot get to or into the building, how can you get a job there?

“The problem is that legislation is not being enforced,” says Dr Ajith Perera, a former Test cricket umpire with a PhD in Chemistry, who became a disability activist following personal adversity.

“You know, if the police catch a person drink-driving or speeding, he is immediately fined. But if a person puts up a building that violates the laws of this country, adherence to which will bring a wide range of benefits to the people and the country, there is no punishment. But it certainly punishes us!” exclaims Dr Perera.
Dr Perera is the man who filed the Supreme Court petition. He resorted to this action after years of sitting on various committees and lobbying for implementation with no result.

These committees include those made up of government officials, businessmen, and civilians, meaning, inaction exists despite the fact that politicians and key decision makers are well aware of the existence of the legislation, with some even sitting on high level councils chartered with furthering equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
Dr Perera calls this inaction a national crime, pointing out that it has discriminated against or marginalised millions of people, making them virtual prisoners in their homes.

“People cannot find jobs, if they cannot get into the offices or use a toilet. They cannot deposit money in banks, if they cannot get in. They cannot even spend their money, if shops or restaurants put obstacles in their way,” says Dr Perera.

Dr Perera estimates his case is relevant to a minimum of three million others in the country, who are prevented from accessing or suffer loss of dignity or danger to their safety, when trying to use public facilities, in the hope that justice will be served. This three million includes thousands, nobody knows for sure how many, of soldiers injured in battle.

Insult to soldiers

Major Anil Seneviratne is one such soldier. He lost a limb serving his country, and now acts as the CEO of a community based disability organisation in Tangalle, Navajeevena.

In an interview with The Nation, Major Seneviratne spoke of the ‘insult’ to a soldier’s pride, at having to face the indignity of being helped or being denied access to public facilities, after fighting for the protection of their country and its people.
“It is an insult that the environment that we build to live in does not include the disabled. It is a dishonour to those proud citizens,” says Major Seneviratne.

“It is true that disability changes your whole lifestyle, behaviour, and hopes; but it does not and should not erase ones beliefs – especially, core beliefs of a sense of self-pride. Therefore, it is much needed to enforce laws and create an attitude that considers their pride and dignity, if you really want to respect them as heroes.” (Read more of what Major Seneviratne had to say in Box).
The period after a major war, has been a time for positive changes for people with disabilities worldwide, as injured and disabled soldiers return home to re-integrate into society.

In Sri Lanka, these disabled war heroes are likely to face hardship, if these laws do not get enforced without further delay. While most of them will still be ‘fighting fit’, they may encounter more difficulty attending their sister’s wedding, than crawling across the battlefield.

Dr Perera has had opportunities to talk with some of these Ranaviru soldiers, facing the new battle for their Rights for a dignified and productive integration into society.

“But what some of them have been telling me is that they are really afraid that people will just take pity on them and see them as charity cases, especially, if they have to be helped into a buildings in day-to-day life,” says Dr Perera.
“Why should they continue to be physically helped or be dependent on others to access our country’s buildings? They, like other people with mobility impairments, are productive members of our society, and if we just stop constructing these obstacles, then they could integrate like everybody else.”

Justice not charity

Dr Perera is hoping that a favourable Supreme Court decision will help people see the accessibility issue as one of justice rather than charity.

He feels that, often, the only reason there are some accessible features in the country is because people feel it is charitable to help people with disabilities, rather than understanding it as a legal right and moral duty.
“They think they do not have to do it, and if they do make the necessary changes, they feel they are doing some sort of favour, rather than serving justice to the people of this country, who rely on these laws to give them the opportunities every other citizen has.”

Dr Perera also points out that, this charity mindset often leads to people putting up ramps and facilities that are unsuitable, since they fail to get the correct advice from those who have the practical experience or consult the relevant guidelines. Apparently, they think any type of ramp will do, and do not realise that, it is essential to meet certain requirements.

The lack of enforcement compounds the problem, since no one is checking that people do the job right or do it at all, according to Dr Perera. He also points out that, it leads to time, effort and money wasted, since a ramp that is built wrong, will be just as inaccessible as no ramp at all or, even dangerous to use.

Access for all

Dr Perera and Major Seneviratne both empahsise that this legislation is, effectively, to help the entire population, since accessible premises are more convenient and safer for everyone.
“Besides,” says Dr. Perera, “there are many people with hidden debilitating conditions or temporary illnesses or injuries that cause mobility impairments. You do not just have to use crutches or a wheelchair to have a mobility problem.”

“People say it only affects 3% or 4% of the population, so why should we spend money on such a small number of people? But what about the elderly people, people with arthritis, people with heart conditions, diabetes, obesity or temporary illnesses?” asks Perera, who adds that, such low estimates of disability have in any case been discredited.
And he is right. In a recent study, the World Bank predicted the number of people considered elderly, set to make up a quarter of the population in the next few decades.

Moreover, the number of elderly people, who are physically disabled is further predicted to make up one third of the elderly population within the next few decades.

There is a truth in Buddhism about impermanence, that points out we cannot escape growing old, we cannot escape the decay of ourselves or the people around us, and we cannot escape ill-health.
With this in mind, for those of us who hope to lead fulfilling lives amongst our communities throughout our lifespan, accessibility certainly becomes everybody’s business. Here is hoping, we see some action.

Common issues of the disabled

The Nation spoke with Major Anil Seneviratne, who was injured during the war and lost a limb. He is now the CEO of Navajeevena, a Tangalle based organisation that has been serving disabled people for many years.

Thousands of soldiers have given their limbs to help defeat terrorism in Sri Lanka. They were previously toughing it out in the dense jungles and difficult conditions on the battlefield, but now, it seems that many of them—while still young and fit—are prevented from entering the public buildings of this country, because of thoughtless design.

Yes, I think the topic is both current and timeless.
My opinions on this issue have developed as a soldier, a person wounded in the field, a disabled person, a private sector employee, and a disabled Rights activist.

We have to admit the fact that the number of disabled persons has now increased due to a three-decade-long war. Most of the soldiers, who have been injured, are young and strong. And, although it is unintentional, it is indeed a sad situation to see that those people are now not included in the mainstream.

This is due to a lack of anticipation as a nation, and a lack of caring for marginalised communities, by society. Those young people still have responsibilities to their families and loved ones. They still have a role to play in their family and in society, and to do this, need to access buildings and public facilities often. If the environment is not ready to accept them, it makes them frustrated, which can end up with them developing hatred towards society.

A disability is, anyway, an unpleasant thing that no one likes to have. So, the environment should be modified in such a way that such difficulties can be reduced. And, actually, whether you are a soldier or not, once disabled, the needs are common. We are moving towards an inclusive society, and physical accessibility is the key to an inclusive society. People also fail to realise that, when we afford accessiblity for the disabled, we are making it easier and safer for everybody to use.
And, you know, the other thing is, if society does not consider disabled people, that means, society neglects a potentially lucrative consumer market.

How do soldiers feel, when, though they are considered war heroes, they are not supported in their basic Rights for accessibility, that are the laws of the land?
There is another sensitive and little spoken of aspect of those individuals. That is, not everyone can be a soldier.
A soldier is a person who places his self-esteem over his life. I still remember the motto of my troops; “Death before Dishonour”.
It is an insult that the environment that we build to live in does not include the disabled. It is a dishonour to those proud citizens.
It is true that the disability changes your whole lifestyle, behaviour, and hopes; but it does not and should not erase ones beliefs – especially, core beliefs of a sense of self-esteem. Therefore, it is much needed to enforce laws and create an attitude that considers their pride and dignity, if you really want to respect them as heroes.

What are some of the common issues disabled soldiers face with regards to accessibility?
There are many, and their needs are just like other citizens. But some of the common ones include: using public transport, using roads, accessing water and sanitation, getting into public and private buildings and using its facilities or services, moving around their own houses – especially, the toilet facilities, problems in the workplace, and isolation due to inability to use common facilities that everyone else in the community can.

****

UNCRPD in Braille

There is a government school for visually impaired children at Muradpur in Chittagong.

Some 80 visually impaired children, who study in this school, have very insignificant number of Braille books and find it difficult to complete even the primary level education.

But from now on these children will be able to know much about their rights as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) has been published in Braille.

Chittagong Computerised Braille Production Centre (BCBPC) has published the UNCRPD in Bangla under Braille system to ensure the right to information of visually impaired people.

The Braille version of the UNCRPD was formally launched at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.

State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman launched the book

at a function organised jointly by Unite Theatre for Social Action (UTSA) and ActionAid Bangladesh.

Like Muradnagar, the government is running some 36 primary schools for visually impaired children and more than 1500 children are studying in these institutions.

Besides them, there are around 40 lakh visually impaired people in the country and through this Braille version of the UNCRPD they will also be benefited as it would help increase their awareness about their rights and responsibilities, said the speakers.

While delivering his speech, the state minister said very insignificant amount of money has been allocated in the national budget for the technological development of physically challenged people.

He assured that he would raise in parliament soon the issue of broadcasting news in Bangladesh television through sign language.

Former director of National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) Monsur Ahmed Chowdhuy, Chairman Khandaker Zahurul Alam, Chairperson of Chittagong Society for the Disabled Arifur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Visually Impaired Peoples' Society Advocate Mosharraf Hossain and Rabeya Sultana of ActionAid also spoke as special guests.

A display of the Braille book and its components was also held at the National Press Club in association with the CCBPC and The Bangladesh Braille Library.

India film fest on disability

AbilityFest, 3rd India International Disability Film Festival will be held in Chennai from Oct 1 to 5 '09. This bi-annual festival is organised by Ability Foundation. As part of the festival, the third edition of "60 Seconds To Fame!", a all India One minute filmcompitition on disability is open to participants. This is a great opportunity to let loose young minds to bring out some great ideas on "equal opportunity" for persons withdisability as well as to get their films seen by the doyens of the film industry who will be adjudging the winners. In the bargain, it is also a great opportunity to win cash prizes to the tune of Rs. 2.25 lakhs. "60 Seconds To Fame" is open to all Indian nationals. All that is necessary is to have a movie camera in hand, creative ways of expression, sensitivity of mind and empathy for all human beings and the sensitivity of mind to appreciate and celebrate humankind's diversity, focusing on persons with disabilities. The theme this year is thus - “Equal opportunities”.

More details and the entry forms for "60 Seconds To Fame" are available at:http://abilityfoundation.org/60sec_to_fame.html