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.

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.  

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.