Projects Archive
Disability Rights and Advocacy Training,
Together with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
The training is designed to educate Paralympic leaders about the CRPD and how to develop advocacy campaigns to ensure their country ratifies and sees the National Paralympic Committee as a partner in implementation. The results of the training were successful. The objectives reached were as follows: (1) to increase participants’ knowledge of disability rights and how disability is addressed within the international human rights framework; (2) to increase participants’ knowledge of how to assess their national legal framework on disability; (3) to increase participants’ skills in designing and implementing an advocacy campaign; and (4) to develop national advocacy campaigns to ratify the Convention, promoting disability rights and the right to sport.
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Showcase of the Talents of Young People from India
RI was proud to support the work of RI member from India, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust as they organized a dance performance tour by young people with disabilities from India in cities in the UK, the US, and Canada in May 2006. The troupe gave two performances in the New York area. Choreographed by internationally acclaimed Guru Sallauddin Pasha, the young students – young people with physical and mental disabilities ranging in age from 9 to 19 – put on a series of traditional dance and martial arts performances. The performances included selections from the Indian scriptures, with young people dressed in stunning, colorful costumes portraying various Indian gods and mythical figures. The performances raised money for Amar Jyoti, which continues its work with children with disabilities in India and Pakistan.
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Providing a Forum for Women with Disabilities in the Arab Region
One of the highlights of 2005 was the first ever Workshop for Women with Disabilities in the Arab region, which took place on November 10-11 in Manama, Bahrain, in conjunction with the RI Arab Regional Conference. This event – organized by RI in partnership with the UN Special Rapporteur for Disabilities Sheika Hessa Al-Thani and with support from the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) – provided a forum for nearly 50 women from all 14 RI member countries in the region to have frank discussions about the challenges they face in their societies. Participants identified two issues of particular importance: the lack of general awareness of women’s rights and leadership training for women; and the need to strengthen opportunities in education and employment for women with disabilities.
Women with disabilities from the Arab region gathered in Bahrain in November 2005 to discuss their challenges, expectations and rights.
The Workshop not only brought together women from within the region, but also provided all participants in the RI Arab Regional Conference, that was held immediately following the Workshop, with a glimpse into the challenges facing women with disabilities, particular the segregation and isolation of those living in traditional societies. For example, women with disabilities are not considered marriageable in some societies, and their non-disabled siblings are also overlooked in marriage by reasons of association.
RI is exploring ways to follow up with the recommendations from the Workshop and expand on the dialogue to include women with disabilities from other regions. Visit the detailed report for more information.
Expanding the Availability of Assistive Devices in Latin America
RI was involved in a project called Intergenerational Enterprises for the Production of Assistive Technology for the Elderly & People with Disabilities, funded by the Swedish Government through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The project – conducted in collaboration with RI member The Swedish Handicap Institute – aims to contribute to increased independence of the elderly and disabled in Bolivia, Honduras, Panama and Peru by improving access to assistive devices, while contributing to poverty reduction through the creation of new ventures employing low-income older and disabled citizens as well as unemployed youth in the production, distribution and maintenance of these devices.
The first report of the market study on assistive devices showed that the need for assistive devices was very high, but the market was limited. Most products – 90% or more in some countries – were imported and more than 80% comes from the US. The devices, which were in many cases produced in China but exported to Latin America by US companies, were unaffordable for large segments of the population. In addition, very limited or non-existing local production left most people who needed assistive devices without access to them, thereby isolating them from society. Foreign donations of assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs) tended to hamper local production. The project hoped to stimulate local production of assistive devices not available or with limited supply in the existing markets.
The study focused on business plans for local production.
Promoting the Employment of Latinos with Disabilities in the US
From 2001 to 2005, RI worked in partnership with our member organization World Institute on Disability (WID) to maintain a bilingual website and newsletter for Proyecto Vision, a national technical assistance center that aims to connect Latinos with disabilities in the US with job opportunities. RI assisted by contributing news articles, conducting interviews with employed Latinos with disabilities, as well as providing other information to this project. WID will continue to support Proyecto Vision, which has been supported by the US Department of Education.
Assisting those Affected by the Asian Tsunami
A project called Community Radio Project - Forum for Humanity and Peace (FKPI), in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, has received a contribution of USD 5,000 from the 16th RI World Congress Fund. Socially displaced persons and persons with disabilities affected by the tsunami will get access to low cost radios to be able to get critical service messages quickly and accurately in their local language. Other community members hearing the broadcasts will become information providers. Eighteen people, including five women and three people with disabilities, have received training in how to assemble and repair the radios.