We Can Do

Three New We Can Do Posts

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:42:20 +0000

Those of you who are subscribed to We Can Do will have received a strange message a few hours ago saying “check back in five minutes.” What happened is: I made three new posts to We Can Do. But then something went wrong with the wordpress.com domain host site while I was in the middle of trying to create the fourth post. WordPress.com apparently was still having problems when Feedblitz automatically checked the site. I guess that generated the “five minutes” message. But the site is now fixed (though I will have to re-do the fourth post from scratch later).

The three new posts at We Can Do include:

University Program in International Organizations to Begin September 2008 — This university program will be held in Zurich and in Geneva
On-line Course in Global Health and Mental Health in Deaf Communities — The course will be held entirely on-line this summer
Job Post: Director, Perkins International Program, in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA

This post is provided as a courtesy to We Can Do subscribers. It will be deleted after a few days.

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JOB POST: Director, Perkins International Program, in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:11:40 +0000

Perkins School for the Blind
Job Description

Job Title: Director
Program: Perkins International Program
Supervisor: President
Location: Watertown Campus and Frequent Traveling

The following statements describe the principal duties to be performed. It is not intended to be a complete description of all the requirements of the position.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Provides leadership, collegial supervision and oversight of programs and services for children who are deafblind or blind with multiple disabilities and their families. Coordinate the national and the international work of the Hilton/Perkins Program and other international initiatives. Serve as a member of the Perkins senior management team.

The mission of Perkins International is to improve the quality of life for children who are blind, deafblind or blind with multiple disabilities throughout the world. We collaborate with hundreds of local partners to provide direct services to children and their families, create innovative education programs, expand local and regional expertise, augment leadership skills in teachers and professionals, and promote Braille literacy. We also advocate for policies and programs that impact the lives of children with visual and other disabilities at local, national and international levels. (www.perkins.org)

DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

Regularly visit international program partners to support regional staff in meeting program goals and objectives.
Work with government and non-government organizations to develop programs and services, to improve and expand the quantity and quality of services for children who are deafblind or blind with multiple disabilities.
Recruit, supervise and manage the work of all national and international program staff, including the oversight of work assignments.
Supervise the activities of the Educational Leadership Program.
Supervise the activities of on campus projects including research library and information services, DBLINK, and other projects as appropriate to meet national objectives of program.
In collaboration with program staff, identify program priorities and additional funding needs for project development. Liaison between program staff and Trust Office for new and ongoing project development and identifying and securing financial and material support with existing and new supporters and donors.
Communicate effectively with all staff, trainers and partners.
Provide leadership and collegial supervision to insure that all program goals and objectives are being addressed and evaluated, including but not limited to:

Working with local personnel to assess the future needs of all Hilton/Perkins and other international projects in the region and arrange for appropriate training, consultation and technical support.
Working with colleges, universities and other entities internationally to maintain and establish formal training programs of pre-service training for teachers of the target population.
Arranging for the production, translation and dissemination of appropriate literature for parents and professionals in print and on-line formats.
Supporting parents and agencies to establish improved services to parents and family members, including the establishment of parent organizations.
Supporting the content, logistics and other arrangements for trainings provided by the Program
Prepare and manage an annual program budget. Oversee the financial resources allocated to projects. Work with regional staff to draft grant agreements to sub-grantees, and define and monitor a reporting system for each project.
Prepare regular narrative reports on activities for inclusion in the Program’s reports to donors.
Function as liaison between Perkins management team and international and national program staff. Work collaboratively with personnel on the campus, to plan jointly for training and experiences provided to international visitors to Perkins School for the Blind.
Function as the focal point for planning, communication and collaboration between the Perkins International Program and other national and international non-profit organizations, multi-lateral organizations and key governmental agencies to further enhance program’s mission.
Coordinate the work with all other Perkins offices including the on-campus programs, the Business Office, Howe Press, Trust office, Communications Office and other Perkins departments.
Provide oversight of program office staff and support service operations to ensure facilitation of program objectives.
Represent Perkins International at international events which include international development, education, and disability conferences.

COMPENTENCIES
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions. Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events

Oral and Written Communication - Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively, listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions. Knowledge of technology for communicating.

Leadership - Effectively influences actions and opinions. Inspires and motivates others to perform well.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments. Works with integrity and ethically.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment. Includes appropriate people in decision-making process and delegates appropriately.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Maintains a positive attitude regarding required duties and changes in routines and assignments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s Degree in Special Education with a preference on education of children who are deafblind, or with multiple disabilities or relevant work experience.

A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in a position of increasing management experience and responsibility for consultation to and training of other teachers and personnel. Preference will be given to work in the fields of blindness, deafblindess or multiple disabilities with international work experience.

Extensive knowledge of educational techniques for children who are deafblind and/or blind with additional disabilities.

Understand and appreciate the cultural diversity of the programs and areas in with which Perkins works and the implications for program support and development.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel independently and frequently to international destinations.

PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Prior experience in international work as a trainer of teachers within the specific field of blind or deafblind education.

Candidates with Masters in deafblind or multi-handicap education, or the equivalent job experience in working with this same population

Prior experience, whether paid or voluntary, in working for other international governmental or non-governmental organizations.

Perkins School for the Blind is an Affirmative Action Employer. Candidates from diverse background are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information contact Charles Pimlott at 617-972-7235 or send resumes to Human Resources, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472 or email Employment@Perkins.org.

May 2008

On-line Course in Global Health and Mental Health in Deaf Communities

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:56:54 +0000

Global Health and Mental Health in Deaf Communities

Professional Studies (PST)

*Online Social Work Course *

*July 7 - August 8, 2008*

This 3-credit course is designed as an online course and introduces the student in the allied health and mental health professions to the global health issues and needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community. The course covers the salient issues in health and mental health care of a population that has been historically overlooked by health care providers due to attitude and communication barriers. The intent of the course is to develop knowledge, values and skills which will give students a basic understanding of the health and mental health issues of deaf people, the health disparities to this population, and the need to become advocates for quality care. This course is offered for both Graduate (SWK 795) and Professional Studies (PST 876) credit.

Tuition
If you register for this course as PST 876 (professional studies), then the cost is $690 for US citizens and $1,380 for international students.

If you register for this course for full academic credit as SWK 795, then tuition is $1931 for US citizens and $3861 for international students.

Registrationurl : cpso.gallaudet.edu/x10978.xml

Contact: summer@gallaudet.edu

We Can Do received this announcement via the Intl-Dev listserv on international development.

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University Program in International Organizations to Begin September 2008

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:44:37 +0000

The following email regarding the new training program was recently circulated on the AdHoc_IDC listserv.

Dear colleagues and friends

The University of Zurich in collaboration with the University of Geneva offers new Programmes for Advanced Studies in International Organisations starting in September 2008. A brief summary can be found below, detailed information is available on our website:

http:/www.masio.uzh.ch

Please share this information with students and interested colleagues and practitioners.

The MAS International Organisations programme is divided into three parts:

In the general part, students will familiarise themselves with the governing principles of public international law, international politics and economics and will deepen their knowledge in the law of international organisations. Different structures such as the international financial architecture, special mechanisms, and current problems of the most important international organisations will be discussed. This part of the programme will lay the foundations for the specialisation courses and allow the participants to engage in a knowledgeable dialogue with leading experts in the field.

In a second part, students may specialise in a specific area according to their own interests and needs.

The third part consists of individual research and the writing of a diploma thesis.

Specialisation courses with Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)

In order to meet the needs of practitioners already working in International Organisations or who are going to do so in the near future, we offer all submodules of the specialisation part as certificate courses. Each submodule consists of different lectures and will be completed by an exam.

Successful candidates will receive a “Certificate of Advanced Studies” (CAS) in the respective field.

All courses are taught in English and are taking place in Zurich and Geneva.

For more detail, please consult the web site at http:/www.masio.uzh.ch

With best wishes,

Christine Kaufmann

_______________________________________________________

Prof. Dr. iur. Christine Kaufmann
Chair for International, constitutional and administrative Law
Law Institute
Raemistrasse 74/5
CH-8001 Zurich
Switzerland

Phone: ++41 44 634 48 65
Fax: +41 44 634 43 78

http://www.rwi.uzh.ch/kaufmann

The text for this announcement is taken from an email circulated on the AdHoc_IDC listserv. We Can Do readers who want more detail should consult the university program web site directly at http:/www.masio.uzh.ch

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Deaf Child Worldwide Launches Family Friendly Resource

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:50:58 +0000

Deaf Child Worldwide News Release

For release: Thursday 1 May 2008

Deaf Child Worldwide launches Family Friendly resource

Deaf Child Worldwide, the only UK-based international development agency dedicated to enabling deaf children to overcome poverty and isolation, has launched a new action learning resource to help organisations working with deaf children and families throughout the world.

‘Family Friendly – working with deaf children and their communities worldwide’ has been produced to raise awareness of the important role that parents and families can play in the lives of their deaf children and in their communities.

Sofia Garavito, Director of Deaf Child Worldwide, explains:

“Families with deaf children in developing countries face some huge challenges, the biggest one being widespread poverty. For this reason, family priorities are focused on finding a way to look after the basic needs of their children and less time is available for engaging with and finding out the best way to support the development of their deaf children.

“The Family Friendly resource has been designed to help families with deaf children and the organisations working with them to learn quickly and easily how they can help improve the lives of deaf children by working together, or though self-help initiatives.”

The resource is based on real-life examples and is packed with case studies written by parents and practitioners in over 20 countries around the world.

“A very great job has been done; this is a beautiful book - interesting and inspiring. We are sure the book will be very useful to many organizations and families with deaf children worldwide.” Joana Vanagiene Association of Families with Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children, Lithuania

“This book looks great and will be very useful to several of our programmes. Can we have 50 copies please?” Helen Pinnock, Education Advisor, Save the Children UK.

“This book will be an inspiration to all who read it and it will really help to make sure best practices are replicated all over the world” George Gachanja, Kenya Society for Deaf Children

For a free copy of Family Friendly, contact Deaf Child Worldwide by email info@deafchildworldwide.org or write to Deaf Child Worldwide at 15 Dufferin St, London, EC1Y 8UR. You can also download a copy from www.deafchildworldwide.info

Deaf Child Worldwide is the only UK based international development agency dedicated to enabling deaf children to overcome poverty and isolation.
We work with partners in the countries where need is the greatest throughout the world and we are the international development agency of the National Deaf Children’s Society in the UK.
There are 20 million deaf children worldwide, 80 per cent of whom live in the developing world. 98 per cent of all disabled children in the world do not go to school.
For many children and families a diagnosis of deafness means a life of inequality and isolation.
For more information about Deaf Child Worldwide, visit www.deafchildworldwide.org

Thank you to Deaf Child Worldwide for submitting this announcement to We Can Do for publication.

We Can Do readers who share an interest in working with the families of deaf or other disabled children may also wish to consult various books from the Hesperian Foundation on taking care of people’s health and raising children who are deaf, blind, or have other disabilities.

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Human Rights Education WORKSHOP

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:38:40 +0000

The Harvard Project on Disability (HPOD) is pleased to announce the convening of a workshop to mark the release of We Have Human Rights, an action and advocacy handbook specifically designed by and for self-advocates with intellectual disabilities and for use by all who are interested in advancing the human rights of persons with disabilities.

HPOD will release the Handbook during the second half of June in New York at a human rights education workshop modeled on participatory exercises in the Handbook. HPOD is calling for applications from self advocates from developing countries and applications are especially welcome from self-advocates who represent disabled peoples organizations working on the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.

Please send a letter expressing your interest to:

Professor Michael Stein:
Harvard Law School
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
mastein@law.harvard.edu

Please include in the letter an explanation of the work you are doing in your country and how you propose to use the Handbook in your advocacy. Please respond by May 15.

Two successful applicants will receive a travel stipend in the amount of $2500 to cover travel to New York and accommodation.

We Can Do received this announcement via the listserv for the Global Partnership on Disability and Development.

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Report on RI=USCID Seminar on Implementation of Draft UN CRPD

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:20:56 +0000

Today, the international disability rights treaty, more commonly known as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is on the verge of entering into force this May 3, 2008. But a mere year ago, in March 2007, the CRPD had only just been opened for countries to sign and ratify. And in August 2006, negotiations for the CRPD had just come to a conclusion.

Before the ink had dried on the latest agreed-upon text, Rehabilitation International and the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) convened a Seminar on Implementation of the Draft UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A 20-page report from the seminar (PDF format, 144 Kb) summarizes the views presented there by government officials and members of civil society and academia on how to develop programs and policies that incorporate the CRPD. It identifies key goals, discusses best practice, and discusses how to ratify and implement the CRPD. Participants called upon people with disabilities to hold, not only individual governments, but also international organizations such as the World Bank accountable for being more inclusive.

The report presents a series of recommendations for how the United Nations, country governments, civil society organizations (especially disabled people organizations), and others can raise awareness for the CRPD, advocate for its ratification and implementation, and otherwise ensure that people with disabilities are able to enjoy their human rights in their daily lives.

The CRPD, as the first international, legally binding human rights instrument to protect the rights of people with disabilities, will help protect a wide range of rights such as access to education and health services; the right of people with disabilities to live in the community (not institutions); equal access to justice; the right to vote; and more. Learn more about the CRPD and how it is meant to help people with disabilities around the world by taking a few minutes to read the RatifyNow FAQ.

Download the full report in PDF format (144 Kb) at:

http://www.riglobal.org/meetings/Report_ImplementationSeminar_TxtOnly.pdf

We Can Do learned about the RI-USCID Seminar report by browsing the AskSource.info database on health, disability, and development.

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Bangkok Event Marks Entry into Force of Disability Rights Treaty

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:15:07 +0000

United Nations in Bangkok to Mark Entry into Force of Treaty on Disability Rights
Special Event to be Held on Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) – A ground-breaking new international treaty, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will enter into force on 3 May 2008 – one month after it was ratified by the twentieth country.

In Asia and the Pacific, which is home to about 400 million persons with disabilities, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines are the three countries which have already ratified the Convention. Thailand is expected to do so soon.

The Convention is the first ever international treaty on the human rights of persons with disabilities. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006, and it aims to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others.

To celebrate the Convention’s entry into force, three UN bodies in Bangkok will organize a special event on Wednesday, 30 April 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., at the United Nations Conference Centre.

It is being jointly organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP’s Executive Secretary, will address the event, which will feature a keynote speech by Senator Monthian Buntan of Thailand – who is blind – on the impact of the entry into force of the Convention and the importance of its ratification for countries in the region. Ms. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, a member of the
Government of India’s Planning Commission, will also speak.

A related photo exhibition, entitled “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities,” will be on display featuring various prize-winning photographs. The special event will also include a live musical performance by a group from Thailand, “The Network of Music and Arts of Persons with Disabilities.”

About ten per cent of the world’s total population – around 650 million people – are estimated to be living with various forms of disabilities. The percentage is even higher among the world’s poorest people, around 20 per cent of them having some kind of disability. People with disabilities are mostly marginalized and among the poorest of the poor, with limited access to education, employment, housing, transportation and health services. They represent a significant, but generally overlooked, development challenge.

Ensuring equality of rights and access for all persons with disabilities would have a beneficial impact on the social and economic conditions of each country, by enhancing their participation in education, employment, cultural, social and political activities and increasing their consumer power.

The new Convention marks a significant step in this direction. It encourages States to stop viewing persons with disabilities as passive recipients of charity, medical treatment and social protection. Instead, it casts persons with disabilities as active members of society and “subjects” who have rights and are capable of claiming those rights, being also able to make key decisions based on their free and informed consent.

NOTE TO THE MEDIA: Media representatives are cordially invited to attend this special event on Wednesday, 30 April, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the Reception Hall, Ground Floor, United Nations Conference Centre, at ESCAP’s headquarters in Bangkok.

***

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Aiko Akiyama
Population and Social Integration Section
Emerging Social Issues Division
ESCAP
Bangkok
Tel: 662-2882315
Mobile: 66-81-8309176
Fax: 662-2881030 or 2881009

Mr. Ari Gaitanis
United Nations Information Services
ESCAP
Bangkok
Tel: 662-2881862
Fax: 662-288-1052
Email: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

Aiko Akiyama
Social Affairs Officer
Emerging Social Issues Division (ESID)
UNESCAP
RAJDAMNERN NOK AVENUE,
BANGKOK 10200
THAILAND
Tel: 66-2-288-2315
Fax: 66-2-288-1030
Cellular: 66-81-830-9176
Email akiyama@un.org
http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/disability/index.asp

This announcement was recently circulated on the Global Partnership for Disability and Development listserv.

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HANDBOOK: Employing the Disabled

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:06:25 +0000

The following email was recently circulated by Shivani Gupta, Director of AccessAbility, an organization in India that specializes in issues related to universal design and employment for people with disabilities.

Hi All,

Greetings from AccessAbility!

Over the last few years, the issue of employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector has been on top of many minds, but it has mostly been perceived as a social issue needing a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach instead of being looked upon as a business case needing the regular Human Resources (HR) approach. With our association with the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC)-Welcomgroup as access consultants, we were able to closely observe its evolution in employment of persons with disabilities, from being a CSR concern to an HR practice and have tried to document (in the form of a handbook) the learning that came out of it.

The handbook, “Employing the Disabled” is a step by step guide to demystify the perceived complexities around employing persons with disabilities, and can be downloaded in PDF format at http://www.accessability.co.in/files/Employing-the-Disabled.pdf (369 Kb).

I hope you find the handbook useful and will really appreciate if you can provide your feedback on how this handbook can be improved further.

Warm Regards,
Shivani Gupta
Director
AccessAbility

EmployAbility | AbilityForum

D8/8073, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi -110070 | Tel Work: + 91 11 3266 0862 | Fax: + 91 11 2613 0862 | Mob: + 91 93102 45745

Thank you to Shivani Gupta for circulating this announcement. People who wish to share feedback or make inquiries about the handbook should please contact AccessAbility directly.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Empowering Disabled in Bangladesh Through Micro-Credit

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:06:10 +0000

If I understand correctly, it seems that the participating fellow/volunteer may need to cover all associated travel and other expenses. In exchange, you would gain experience that you can put on your resume. Please use the contact information provided near the bottom of this announcement to obtain more detail about this opportunity.

Short Term Fellowships (3 months)
1 position available

BANGLADESH: Using micro-credit to empower the disabled community, raising awareness about disabilities, and advocating for disability rights in Bangladesh

Based in: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Host: Since 1991, Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organization (BERDO) has been working for the development and protection of the disabled community in Bangladesh. Founded and run by individuals living with blindness themselves, BERDO’s programs include microcredit, rehabilitation, a Talking Library, scholarships, job placement, health services, and disability prevention. BERDO fulfills its mission through networking, research, advocacy, and service.

Responsibilities:

Identify and define a clear social justice agenda,
Work with BERDO to develop their micro-credit programs, and disseminate information on these programs
Produce a newsletter regularly, website content, and press releases
Place articles with the local and international press
Explore existing and new ways to help disabled persons exploit ICT, including social networking
Develop eco-network of local ICT supporters
Continue developing BERDO’s website
Expand upon the BERDO partner page (AP site)
Expand BERDO’s network of micro-credit contacts, locally and internationally
Expand BERDO’s network of contacts with disability rights advocates
Limited fundraising (small social justice projects)

Qualifications:

Understanding of disability issues, rights, and advocacy possibilities, including the new International Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
Knowledge and experience of microcredit (preferred)
Sensitivity, flexibility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to confront new challenges
Experience in advocacy or activism
Networking and excellent interpersonal skills
Strong writing skills

For more detail, consult the web site at:

http://www.advocacynet.org/page/3months

Any questions about this opportunity should be directed to aburrows@advocacynet.org

Thank you to Amy Wilson for passing along this announcement.

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NEWS: World Blind Union Right to Read Global Campaign

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:25:35 +0000

Blind people read books too!

Announcing the launch of the WBU’s Right to Read Global Campaign

Blind and partially sighted people enjoy reading books just as much as the rest of us. However, only 5% of books are ever published in formats that blind and partially sighted people can read, such as audio, braille and large print.

Today, 23rd April 2008, saw the launch, in Amsterdam, of the World Blind Union’s International Right to Read Campaign, which will advocate globally for accessible books. The event was organised in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the Amsterdam 2008 World Book Capital which celebrates reading this year with the theme “open book”.

Mrs Judith Belinfante, Chair of the Amsterdam 2008 WBC Foundation and Mr Mauro Rosi, UNESCO’s Chief Delegate to the Amsterdam WBC Launch, attended the WBU Right to Read Press Conference and heard Dr William Rowland, President of the World Blind Union, explain.

“For far too long the book has been closed for blind people. The International Right to Read Campaign aims to open it”.

Bente Dahl Rathje, Chair of the IFLA Libraries for the Blind Section, added:

“Libraries exist to serve ALL members of the public. However, we need more books to be published in braille, audio and large print in order to fully achieve our mission”.

Anne Bergman, Director of the Federation of European Publishers, also spoke at the event, and underlined the will of publishers to work with the Visually Impaired to publish more books which blind people can read.

The International Right to Read Alliance is a partnership between the World Blind Union and the Libraries for the Blind Section of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), and it will work with publishers, booksellers, libraries and many others to create a world where blind people can read the same book at the same time and for the same price as everyone else. WBU, working through its 160 National Member Organisations, will be establishing National Right to Read Alliances, bringing together stakeholders, including librarians, University Disabled Students Support Teams, Ministries of Education Special Education Units and other Service Providers, all of whom have an interest in promoting the need for accessibility for visually impaired people.

The campaign will pursue three main objectives, namely:-

To form National Right to Read Alliances to give visibility to the visually impaired reading community

To lobby, in the 120 countries that currently do not have copyright legislation on Exceptions, Governments to enact Copyright Exceptions for the Visually Impaired. Such legislation would facilitate the production of accessible formats, such as audio, braille and large print without the need to re-clear copyright

To field test, in the 60 countries that already have copyright legislation for Exceptions for the Visually Impaired, the cross border export/import of accessible formats created under these Exceptions to validate the compatibility of Exceptions of different legal jurisdictions. Evidence gained from these field trials will be presented to both Publishers and the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights.

During the event WBU demonstrated the world’s first fully accessible book ‘Blindness and the Visionary’ by Sir John Coles. Published in 2006, this biography of Sir John Wilson, founder of Sightsavers International http://www.sightsavers.org is published by Giles de la Mare http://www.gilesdelamare.co.uk and provides, tucked into every copy, on a Daisy CD an audio copy of the book and special formats for printing the book in braille and large print. In recognition of the world’s first ’same day same cost book’ the WBU has welcomed Giles de la Mare as a ‘Pioneer Publisher’ and gratefully appreciates its offer to support the Right to Read Campaign.

This press release has been circulated via several different listserves.

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PUBLICATION of Emergency Management Research and People with Disabilities: A Resource Guide

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:51:45 +0000

From: Gracer, Bonnie
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 7:09 PM
Subject: NIDRR Announces New Document - Emergency Management Research
and People With Disabilities: A Resource Guide

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research is pleased to announce the release of a new online publication: Emergency Management Research and People With Disabilities: A Resource Guide.

This resource guide is the culmination of cooperative efforts by NIDRR, the Department of Education, the Research Subcommittee of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC), and the New Freedom Initiative Subcommittee of the Interagency Committee on Disability Research.

The guide provides a listing and description of research projects funded by the US federal government and nonfederal entities, research recommendations that have come out of conferences on emergency management and disability, and a bibliography of relevant research publications. It is our hope that this guide will facilitate the development and implementation of a nationwide research agenda on emergency management and people with disabilities, so that we can develop a strong evidence base about the best ways to ensure the safety and security of people with disabilities in emergency and disaster situations.

This report is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs, the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research Web site at http://www.ncddr.org/new/announcements.html the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) Web site at http://www.naric.com/public/pubs.cfm, and the Interagency Committee on Disability Research Web site at http://www.icdr.us/.

You can download the Emergency Management report in Word format (2.1 Mb), or you can downlaod the Emergency Management report in PDF format (813 Kb).

On request, this publication is available in alternative formats, such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer diskette. For more information, contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818.

Please feel free to spread the word.

Thank you to Bonnie Gracer for circulating this notice.

We Can Do readers will note that the publication described here is written in the United States and, accordingly, seems to be oriented more toward the needs of people in developed countries. But I share it here in case some of the content may be of use to people in developing countries or among international development and disaster preparedness professionals working on related issues. We Can Do readers will also want to see an earlier post on the World Disasters Report 2007 which focuses on how discrimination can put people’s lives at risk during disaster.

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CALL FOR PAPERS: Disability and Inclusive Economic Development

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:58:04 +0000

Call for Papers for the Review of Disability Studies

Special Issue on Disability and Inclusive Economic Development.

The Review of Disability Studies is requesting papers for an upcoming special issue on Disability and Inclusive Development, to be edited by Rosangela Berman Bieler of the Inter-American Institute on Disability and Inclusive Development and Daniel Mont of The World Bank.

This issue is intended to highlight recent research on the links between disability and socio-economic outcomes in developing countries, as well as evaluate attempts to move towards a more inclusive model of development

In particular, we are soliciting papers about the developing world that answer questions such as:

What is the relationship between disability and poverty?

How does the presence of a disability affect people’s access to education, training, and employment?

What is the relationship between health status, disability, and mortality?

What are the key barriers that prevent access to public services such as education, healthcare, transportation, water and sanitation, etc.?

What are some examples of programs or policy interventions aimed at including disabled people, and how effective have they been?

We particularly encourage submissions from authors from developing countries. We also encourage submissions across all disciplines, as long as they are aimed at helping to build more effective inclusive policies.

Please send electronic copies of a 1-2 page abstract to both Daniel Mont at dmont@worldbank.org and Rosangela Berman Bieler at RBBieler@aol.com by August 1, 2008.

Completed articles should be approximately 3000-5000 words and should follow all RDS formatting guidelines found at http://www.rds.hawaii.edu/submissions/. Note that an invitation to (submit an abstract or) participate in the forum does not guarantee publication of that article in The Review of Disability Studies.

For more information about The Review of Disability Studies, please go to www.rds.hawaii.edu

Daniel Mont recently circulated this announcement on the Global Partnership for Disability and Development listserv.

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RESOURCE: Disability Rights Advocacy Workbook

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:41:09 +0000

How can disability advocates explain to others the difference between the “charity,” “medical,” “social,” and “rights” model of disability? How can communities and allies educate themselves about the challenges faced by people with disabilities in their countries? How can people with disabilities learn about laws in their country that affect their lives? How can advocates teach other people about human rights for people with disabilities and the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?

People seeking answers to these questions can turn to the Disability Rights Advocacy Workbook (PDF format, 421 Kb), published by Survivors Corps (formerly known as Landmine Survivors Network).

Section 1, entitled “Advocacy for People with Disabilities,” explains why the charity and medical models of disability are often disempowering and how the social and rights model can help. It shares advice on prioritizing among the many challenges experienced by people with disabilities and how to choose the most effective strategies for advocating for long-lasting change. The section also encourages strong collaboration among like-minded organizations and offers ideas for locating useful information and statistics. A set of exercises can guide advocates and allies through brainstorming exercises to help them examine the advocacy work they are already doing and how they can improve.

Section two, entitled “How Does Human Rights Advocacy Work?”, explains what human rights are and how various human rights documents helps protect them. The exercises makes recommendations for the kind of information that advocates should know about and how advocates can locate this information.

Section three, entitled “How Do You Use International Human Rights Treaties for Advocacy?”, discusses how existing human rights instruments can help people with disabilities–including, but not limited to, the new international disability rights treaty, called the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It offers advice on how people can advocate for their country to ratify and then implement the CRPD.

Download the full 30 page workbook in PDF format (421 Kb) at:

http://www.handicap-international.fr/kit-pedagogique/documents/ressourcesdocumentaires/apadoption/DisabilityRightsAdvocacyWorkbook2007.pdf

Find more resources related to the CRPD at:

http://wecando.wordpress.com/resources-toolkits-and-funding/#CRPD resources

And at the RatifyNow web site:

http://www.RatifyNow.org

We Can Do learned about the Disability Rights Advocacy Handbook (PDF format, 421 Kb) by browsing the AskSource.info database on health, disability, and development.

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NEWS: Disabled to Vote in Karnataka, India

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:46:22 +0000

People with disabilities in Karnataka, India, have now won the right to accessible polling locations in the upcoming May 10, 2008, assembly elections, Action Aid India has reported. All officials involved with the upcoming election have been alerted to the requirement to install ramps and Braille voting booths so that people with mobility and vision impairments will be able to vote.

Delegates, including people who use wheelchairs or have vision impairments, visited political party officies to raise demands for access to voting polls. However, the offices themselves were not accessible to the delegates because they had no ramps.

Read the full story on the successful fight to achieve voting rights for disabled people in Karnataka, India, at:

http://actionaidindia.org/People_with_disability_Karnataka%20fight_to_make_election_count.htm

Are you working to achieve voting rights for disabled people in your own country? If so, you might wish to review a letter written to Chief Electoral Officers in India (PDF format, 2.29 Mb) last fall as part of the campaign to advocate for more accessible voting locations; unfortunately, the second part of the PDF file seems to be an image, which may be inaccessible to people using screen readers:

http://actionaidindia.org/download/disabled_right_group.pdf

While you are at the Action Aid India web site, you may wish to also browse among some of the other resources linked there related to disability rights.

We Can Do first learned about this news from Ghulam Nabi Nizamani.

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RESOURCE: Brochure on People with Intellectual Disabilities and Disability Rights Treaty

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:45:47 +0000

People with intellectual disabilities around the world face enormous challenges in realizing basic human rights such as access to education; legal capacity (the right to make their own decisions); the right to live with their families; and the right to live in the community–not an institution. The new disability rights treaty–the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)–is designed in part to help with these challenges. The CRPD, which has now been ratified by 24 countries, will enter into force on May 3, 2008 simultaneously with the Optional Protocol, which has been ratified by 14 countries.

But how can people with intellectual disabilities and their families use the CRPD to achieve their human rights? And how can people who create and implement policy support their efforts? A new brochure from Inclusion International (PDF format, 585 Kb) provides guidance. The eight-page brochure summarizes how people with intellectual disabilities and their families around the world helped to create the CRPD; how the CRPD helps address some of their key human rights concerns; and the important role of families in guiding, developing, and implementing policies.

The English version of the brochure can be downloaded in PDF format (585 Kb) at:

http://inclusion-international.org/site_uploads/File/HearOurVoices-Priority%20Web.08.pdf

The Arabic version of the brochure (without pictures) can be downloaded in Word format (515 Kb) at:

http://inclusion-international.org/site_uploads/File/CRPD%20arab.doc

We Can Do learned of this brochure through the Disabled People International (DPI) e-newsletter.

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NEWS: Disability Advocate, Gladys Charowa, Dies

Andrea Shettle, MSW — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:26:00 +0000

The following email was recently circulated on the AdHoc_IDC listserv, an email discussion group devoted to disability rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as a tribute to fellow listserv member and disability rights advocate, Gladys Charowa.

Hi folks,

The vast majority of you will have seen many posts here from Gladys Charowa from the DWSO. She was a great supporter of the Convention and worked hard to ensure that her group were not going to be excluded from the Convention nor from the process.

It is with great sadness to that I have to inform you of Gladys Charowa who was the Executive Director of Disabled Women Support Organisation (Zimbabwe). Gladys suffered a stroke on the 6th of March and her health subsequently deteriorated leading to her death on the 7th of March, 2008 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Gladys Charowa was involved in the disability movement since February 2002 during her rehabilitation in Harare after breaking her back in a car crash in December 2001. She was released from hospital in April 2002 after experiencing the conditions tolerated by the women who were also being rehabilitated. She decided to set up the Disabled Women Support Organisation (DWSO) after helping some of the service users at the centre; for example, she successfully petitioned an education examination board to allow a student with disabilities additional time to sit her examinations. Gladys wanted to challenge the traditional view that there is nothing that can be done to support women and girls who are spinally injured.

DWSO works alongside hospitals, often in rural areas, to provide support for individuals and their families to become both physically and financially independent; this includes training to sensitise the community, peer group education and micro-finance projects. DWSO is one of the first disability organisations to have projects in each of the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe.

DWSO also works with schools, setting up Disability Clubs and projects to help children and parents to increase their understanding of the needs of disabled people. Since 2002, she worked tirelessly as a disability activist fighting for poverty reduction, particularly among disabled women. Gladys was an active disability activist at both national and international level, and contributed immensely to disability related literature. Gladys will be greatly missed in disability activism and may her soul rest in peace after working so hard for a good cause.

Some of Gladys Charowa’s publications

(i) Reply to a statememt for discussion: investing in education for children with disabilities is economically not interesting

March 1, 2006 - Published by: Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD), Available at http://www.dcdd.nl/default.asp?2905

(ii) Body blows: in the thick of Zimbabwe’s current turmoil, women with disabilities face hellish prejudice, hunger and rape. Gladys Charowa bears witness.(POVERTY & GENDER)(Column) - Published in New Internationalist, November 1, 2005

Best wishes,

Frank

Frank Mulcahy

Thank you to Frank Mulcahy of Ireland for sharing this sad news with the AdHoc_IDC listserv.

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