Links

Action on Disability and Development

This organisation's goal is to support organisations of disabled people in Africa and Asia to influence policy and practice, thereby ending social exclusion and poverty.

http://www.add.org.uk/

(Added: Thu Nov 30 2006   Hits: 140)

Blind Somalis learn to live with anarchy

Ali Hussein says Somalia is the worst place in the world to be blind. To survive, he has learned to distinguish between the sounds of mortars, missiles and machineguns the better to avoid street battles. People harass him and discriminate against him, and everywhere he turns there is violence and danger. "I don't know what a gun looks like. I can't tell whether it is white or black, but I have mastered the sounds produced by most weapons. That has helped me escape from serious battles." (Guled Mohamed, Reuters Alertnet, 8 November 2006)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20507030.htm

(Added: Fri Nov 10 2006   Hits: 117)

Disability Equality in Practice

Aid Workers Exchange. By Alison Harris and Sue Enfield, 12 November 2003. What is disability? Trying to define it is a complex and controversial matter. It is important to consider the preferences of disabled people themselves, and to bear in mind that acceptable terminology changes over time, and from one culture to another. "Disabled people want to be treated as normal citizens, with rights. They want to be treated equally and participate as equal citizens in their own communities." (Joshua Malinga, Chairperson of Disabled Peoples' International) The experience of Oxfam and its partners is that disabled people are discriminated against and excluded from society not because of the physical limitations of their impairment, but principally by the attitudes of non-disabled people, and the way in which society organises itself.

http://www.aidworkers.net/?q=node/270

(Added: Thu Nov 13 2003   Modified: Fri Sep 08 2006   Hits: 219)

Disability World

A bimonthly web-zine of international disability news and views.

http://www.disabilityworld.org/

(Added: Thu Nov 13 2003   Modified: Fri Nov 11 2005   Hits: 223)

Disability, poverty and development

Disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty. Eliminating world poverty is unlikely to be achieved unless the rights and needs of people with disabilities are taken into account.An integrated approach is required, linking prevention and rehabilitation with empowerment strategies and changes in attitudes. This paper assesses the significance of disability as a key development issue, and its importance in relation to poverty, human rights, and the achievement of internationally agreed development targets. It also sets out ways in which development co-operation, including DFID's own work, can help incorporate the rights and needs of people with disabilities into the mainstream of poverty reduction work and the achievement of human rights. (DFID, February 2000)

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/disability.pdf

(Added: Wed Oct 25 2006   Hits: 128)

Disabled at Greater Risk of HIV Infection

The fact that disabled people are more likely to have received little or no education and to be out of employment places them among the world's poorest, most stigmatised and most marginalised. While the disabled are at also greater risk of violence or rape, they are less likely to obtain police intervention, legal protection or health care. Poverty and social sanctions against marrying a disabled person mean that disabled women, in particular, are likely to become involved in a series of unstable relationships. They are often targeted by abusers who assume they are non-sexual and therefore safe. (Tafi Murinzi, 2006)

http://www.aidsasiafrica.net/features/zimbabwe3.html

(Added: Tue May 16 2006   Modified: Mon Aug 14 2006   Hits: 206)

Disabled Peoples' International (DPI)

The purpose of DPI is to promote the Human Rights of People with Disabilities through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. DPI is a grassroot, cross-disability network with member organizations in over 158 countries, over half of which are in the developing world.

http://www.dpi.org/

(Added: Sat Jun 17 2000   Modified: Fri Nov 11 2005   Hits: 299)

Draft Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. (United Nations, New York, 14-25 August 2006)

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8adart.htm

(Added: Wed Nov 15 2006   Hits: 114)

Education's missing millions: including disabled children in education through EFA FTI processes and national sector plans

This study focuses on how the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) Partnership is tackling the challenges of disability and inclusion. It includes two detailed country case studies on Ethiopia and Cambodia and a review of policy and practice in other selected countries (World Vision, 2007)

https://www.worldvision.org.uk/upload/pdf/Education%27s_Missing_Millions_-_Main_Report.pdf

(Added: Tue Nov 27 2007   Hits: 36)

Evaluation of a Community Based Rehabilitation Scheme in Uganda

The Community Based Rehabilitation Programme (CBR) in Tororo district, Uganda aims to achieve full integration of disabled persons in the main streams of society by undertaking rehabilitation measures at community levels that use and build on local resources available in the community. This paper presents the findings of an external evaluation of the programme, and assesses the extent to which this overall objective has been met. (J Claussen, B Kandyomunda, P Jareg, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, 2005)

http://www.norad.no/ngo-evaluation/evaluations/59e7926c-37bc-42f7-a52a-30cc86f2ee98.pdf

(Added: Wed Apr 19 2006   Hits: 238)

Including a disability perspective: A toolkit for government officials

The aspirations of disabled people are as ambitious or as simple, and certainly as diverse, as those of the general population. However, the barriers to achieving these aspirations are quite different to those facing non-disabled people. Any decision by government may have an impact upon disabled people and their families. This online resource helps policy makers incorporate a disability perspective in government policy - in such things as drafting laws and regulations, developing policies, strategies and initiatives, and making changes to or developing new services - so we can contribute to making New Zealand an enabling, inclusive society. Aotearoa New Zealand Ministry of Social Development.

http://www.odi.govt.nz/disability-perspective/

(Added: Wed Mar 01 2006   Hits: 260)

Inclusion International

A global federation of family-based organizations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide.

http://www.inclusion-international.org

(Added: Thu Nov 13 2003   Modified: Fri Nov 11 2005   Hits: 202)

Justice for Victims of Agent Orange

Even though the Vietnam War ended 30 years ago, the US's saturation chemical bombing is still wreaking havoc on millions, including the newly born, making them third-generation victims. Nobody knows when the congenital deformities, one of many horrific health consequences of the toxic chemicals, will end. Sign this international online petition in solidarity with all the Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. Launched in 2004, more than 600,000 signatures have already been collected. (Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin)

http://www.greenleft.org.au/agent_orange.htm

(Added: Wed May 31 2006   Modified: Thu Jan 18 2007   Hits: 274)

Mobility Equipment for the Needs of the Disabled (MEND)

MEND was registered in 1991 in New Zealand as a Charitable Trust to help people overcome their disabilities and become more independent. By helping disabled people become useful and capable they can regain their dignity within the community. As part of their commitment to assist disabled and disadvantaged people in the Pacific and other developing countries they have spent the last 10 years designing and building innovative wheel-chairs and other appropriate technology such as village toilets. MEND is presently producing some of the lowest cost quality artificial limbs in the world. Their cheap price in developing countries is subsidised by the more expensive price in other countries.

http://www.mend.org.nz

(Added: Tue Aug 29 2006   Hits: 138)

New Internationalist: Disability in the Majority World

The struggle for equal rights for persons with disabilities often comes up against harsh economic realities in the Majority World. Cash shortages are what governments hide behind when they deny proper participation to a full 10 per cent of citizens, but they are by no means the only barrier disabled people want to knock down. Entrenched prejudice, ignorance and indifference often leave people with disabilities stranded outside society. As disabled peoples' organizations gain strength and begin to network in the Majority World, the momentum for change keeps building. This month's issue provides a space for persons with disabilities from a range of backgrounds to have their say. (New Internationalist, Noevmber 2005)

http://www.newint.org/issues/2005/11/01/

(Added: Wed Oct 25 2006   Modified: Thu Nov 02 2006   Hits: 119)

Protection of the rights of women with disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted last month. How does it address the needs of women? (Kathambi Kinoti, AWID, September 2006)

http://www.awid.org/go.php?list=analysis&prefix=analysis&item=00334

(Added: Fri Nov 10 2006   Hits: 174)

Raranga Tupuake: Ma¯ori Health Workforce Development Plan 2006

He Korowai Oranga: Ma¯ori Health Strategy sets the strategic direction for Ma¯ori health in the health and disability sector and outlines four pathways of action, which are described in greater detail in Whakata¯taka: Ma¯ori Health Action Plan. Te Ara Tuarua: Pathway Two, which seeks to increase Ma¯ori participation in the health and disability sector required the development of a Ma¯ori health workforce development plan. This Ma¯ori Health Workforce Development Plan has been named Raranga Tupuake. It describes the growth of the weave as it slowly develops the whakata¯taka or pattern to form the korowai (cloak), and can be likened to the development of the people (workforce) to realise the aim of He Korowai Oranga: wha¯nau ora.The vision for Raranga Tupuake is to build a competent, capable, skilled and experienced Ma¯ori health and disability workforce over the next 10 to 15 years. There are three goals to achieve the vision. Goal 1: Te Raranga Tuatahi: Tuia te muka tangata i takea mai i hawaiiki: Increase the number of Ma¯ori in the health and disability workforce. Goal 2: Te Raranga Tuarua: Te whiri i te mauri Ma¯ori ki roto i nga¯mahi: Expand the skill base of the Ma¯ori health and disability workforce. Goal 3: Te Raranga Tuatoru: Te hononga ki nga¯kete ako: Enable equitable access for Ma¯ori to training opportunities. (Ministry of Health, April 2006)

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/4631/$File/raranga-tupuake-apr06.pdf

(Added: Thu Apr 27 2006   Hits: 183)

Report Of The Special Body On Pacific Island Developing Countries On Its Seventh Session (PDF)

Economic And Social Commission For Asia And The Pacific, Fifty-eighth session, 16-22 May 2002, Bangkok. The Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries deliberated on issues related to persons with disabilities and sustainable tourism development in Pacific island countries as. It adopted a set of specific recommendations for action on those issues at the national, subregional and regional levels.

http://www.unescap.org/58/e/e1254e.pdf

(Added: Mon Sep 02 2002   Modified: Fri Nov 11 2005   Hits: 238)

Say 'Yes' to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Over five hundred million people, nearly 10 percent of the world's population, have a disability. The United Nations (UN) is currently negotiating a treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to ensure that human rights standards are extended to people with disabilities. In order to help promote the adoption of the Convention, which is being considered by member states for the next seven months, the Centre for International Rehabilitation (CIR) has launched the ConventionYES! Website. The website has a petition to sign and other ways to take action on the rights of people with disabilities.

http://www.conventionyes.org/

(Added: Wed Apr 05 2006   Modified: Tue Jun 20 2006   Hits: 302)

Sense

Sense is the UK's leading organisation working for people with deafblindness and associated disabilities. Deafblindness - a combination of sight and hearing loss - is one of the most challenging disabilities someone can face. Yet given the right services and support, deafblind people can develop their talents and choose how they wish to live their lives.

http://www.sense.org.uk/

(Added: Mon Oct 08 2001   Modified: Fri Nov 11 2005   Hits: 255)

Source International Information Support Centre

Source is an international information support centre designed to strengthen the management, use and impact of information on health and disability.

http://www.asksource.info/

(Added: Thu Oct 07 2004   Modified: Fri Nov 11 2005   Hits: 226)

The Disability Dimension in Development Action: Manual on Inclusive Planning [PDF]

This Manual presents step-by-step advice on how to improve the quality of development policies, programmes and projects by exercising sensitivity to the disability dimension at various phases of the mainstream development programme or project planning cycle. It includes guidance on how to design an inclusive policy framework that will gear development planning towards a "society for all" , where people with disabilities also can exercise their human rights and responsibilities, and have equal opportunity to achieve well-being as full citizens. The Manual also contains examples of disability-sensitive project documentation, checklists and an overall appraisal tool: the Rapid Handicap Analysis (RHA), which assessess whether a development activity is "handicapping", that is, discriminating against people with disabilities. United Nations, 1996.

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/publications/FF-DisalibilityDim0103_b1.pdf

(Added: Thu Jan 19 2006   Hits: 173)

Websites are failing disabled: UN study

Ninety-seven per cent of websites are failing to provide even the most basic levels of accessibility for people with disabilities, suggests a UN-commissioned survey released Tuesday. The survey was released two days after Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke during the UN International Day of Disabled Persons on the importance of making the internet available to everyone. (CBC, 5 December 2006)

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/12/05/access-web-un.html

(Added: Thu Dec 07 2006   Hits: 122)