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February 2010
Disclaimer This e-news is a collation of articles/ news from national and international sources. The contents of the same do not necessarily represent the views of CBR Forum.
CBR Forum E-News Bulletin
– A Compilation of News, Information and Updates
February 2010 - CBR Forum - E- News Bulletin
Networking, Advocacy and Lobbying – in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and enhance the potential to exercise these rights.
Compiled by:
C. Mahesh, Advocacy Coordinator
A: INDIA
“Issue Antyodaya ration cards to differently abled”
Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, said here on Saturday that Left Party MPs will unanimously demand for the immediate issuance of Antyodaya ration cards for the differently-abled citizens in India in the coming session of the Parliament as a step towards establishing food security.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article110439.ece
Move to make obtaining disability certificate easier
Primary health centre (PHC) doctors have been given the right to issue disability certificate in cases of severe disability, while others with partial disability will still have to go to the District Hospital to get one.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article105270.ece
Consultative Committee meeting of Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry deliberates on Amendments to Disability Act
The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik has said that the consultations with regard to the amendments to the Persons with Disability Act, 1995 are still on and a road-map is being drawn to finalize the changes which would be so wide-ranging that the present Act might have to be replaced by an altogether new Act.
http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=57663
IBN7 Super Idols: People who've overcome adversity
New Delhi: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Life sometimes brings one face to face with tough souls who manage to overcome challenge and carry on with grit and determination.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ibn7-super-idols-people-whove-overcome-adversity/108553-3.html
MNIK first Hindi film with audio description
Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan has become the first Bollywood film to be released in cinemas across the country with Hindi audio description (AD) for visually challenged people.
Disability groups apprehensive of amendments to laws
Disability groups on Sunday expressed strong apprehension that the Centre was going ahead with proposed amendments/harmonisation in various laws without consulting them.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article102643.ece
India looking to harmonise its law on Disability with UNCRPD
New Delhi: India today said discussions were on with various stakeholders on the issue of harmonising the country's legislations with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability and the government will come up with its "formulations".
http://www.zeenews.com/news603632.html
Include Muscular Dystrophy in the Persons with Disabilities Act
Appeal to ministry of social justice and empowerment to include Muscular Dystrophy as one of the disability in the proposed amendments to the Persons with disabilities Act - Sanjana Goyal, Indian Assn.of Muscular Dystrophy, Hospital Road, Solan H.P., www.iamd.org, sanjanagoel@gmail.com
Make all Government Building & websites accessible to Persons with Disabilities within 2010-11 :- Mukul Wasnik
The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik has urged the State Chief Ministers as also all Central Ministries to implement the “accessibility” related provision of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) with special priority and in a time-bound manner.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=57719
'Garden of fragrance' for Delhi's disabled
The Delhi government's tourism department will construct a special garden of fragrances to benefit disabled people.
Concessions for the differently abled
Pre-university students with specific learning disabilities can carry calculators to examination halls and will get an extra hour to write their examinations.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/53569/concessions-differently-abled.html
Trainers get a raw deal at Tenkasi bus stand
CHENNAI: In an act of supreme irony, government bus conductors refused to allow two disability activists, Rajiv Rajan and A Dhanasekar, into the buses on Monday at the Tenkasi bus stand when they were on their way to conduct a training programme for State transport corporation conductors and drivers in Madurai.
Principal, matron booked for abetment
Criminal cases were registered against the principal, matron and watchman of the Government Girl’s Hostel, Malakpet on Tuesday following the rape of a blind student in the hostel.
Crippling blow to dyslexics
HYDERABAD: The school education department has left SSC students with learning disabilities in the lurch. With the examinations just a month away, the department has expressed its inability to provide scribes to such applicants despite several representations from parents and teachers.
Disabled unhappy with Kolkata Book Fair
Kolkata, Jan 30 (IBNS): The 34th Kolkata Book Fair completely ignores the needs of persons with disabilities, said the Disability Activists Forum (DAF), a body comprising individuals and NGOs fighting for equal rights of the physically challenged.
Take special kids or face action: CBSE
MUMBAI: The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken a huge step towards offering equal opportunity to all children seeking an education, including those with ``special needs''.
KOCHI: Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, all private schools should reserve seats for children with disability, which once again brings forth the debate whether our schools have the necessary facilities to promote inclusive education.
Despite govt order, websites for disabled still a rarity
NEW DELHI: India may have made tremendous technological leaps in the past two decades but when it comes to developing websites for differently-abled persons, it continues to draw a blank.
India has highest number of new leprosy patients
NEW DELHI: India continues to record the highest number of new leprosy cases in the world followed by Brazil and Indonesia.
Nasscom’s disabled-friendly initiative gets ecstatic welcome
CHENNAI: Earlier this week, through the contemporary media for newsbreaks, @javed_abidi tweeted about the constitution of Nasscom’s disability advisory group (DAG).
Girl suffers disability after pool mishap
NEW DELHI: Acting on a suit for compensation filed by parents whose daughter became permanently disabled after sustaining injuries in her school's swimming pool, the Delhi High Court on Friday sought a reply from the institute.
Cutting-edge talking pen
The gizmo will help elevate the learning experience of students by focusing on the benefits of listening. The “talking pen” -- a multimedia print reader (MPR) -- may have just given hope to millions of visually challenged and dyslexic people, especially children.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/49873/cutting-edge-talking-pen.html
Surging crowds prove to be a handicap for disabled runners
NAGPUR: This quartet had come to Kasturchand Park to show the world that their disabilities were no match for their hardy spirit. Unfortunately, the otherwise encouraging crowd proved to be uncharacteristically unsympathetic towards them. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/-Surging-crowds-prove-to-be-a-handicap-for-disabled-runners/articleshow/5521374.cms
A life lived with sincerity
Lakshmi Narayanan proves that mentally challenged individuals can deliver with equal dedication if treated on time and guided properly, says SOMA BASU
http://beta.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article95725.ece
The dancing star who has no legs
Kamlesh Patel has conquered physical disability to become a wonder dancer. Paralysed in both legs, he overcame great hardships to become a performer and was one of the star performers on a dance reality show last year.
http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jan/21/slide-show-1-extraordinary-indians-kamlesh-patel.htm
Wind beneath his sails
Salil Chaturvedi, the first disabled Indian to have sailed from Mumbai to Goa, believes his handicap was the best thing to have happened to him - it gave him insights into alternate ways of being and brought him close to the real universe...
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/people/Wind-beneath-his-sails-/articleshow/5517411.cms
Army chief's aide partly deaf in one ear
New Delhi: In a coincidence, a few weeks before the army chief, Gen Deepak Kapoor, was found partially deaf in his left ear, his controversial close aide, Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash, was found suffering from an equal measure of hearing loss in his right ear.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_army-chief-s-aide-partly-deaf-in-one-ear_1341720
'We Care' Film fest
At a time when Bollywood turns its focus on stories of dogged human spirit triumphing against all odds in 'Taare Zameen Par', 'Paa' and 'My Name Is Khan', the ''never-say-die'' spirit forms the common thread of the nearly 32 films to be screened at this year's edition of the 'We Care' Film festival on disability issues.
http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=26369
City-based NGO to start Braille computer training school
VADODARA: Visually impaired people in the city can soon get to work with information technology firms. A city-based NGO's Braille computer training school to be inaugurated in March will educate and provide training to these people.
DU plans 2-day sport event for disabled on 6th & 7th Mar 2010
NEW DELHI: Before the participants of the Commonwealth Games take over the grounds of Delhi University in a few months, some really 'special' players are coming to show the true sportsman spirit on the campus.
A ray of hope for the differently-abled in India
It has taken 16 long years for Prashant Ranjan Verma to view the world the way we do. As a matter of fact, his vision has gotten better. At 34, the consultant for training and technical support at the Switzerland-based Daisy Consortium,
B: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Court Rules in Favor of Visually-Impaired Grad
A U.S. district court in San Francisco ruled Friday in favor of Stephanie Enyart, a visually-impaired law school graduate, allowing her to use special reading assistance software on the next California bar examination in late February.
Disabled teen's dad wins fight over diaper costs
Sick and disabled Florida children who cannot afford medical care will now get help paying for a small item with a large price tag: diapers.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1454182.html
Emanuel Meets With Disability Groups
The White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, told advocates for the disabled today that he would sign a pledge to end the use of the word ‘’retarded,’’ and promised that the administration would consider legislation to remove the word from federal law, the advocates said.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/emanuel-meets-with-disability-groups/
When words hurt: A plea to remove the 'R-word' sting
MANILA, Philippines - Dacki Sandiego, an athlete of Special Olympics Philippines (SOP) who has autism, excels in badminton. His dream is to become a chef, and to banish the word "retarded" from everyday speech.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/02/24/10/when-words-hurt-plea-remove-r-word-sting
Rights of Persons With Disability Launched
The Ghana Federation of the Disabled in collaboration with Mind Freedom and a network of Journalists on Disability have launched a project on the Ratification of the Convention of the Rights of persons with Disability and Passage of Mental Health Bill in Accra yesterday.
Super gadget allows deaf blind people to "hear" with skin
London, Jan 19 (ANI): A gadget that converts sound to vibrations will help individuals who are deaf and blind or severely hearing impaired to perceive and recognize sounds with their skin, says its maker.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100119/862/ttc-super-gadget-allows-deaf-blind-peopl.html
Disability couldn’t deter Zara from doing PhD!
Physical disability can be sidelined provided one has the will and determination. A brilliant example of this is the life and academic achievements of a deaf girl from Lahore who is doing PhD in special education from Johns Hopkins, a prestigious university in the USA.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=223215
Simple eye test can detect mental disorders
Sydney, Jan 27 (IANS) A simple eye test can help diagnose inherited mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder or manic depression, according to new evidence.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100127/860/ttc-simple-eye-test-can-detect-mental-di.html
New assisted suicide guidelines may put pressure on disabled to end their lives
Gordon Brown's concerns about assisted suicide are shared by many
Vets with PTSD Eligible For More Disability Benefits
Thousands of U-S veterans from the Afghan and Iraq wars who've been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome could receive larger disability checks from the government.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/01/ptsd_disability_checks_increas.html
Disabled man wins £2 million payout
A severely disabled man who can only communicate by tapping a computer keyboard with his nose has received a £2 million payout over injuries he suffered at birth, his lawyers said.
Disabled woman banned by Jetstar seeks settlement
Lawyers for a disabled woman who is suing Jetstar after she was banned from a flight from Adelaide to Brisbane have agreed to make one last attempt to settle before going to a Federal Court hearing.
Man steals from mentally disabled brother
A MAN stole more than $160,000 from his mentally disabled brother and their father and went on an eight-month spending spree on cars, motorbikes and holidays, a court was told yesterday.
Under her wing: Parent writes book on developmental disabilities
Lawrence resident Denise Gossage didn’t initially set out to write a book. Her recently published “Winging It” (available in local bookstores) evolved from years of keeping notes of meetings with doctors, teachers and therapists, and writing a personal journal about rearing a child on the autism spectrum.
Mother Charged With Murdering Her Disabled Daughter
Erie County Sheriffs Office detectives Captain Ron Kenyon says this is the worst case he's seen in 30-years of law enforcement.
http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/83173467.html
Pair beat disabled woman, dumped body in river, court told
An intellectually disabled woman was found wrapped in sheets, wearing an incontinence nappy and weighted down by an 11kg rock, in a south Auckland river, a court heard today.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10624909
Study to look at ways of protecting the vulnerable
WalesOnline - Previous studies have estimated that as many as 30% to 50% of people with a learning disability have suffered some form of abuse, but the number could be ...
Focus on disability hate crimes in Pembrokeshire
A group helping to organise a conference to raise awareness of disability hate crime says too few of such cases are reported to police.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8528358.stm
Intellectually disabled women get 'girl power'
About a dozen women with disabilities gathered for a "girl power camp" Saturday designed to address issues such as self esteem and abuse.
Disney attacked over lack of disabled princesses
Its new film The Princess and The Frog features a black princess, but Disney has still been criticised for its alleged lack of diversity.
Police hunt 'coward' who left disabled man helpless
DETECTIVES were yesterday hunting a "cowardly" thug who attacked a disabled man, leaving him lying seriously injured and helpless in his home.
http://news.scotsman.com/aberdeen/Police-hunt--coward-who.6033181.jp
Mills plans 'celeb disability' show
Heather Mills has revealed plans for a reality TV show in which celebrities will live with a disability for a week. The former wife of Beatle Sir Paul McCartney - who lost her left leg below the knee when she was hit by a motorcycle in 1993 - hopes the show will change people's perspectives of disabilities.
Winter Sports Complex luge adapting to people with disabilities
LAKETON TOWNSHIP — More than a dozen participants of all ages came from across the state to take part in the third annual adaptive luge clinic Sunday at Muskegon State Park’s Winter Sports Complex.
Disabled Need Access To HIV/AIDS Information - Keoagile
Lack of integrating people with disability in HIV and AIDS messages and intervention means such as counselling is a hindrance to the fight against the scourge
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=335&dir=2010/February/Monday22
Virginia delegate backs off disabled children remarks
RICHMOND, Va. - The General Assembly’s most outspoken abortion critic is distancing himself from his own remarks last week that disabled children are divine retribution for abortions.
Beauty queen... and disabled
CURVY Kirstie Logan shows off the form that has seen her tipped to become the first disabled Miss England.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2867589/Beauty-queen-and-disabled.html#ixzz0gWpOKmDL
C: RESOURCES – Newsletter, Publication,Journal, Guideline,Website
The ability debates
Quite a few debates are currently raging in the disability rights movement. Special schools or inclusive education, community based rehabilitation or institutionalised rehabilitation, job reservations or none - Prasanna Kumar Pincha discusses these and other questions.
http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/feb/hlt-debate.htm
February 2010 Vol-5, No-2 Newsletter of Design For All Institute of India
http://www.designforall.in/newsletter_Feb2010.pdf
MouthArt
Doug Landis wasn't an artist until a high school wrestling accident left him quadriplegic, paralyzing from the neck down.
http://www.mouthart.com/mouthart/default.html
DRPI-Canada: Toronto Monitoring Site Fact Sheet
The fact sheet presents a summary of the findings of disability rights monitoring focusing on the individual experiences of persons with disabilities. An accessible version is available on the DRPI-Canada website and at http://www.yorku.ca/drpi/CanadaTorontoFact09.html
D: ANNOUNCEMENTS
NCPEDP Study on Disability Question in Population Census of India 2011
Preparations are happening at a feverish pace for Population Census 2011. The questionnaire for 2011 will be finalised in the next few days! The question before the disability sector is that, do we want the same question this time or do we want a change? If we want a change, what question should be asked so that we get more accurate numbers this time?
For more details contact rama_c@deoc.in and secretariat@ncpedp.org
Training and deployment of Care Givers Scheme called “Sahyogi”
The National Trust has launched training and deployment of Care Givers Scheme called “Sahyogi”. Under the scheme, any Indian Citizen above 18 years; illiterate/literate; with aptitude and good health conditions is eligible to apply for Care Giver Course of 25 days training plus 4 months of internship. Kindly, log on to www.sahyogi.org or Sanjeev Sachdeva info.sahyogi@gmail.com
The new CBR Guidelines – WHO, ILO, UNESCO and IDDC
The new CBR Guidelines are in process of finalization. It will be launched on 27 October 2010 at Abuja, Nigeria – CBR AP Network.
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) global database
WHO has taken the initiative to create a global database. CBR implementers and practitioners are encouraged to assist WHO to develop this global database by completing this Web-based data collection form.
Seeking Endorsement to prohibit non-therapeutic sterilisation of minors - Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
If you or your organisation/association would like to endorse, please email your name, the name of your organisation, and contact details to wwda@wwda.org.au
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Disclaimer: This e-news is a collation of articles/ news from national and international sources. The contents of the same do not necessarily represent the views of CBR Forum.