January 2009
A: INDIA
Mallapuram, Kerala, Instead of giving up on life after the onset
of muscular dystrophy, Jesfer Kottakunnu has managed to pursue
his passion for painting. Sheer grit, determination and focus
helped him cope with life.
Can a general practitioner treat kids with disabilities?
PUNE: The city's medical fraternity is divided on a general
practitioner's right to treat children with disabilities. In its
recent notification, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has made
it clear that doctors not trained in rehabilitation of disabled,
should restrict treatment only to medical illnesses and
diseases.
Mother kills 2 of her kids with disabilities ends life
Bangalore, A dejected mother, unable to handle her alcoholic
husband and disabled children, allegedly killed her two
daughters before hanging herself at her residence in 6th Cross,
on Magadi Road in the KP Agrahara police station limits on
Thursday.
Doctors protest 'baseless statement' by A.P. Human Rights Commission chief
CHENNAI: B. Subashan Reddy, chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Human
Rights Commission (APHRC), has called for legislation to
prosecute parents with diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV,
leprosy and dyslexia should they, knowing that they have the
disease, have children.
Alleged ill-treatment of patients at Institute of Mental Health
One of the country's oldest mental hospital, Institute of Mental
Health (IMH) in Chennai has come under a cloud. An NGO that tied
up with this 215-year-old institute four years ago has accused
the IMH staff of treating inmates like prisoners and denying
them the most basic facilities.
A slew of improvements promised at Institute of Mental Health
CHENNAI: It took the death of four patients and the illness of
many others to turn things over at the Institute of Mental
Health. Last week's unfortunate incident seems to have
galvanised the Health Department to literally overhaul Chennai's
only hospital for the mentally ill.
The first deaf-blind lawyer from Finland visits India
Riku Virtanen may not be a champion, but he has carved his own
niche for championing the cause of persons with disability in
his country.
Conquering disability to script a bloom story
Ranchi, Dec. 29: A kiosk selling dried decorative flowers is the
centre of attraction at the ongoing National Saras Handicraft
and Khadi Mela.
It's not only the handmade flowers that are drawing people. Many
are dropping in to catch a glimpse of their creator.
Disability rights activist Michele Friedner, who has severe bilateral hearing loss herself, is now studying how disability is tackled in everyday life.
Enabling the visually challenged
The Bicentenary of Louis Braille was marked in the City by a
seminar on mobility for the visually challenged, which was
organised by the Snehadeep Trust, here on Saturday.
B: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Unequal treatment - Project raises breast cancer awareness for disabled women
Not all women are equal.
When it comes to preventive health care, in particular breast cancer screening, women who live with disabilities are less likely than others to get ongoing, necessary tests.
Disabled youth wins legal battle
A disabled teenager who tackled the Royal Bank of Scotland after
it failed to cater for his needs has won a major legal
challenge.
David Allen, 17, from Sheffield, has muscular dystrophy. He
launched the challenge after the bank failed to provide
wheelchair access at a branch.
Now the bank must pay £6,500 in damages and has until the end of
September to install a platform lift.
Select women with disability as MP for reserved seats
Speakers at a conference yesterday demanded steps to select a
disabled woman as the member of parliament (MP) in the reserved
seats and formulate a committee on disability in the parliament
to ensure rights of people with disabilities.
Doctor liable for not providing sign language interpreter
A punitive damages verdict is enough to catch anyone's
attention. But a verdict for punitive damages in a disability
discrimination case can be a double whammy for physicians.
Hockey team is for athletes with developmental disabilities
THREE YEARS AGO WHEN Paddy Byrd first started going to Rockville
to work with ice hockey coaches who taught special needs
children, his father, Sean, thought he had made a mistake. It
just wasn't working out.
"The first two times he went down all he did was fall on the ice
and cry," Sean Byrd said. "I said to my wife, if this keeps
happening I'm not going to continue to do it."
But the third trip was different.
Special Olympics puts a spotlight on the developmentally disabled
Idaho advocates hope the Games will promote a lasting spirit of inclusion and understanding
During the second week of February, thousands of athletes, families and coaches will come to Idaho for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
For people who have struggled for generations to win
recognition, respect and civil rights, the games are a milestone
in that long fight.
Marilyn Sword and the staff of the Idaho Council on
Developmental Disabilities are among the activists who work to
improve the lives of the developmentally disabled, a group, she
said, that is often "invisible, marginalized, or both."
Disabled should be able join armed forces
The ban on disabled people joining the army should be scrapped,
according to Britain's human rights watchdog.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told the
Ministry of Defence that the current ban is descriminatory and
that all three armed forces should allow disabled people to
serve.
Wheelchair woman denied bus entry
A bus firm has promised to investigate after a disability
campaigner was left stranded when the driver refused to let her
on his bus with her wheelchair.
Elaine Powell, 40, from Denbigh, says she and passengers who
tried to help were told her wheelchair could blow up.
The Disability Travel Challenge: Booked tours in Singapore not accessible
Wheelchair-bound holidaymaker John Roberts is putting facilities
for disabled travellers to the test on a month-long trip - and
you can follow his progress exclusively in Travel Weekly.
Autism: equality's last frontier
For Gary McKinnon, Asperger's has had a profound effect on his
ability to fit in to society. When will we accept this
disability?
Two Centuries Later, Braille's Raised Dot Alphabet Still Leads the Blind
Nearly 200 years after the birth of Louis Braille, the alphabet
of raised dots he created to overcome his lack of sight
continues to touch the lives of blind people everywhere.
Braille was born on Jan. 4, 1809, near Paris. The son of a
saddler, he injured his eye with an awl when he was 3 years old.
The resulting infection spread to both eyes and he was soon
blind
Voracious 12-year-old reader won’t let disability slow her
Call for application: Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery allocates project grants (for a maximum of 15 000 USD), for programmes of humanitarian, legal and financial assistance to individuals whose human rights have been severely violated as a result of contemporary forms of slavery.
C: RESOURCES – Newsletter, Journal, Guideline, Website
Book on: Mental Health Care and Human Rights
By - National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and National
Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore
Change Your Life With Human Rights
This is an easy to read explanation of how to advocate for your human rights. Learn what human rights can do, what advocacy is, and how to take action to help yourself and other people with disabilities. This publication is designed for anyone wanting a clear explanation of human rights advocacy including people with intellectual disabilities, their families, friends, and organizations.
The United Nations Human Rights System: How to make it Work for You
The United Nations Human Rights System: How to make it Work for
You is a new publication (2008) that provides an introduction to
the United Nations system on the promotion of respect of all
fundamental Human Rights. It clarifies how we, as individuals or
organizations, can be effective in getting involved in this
work.
For free download of the English version, please go to
http://www.un-ngls.org/site/IMG/pdf/Final_logo.pdf
Advocacy Manual: Creating Successful Campaigns for Community Living:
An Advocacy Manual for Disability Organizations and Service Providers, published by the European Coalition on Community Living (ECCL) (November 2008) is an excellent advocacy training manual that can be used to conduct workshops for persons with disabilities.
This manual can be adapted for use in many countries.
Asia-Pacific EFA e-Newsletter January 2009
This Regional Education for All site includes information on EFA
news, EFA history, and EFA data and resources from across the
region allowing users to draw on regional expertise to aid in
research, sound policy making and implementation of educational
programming towards the attainment of quality education for all.
Disability and Human Rights in Bangladesh
Action on Disability and Development (ADD) has launched a
publication 'Disability and Human Rights in Bangladesh' at Dhaka
Reporters Unity Auditorium on 21 January 2009
Disability in the Commonwealth
Click here to know more about Disability in the Commonwealth
Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Disability Forum Members
D: ANNOUNCEMENTS
Extending Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities - Seeking Partners
EmployAbility - leading Disability Employment specialists, facilitating employers in their diversity hiring process to include persons with disabilities in their workforce.
To view our employment portal or to know more about us please visit http://www.employability.co.in
IGNOU launches PG programme in 'disability management'
IGNOU launched a PG programme in 'disability management' in
collaboration with Rehabilitation Council of India.
Looking for Care Givers
Contact:
CareGiver Cell
Chetna Association Bilaspur (H.P)
H.N-23, Raura Sector-II
Bilaspur (H.P) 174001
or
Ms. Neeru Gautam – Tel- +91-11-45035101