You are here: Home > Monthly E-News Bulletin
CBR Forum E-News Bulletin
A Compilation of News, Information and Updates in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities
October 2009
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
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
Orissa’s new list of poor to include AIDS patients, disabled
Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 (IANS) The Orissa government Friday announced that a new list of people below poverty line (BPL) will be prepared by January 2010 and will include HIV and AIDS patients, physically handicapped people and backward tribes.
RTE Bill to include all categories of disabilities
Just a month after it was passed by Parliament, the Right to Education (RTE) Act is set to be amended to include all categories of differently-abled children in its ambit.
Go door-to-door to find disabled children denied education: HC
The Delhi High Court has asked the state’s Education department to knock on every door in the Capital to identify disabled children who are denied their right to go to school.
Free study for disabled at central schools
New Delhi, Oct. 15: The human resource development ministry has decided to exempt differently abled students from tuition fees at Kendriya Vidyalayas across India for the first time to thwart potentially embarrassing protests against a recent fee hike.
Free education for physically disabled, incentives for rural colleges: VC
CHENNAI: University of Madras vice chancellor G Thiruvasagam on Wednesday unveiled a slew of proposed social initiatives aimed at expanding access to higher education to the underprivileged and those living in rural areas.
Hearing impaired girl wins legal battle against GTU
AHMEDABAD: A 17-year-old girl with hearing impairment, Rachna Shah, heaved a sigh of relief when she was allowed to take her diploma exams on Friday after a prolonged legal battle for justice. The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) had to permit her to appear for the test after a Gujarat High Court order in her favour on Thursday.
‘Right to Read’ campaign launched
To highlight the issues faced by persons with print disability – those deprived of Indian books due to unfriendly copyright regulations – a group of organisations launched the Right To Read (R2R) campaign on September 26.
The campaign, jointly launched by the Bangalore-based Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Daisy Forum of India (DFI), bookbole.com and Inclusive Planet, kickstarted at Loyola College in Chennai on Saturday.
Yet an other breakthrough by Viklang Manch!!
C.P. Joshi, Hon. Minister for Rural Development, Govt. of India unconditionally agrees and announces to consider Disabled person as a separate House-hold for accessing work under NREGS!!!
For more details contact - victorjohnc@gmail.com
Enunciating a rights-based viewpoint
With an aim to empower differently-abled persons, the Kerala government is planning to set up a Centre for Disability Studies in the State capital. G. MAHADEVAN spoke to Dr. G.N. Karna, Chairman of the Working Group on Disability for the 11th Five Year Plan on the scope of this proposal.
Film Festival kick started in Chennai
A host of celebrities were present for the launch the International Disability Film Festival, organised by the Ability Foundation, that was kick started on Monday evening.
Films with sub-titles, audio descriptions for people with disabilities
CHENNAI: Jaladhi Umasankar (30), who runs a recording company in the city, loves cinema but stopped going to cinema halls after 2002 when he lost
his sight because of retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary condition that damages the optic nerve.
Rape victim's care: UT-trust deadlock on
CHANDIGARH: The issue of guardianship of the specially abled woman, who got pregnant after she was raped in Nari Niketan, Sector 26, could not be resolved when UT administration and National Trust (for welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities) officials met here on Saturday.
All hopes hang on UT administrator: Abidi
CHANDIGARH: Convener of Disability Rights Groups, Javed Abidi, on Sunday said the Nari Niketan’s mentally-retarded rape victim’s future was a case of national importance in terms of how sensitive the state is towards its specially-abled citizens.
Mental healthcare needs a revamp
About 85 per cent of India’s mentally ill don’t have access to care. As the emphasis shifts to enhancing treatment on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, a look at the ills that afflict our healthcare system…
Not enough help for mentally challenged
Dr B N Gangadhar, Professor of Psychiatry at Nimhans says that while one per cent of the population develop serious mental disorders, 10 per cent suffer from milder symptoms of mental illnesses.
Disabled seek agency to register modified vehicles
CHENNAI: Laws are supposed to benefit citizens. But an amendment made to the Central Motor Vehicles Act to ensure that people with disabilities can have a safe ride on the road has hit a roadblock as the state does not have any authorised facility to certify modifications made to two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
Chandigarh admin to allot 113 built up booths to disabled persons
CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Administration has decided to allot 113 built-up booths, 71 in Sector 38 and 42 in Sector 40, to the disabled persons under the scheme “Licensing of Bare Booth Sites/Built-up Booths to Persons with Disabilities Scheme-2009,” notified by the Chandigarh Administration in March, 2009. The area of each booth will be about 7.36 square yards.
'Hold camps for issuing disability certificates'
CHANDIGARH: Home secretary Ram Niwas on Thursday asked the health department to organize camps in the schools for issuance of disability identity certificate, so that, pension and other benefits could be offered to them easily.
First in country, databank of persons with disabilities
CHANDIGARH: In a first of its kind initiative in the country, the department of psychiatry at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector
32, plans to create a databank of all persons suffering from disabilities, mental as well as physical, residing in the city and peripheral areas in one year’s time.
Punjabi University to set up vocational centre for disabled
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has approved the construction of a Centre of Research and Vocational Training for Physically Disabled at Punjabi University.
World body serves an ace for wheelchair tennis in India
MUMBAI: For differently-abled tennis buffs in the city, there's reason to cheer. India is among the countries the International Tennis Federation
(ITF) has zeroed in on to promote wheelchair tennis. The ITF in association with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) has identified three cities-Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai-where locals will be encouraged to take up the sport starting at the regional level, and eventually on the international circuit.
Differently-abled Pernem girl receives national award
MARGAO: A lack of self esteem on account of a negative self image and a fallout of social attitudes is believed to be the most difficult challenge for the differently-abled. However, given the right environment and opportunities, many differently abled people can make a rich contribution to their communities.
Disabled world champ debarred from exams
SAMBALPUR: Pramod Bhagat's joys knew no bounds after winning the world championship in badminton for the disabled in Seoul recently. But Pramod's institute in Hirakud decided to "honour" him differently. The promising lad was debarred him from appearing in the final exams because of poor attendance.
Advocate K.Kathiresan is an agent of change for the physically and mentally challenged individuals
Educators urged to play proactive role
MYSORE: Emphasising the need for educators to play proactive role in bringing about changes in school administration, speech-language pathologist Indira Nair said they must promote inclusive education in special schools. Speaking after inaugurating a workshop on audiology for educators of children with hearing impairment, she said the educators must be sensitized about the trends in audiology.
Learning to Live with Dyslexia
The film ‘Taare Zameen Par’ might have for the first time created some responsiveness in public mind in India about dyslexia also known as Specific Learning Disorder.
B: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Deaf medical student won't let disability get in way
WINNIPEG - The first-year University of Manitoba medical student is like most other aspiring doctors. She lugs textbooks around. She survives marathon study sessions. And she attends classes all day. But during lectures - while other students concentrate on the professor's words - Jack, 23, focuses on two figures positioned at a podium in the front of the classroom.
Disabled woman's unborn baby row
(UKPA) – 8 hours ago
A pregnant woman with a learning disability could face having her child taken into care after it is born.
Enhanced Open Door Fund for persons with disabilities launched
SINGAPORE : The employment of persons with disabilities received a boost with the launch of the Enhanced Open Door Fund on Saturday.
New features have been added to the fund, which provides incentives to encourage companies to hire more of them.
Russia's disabled suffer neglect and abuse
The BBC has obtained shocking evidence of the abuse and prejudice which campaigners say is widespread against the estimated 13 million people with disabilities in Russia.
Do Kids with Disabilities Strain or Strengthen Our Schools?
So what goes through your mind when you see a child with cerebral palsy using a wheelchair, an adolescent with the social short-circuiting of Aspergers, or a kid whose speech isn’t as quick and facile as his peers?
Abuse led UK woman to kill disabled daughter, self
LONDON — Years of torment from young neighbors led a despairing single mother to kill herself and her disabled daughter, and police inaction contributed to the deaths, a British inquest jury ruled Monday.
Spotlight on disability hate crime
It has been suggested the case of Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her 18-year-old disabled daughter Francecca after being hounded by local youths, could mark a turning point in society's reaction to disability hate crime.
Ex-VP trader sues Goldman for disability dismissal
NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A former Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) vice president and trader accused the firm of dismissing her last year because of a disability
Disabled boy kept tethered to couch, police say
South Salt Lake » A man arrested for chaining a mentally handicapped boy to a couch became the child's caretaker when the boy's mother was sent to a psychiatric hospital, a relative said Thursday.
Coventry climbers leave disabled pal on Mount Snowdon
A GROUP of Coventry climbers took their disabled pal up Mount Snowdon - and abandoned him half way up.
Program gives students with disabilities glimpse of career options
Kiare Burke, 19, got a taste of photography in an internship he had at Florida State University. It was enough to spark his interest in a career.
C: RESOURCES – Newsletter, Publication,Journal, Guideline,Website
New Zealand Sign Language Version of the Convention
The New Zealand Sign Language version of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is now available. New Zealand is the second country after Hungary to produce a full translation of the CRPD into its national sign language.
Include Samuel - Habib’s award-winning documentary film
Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Habib’s award-winning documentary film, Including Samuel, chronicles the Habib family’s efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives.
The Sphere Project
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response
Report on: The Current State of Health Care for People with Disabilities
Report on Human Rights & Health - Persons with Mental Disabilities
Empowered - Leonard Cheshire Disability South Asia's News Letter
Empowered LCD South Asia's News Letter,
January - June, 2009, Volume 5, No. 1
http://www.lcdsouthasia.org/empowered-vol5-issue1
World Deaf Information Resource Project
http://cips.gallaudet.edu/wdi.xml
Asia-Pacific EFA e-Newsletter September 2009
http://www.unescobkk.org/education/efa/
September 2009 Vol-4 No-9 Newsletter of Design For All Institute of India
http://www.designforall.in/newsletter_Sep2009.pdf
Arogya.com - The problems of people with disability are varied. Then, there is also basic ignorance and apathy which they have to consciously deal with.
D: ANNOUNCEMENTS
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Thursday, 3 December 2009
Theme “Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world”
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1484
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1470
Bachelor’s in Sign Language: IGNOU
A Bachelor's programme in sign language has been introduced by Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou). A four-year programme, it entails a one year foundation course that imparts English language and sign language skills. Students who have completed class 10 are eligible for the programme.
World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) which falls on October 20th 2009 is part of the two year campaign to galvanize worldwide support to influence positive changes in government and private healthcare policies to recognize osteoporosis as a priority health issue. Through the theme ‘Stand tall - Speak out for your bones’, the initiatives seek to address improvement in detection, treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
For previous editions of e-news visit www.cbrforum.in/news.htm
Kindly email advocacy.cbrforum@gmail.com for
- Contributing news/ events to this E-news bulletin
- To unsubscribe this E-news Bulletin
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.