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
CBR Forum E-News Bulletin
– A Compilation of News, Information and Updates
January 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
New Delhi, Jan. 14: The government has decided to simplify the process of issuing disability certificates through a slew of steps that would among other things relieve disadvantaged people in rural areas of the trouble of making long, “cumbersome” trips.
New Delhi, Jan. 12: The Central Board of Secondary Education has threatened to disaffiliate schools that fail to “provide attention” to disabled children or make up pretexts to deny them admission.
Govt to amend ‘Disability Act’ to improve life of differently abled
Jan 4, Government will bring an amendment in the Disability act in the coming budget session of Parliament to improve the lot of the differently abled. A draft of the amendment is ready with the social justice ministry .This was disclosed by the social justice Minister Mr. Mukul Wasnik at function in New Delhi to commemorate the 201 birth anniversary of Louis Braille.
http://www.newsonair.com/showArchive.asp
Proposed amendments to Disability Act upsets NGOs
NGOs and activists have expressed their disappointment over the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's announcement that it would introduce amendments to the Persons With Disability Act in the forthcoming budget session.
NGOs fear India's report to UN could be a white wash
Non-Governmental organisations who work for the rehabilitation of the disability community say that India's report to the United Nations on the implementation of UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD), could be a whitewash.
Strictly implement 3 pc reservation for disabled people, says Minister
Govt takes 14 yrs for first review of Disability Act
Bangalore, Jan 12, DHNS: Nearly 14 years after the Disability Act was framed in 1995, the State government conducted its first inter-department review meeting on Tuesday.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/46525/govt-takes-14-yrs-first.html
HC: are public buildings friendly to the disabled
BANGALORE: The high court on Wednesday directed the PWD, UDD and other departments concerned to file affidavits on facilities for disabled persons at public buildings across Karnataka.
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
‘Tough for people with disabilities to secure rights’
People with disabilities have been largely unsuccessful in securing their rights, said M.N. Venkatachaliah, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission and the former Chief Justice of India.
Sule slams govt for neglecting disabled
Mumbai: Senior bureaucrats, prominent social workers and a section of cabinet members were stunned when NCP MP Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, revealed that even as the state government has issued more than a dozen orders for the welfare of the physically challenged, none of them have been implemented.
Don't turn away disabled kids: CBSE
Despite inclusive education being a constitutional guarantee, most parents of disabled children find themselves up against an apathetic tide when seeking admission in regular schools.
http://www.dnaindia.com/academy/report_don-t-turn-away-disabled-kids-cbse_1334550
With more and ‘exclusive’ hands, disabled welfare dept overcomes its disability
Lucknow: Nearly 15 years after it was formed, the Department of Disabled Welfare of the state government has finally overcome its “disabilities”, as it will have its own officers posted in the districts.
IIMB in collaboration with Mphasis set up Office of Disability Services (ODS) in the Campus
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) on January 13, 2010 inaugurated an Office of Disability Services (ODS) to cater to the special needs of disabled students on campus. The ODS has been set up with the support of Mphasis Ltd, an HP company.
http://www.iimb.ernet.in/node/1807
Divya Roongta - Against all odds
Divya Roongta PGP '06 is an alumnus who showed great determination all the way through her education, overcoming the challenges that visual impairment posed her with.
http://www.iimbaa.org/IIMBAA_Magazine_Winter_2009.pdf
Amending Copyright Act for print-disabled to access books
By L Subramani, For centuries, lack of access to books and printed materials remained a great stumbling block for persons with disability to intellectually advance themselves.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/43710/amending-copyright-act-print-disabled.html
Barriers remain on path to web access for disabled
The Internet has no boundaries. At least that’s the conventional wisdom. Nonetheless, hurdles remain for many who would like access to the worldwide web, especially those with disabilities. At issue are details seldom considered by web designers, programmers and non-disabled users.
http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/internet/article78890.ece
New Delhi, Jan. 10: The central government has decided to make each of its 6,000 websites disabled-friendly.
S Rly not disabled-friendly in berth allocation
CHENNAI: Southern Railway may have ramps and wheelchairs for disabled passengers at major stations, but it is not disabled-friendly when it comes to allotting berths for such passengers.
Teens steadily falling prey to mental illness
New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS) With pressures of studies, work and relationships, teenagers and those in their early 20’s have become very susceptible to mental illness like schizophrenia, experts say, adding that the condition is 70 percent treatable.
India to produce 1,750 mental health workers a year
The central government Wednesday announced a health scheme to address the problem of acute shortage of doctors and health workers for mental health disorders, saying India will produce 1,756 such practitioners, including 520 doctors, every year.
http://calcuttatube.com/india-to-produce-1750-mental-health-workers-a-year/52276/
On wheelchair, dowry victim struggles to keep husband in jail
Once hale and hearty, 24-year-old Ranjit Kaur is now bound to a wheelchair with permanent disability. Reason: she failed to meet dowry demands allegedly raised by her husband Baljinder Singh, as a result of which, she was allegedly burnt with the intention to murder.
Disabled people seek financial support from govt
CHENNAI: The city corporation's grievance redress meet on Saturday organised especially for people with disabilities at Ripon Buildings saw many seeking financial assistance under the state government's welfare schemes. 240 petitioners sought financial help.
Visually challenged people flay govt apathy
Bangalore, Jan 4, DH News Service: Over 200 visually challenged people from all over the State, staged a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue on M G Road on Louis Braille’s birth anniversary on Monday.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/44996/visually-challenged-people-flay-govt.html
Equal insurance benefits for differently-abled
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology would take a decision shortly with regard to the extra premium paid by the disabled employees
http://igovernment.in/site/equal-insurance-benefits-differently-abled-36578
BSA Motors launches electric scooter designed for disabled
“After extensive market research, we saw that there is a burning need to come out with a scooter which would help the mobility of the physically challenged,” said K.B. Srinivasan, vice-president, BSA Motors, which only makes electric scooters
http://www.livemint.com/2010/01/07235300/BSA-Motors-launches-electric-s.html
RTO sends woman with polio on wild goose chase
Mumbai: For 38 years, Kandivli resident Sudha Girish Tendulkar did not let her polio come in the way of life. She’s not about to give up the fight now, either.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_rto-sends-woman-with-polio-on-wild-goose-chase_1332196
'Taare Zameen Par' recommended By the Court To A Petitioner
Delhi Court advised a petitioner to watch the movie 'Taare Zameen Par' to get a clear idea about dyslexia.
http://www.india-server.com/news/taare-zameen-par-recommended-by-the-19128.html
Terminally ill patients in city get new hope from stem cells
MUMBAI: In a cheery home with blood-red walls in Borivli’s IC Colony, 23-year-old Ankur Nath welcomed the New Year by snacking on pizzas. Pizzas on party nights may be commonplace, but this was a special case: in the past nine years. Ankur had never eaten a single morsel through his mouth.
Stem cell offers man with bulllet injury new shot at life
MUMBAI: For 34-year-old Deepak Singh, stem cell therapy might not have worked the first time, but the second time, it has given him a new lease of life.
More care for disabled needed`
IMPHAL, Jan 3: A good administration which can bring all round development is vital for tackling the menace of disabilities caused by accident in the state.
http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=51053&typeid=1
22- to 24-week foetus in 'grey zone'
MUMBAI: When Amillia Taylor was born at Baptist Children’s Hospital in Miami on October 24, 2006, she made headlines across the world. She weighed just 280 grams and was 240 centimetres long. More importantly, she was born after just 21 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy—the youngest premature baby known to have ever made it.
Absence of specialist cripples clinic
BANGALORE: Severe cognitive and neuromotor impairments are common among extremely premature infants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed premature birth as one of the main causes for disability among children.
Technology, a boon to disabled
Bangalore, Jan 16, DHNS
The visiting Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on Saturday said the new technology of prosthetics will help people walk and run again.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/47216/technology-boon-disabled.html
Mother nurture
Our personal tragedies often shape the goals of our lives. For Shanti Raghavan, it was her brother's retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. He slowly lost his vision over a period of time. But Raghavan, an IT engineer, turned this window of time into an opportunity to help her kid brother lead a normal life using special software for the visually-challenged. Today he is a successful programme manager at an MNC.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Mother-nurture/articleshow/5405244.cms
Disabled man duped scores, held
MUMBAI: The Parksite police recently arrested a physically challenged man and his accomplice for allegedly duping 31 people after promising to double their investment in six months.
Disabled man catches bicycle thief
A 50-year-old man with a crippled leg fought off a thief who was trying to steal his bicycle from his home in Kalkaji area of South Delhi on Tuesday. The thief was arrested.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Disabled-man-catches-bicycle-thief/570341/
Braille calendar released
Bangalore, Jan 4, DHNS: IDL Foundation has released the Braille calendar for the year 2010 on the occasion of World Louis Braille Day on January 4.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/44913/braille-calendar-released.html
Guwahati, Dec. 3: It was a fun-filled day for the physically and mentally challenged children at the World Disability Day celebrations held in the city today.
Three specially abled Bengal youths begin India tour
Jalpaiguri (WB), Jan 17 (ANI): Three specially abled youths from West Bengal began a tour across the country on Saturday to spread awareness among the physically disabled on their abilities.
Disability no handicap for Shailesh
More of an outdoor sports buff who swore by cricket, chess for the then six-year-old Shailesh Nerlikar was not an obvious choice — until the day it became his only option. Crippled by a chronic bone disease — he can’t even walk or sit due to extremely fragile bones and locked joints — Shailesh made full use of the unaffected organ, his mind, to make the right moves on the chessboard.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/disability-no-handicap-for-shailesh/568970/
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
Sensibilities gone softer
Shoma A Chatterji, Trans World Features
The media is awash with stories and pre-release promos of Shahrukh Khan’s new film My Name is Khan...
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/47142/sensibilities-gone-softer.html
Aamir Khan seeks disabled-friendly infrastructure
Bollywood star Aamir Khan, whose recent release "3 Idiots" takes a critical look at India's education system, feels that the infrastructure in the country should be remodelled so that physically challenged people can move around without hindrance.
Disability & poverty no bar, say city's Five Idiots
SURAT: All is well, if one's intention is honest. And, this what five men of Surat want to tell in their one-hour movie Five Idiots', which raises the issues of poor and socially backward people living with disability in the slums of city's Mithikhadi area.
Film festival on disability concludes
Bhopal, Jan 24: The three-day film festival based on movies related to disabilities organised by Arushi Society, in co-ordination with LIC, Sri Dorabji Tata Trust, Bharat Bhavan, Chavi Prabhag, IES Group of Institutions, Mittal Institute of Technology, Aquarius and Sightsavers International held at Bharat Bhavan concluded on Sunday.
http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=25266
B: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Disabled court reeks of unethical laziness
By Zhao Yanrong (China Daily) - I went to a court hearing last week in Beijing to hear the case of a person with disabilities. The 32-year-old man with speaking and hearing impairments was from a village in Hebei province. He was accused of stealing two pairs of trousers and some cash from a mall. However, I realized that this case was unbalanced.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-01/25/content_9371028.htm
Universities avoid Kindle over accessibility barriers
Suits from blind groups over lack of menu aids
Every woman deserves to feel gorgeous
EXCLUSIVE: As style guru Gok Wan sets out to make disabled women feel fantastic in the new series.
Parents get more advice on caring for disabled children
The families of children with disabilities in England are to be given more support in finding childcare.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8430115.stm
Secret film uncovers 'disabled hate crime' in Wales
Some disabled people in Wales are suffering abuse and threats for no other reason than their disability, an investigation by BBC Wales has found.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8437523.stm
Desperate and vulnerable multiple sclerosis sufferers were administered an alleged stem cell therapy treatment in a "wholly illegitimate, misleading and dishonest" way by a doctor, a disciplinary hearing has been told.
Time for Channel 4 to excite with the Paralympic baton
Exciting changes ahead. Channel 4 now switch their attention to the Paralympic Games in the wake of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic (and Paralympic) Games announcing that the tv broadcast rights in 2012 have been awarded to the terrestrial broadcaster.
“My disability is not a handicap,” insists Cowra’s Aussie Day Ambassador
COWRA’S Australia Day Ambassador, Gabrielle Clark, has been a member of Special Olympics for over 20 years. She has represented NSW in gymnastics, basketball, aquatics, and golf.
http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=4042&id=45
Shutting out the disabled - by design
As I walked up the stairs to my office yesterday after yet another (tiring) weekend off, I couldn't help but feel fortunate I was able to do just that - to be capable of standing on my own two feet !
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=268313
Test your HR knowledge: Disability rules
Disability rules get continually tweaked by Congress and federal agencies. Take this quiz and test your knowledge of the rules for dealing with disabled employees and applicants.
http://www.hrmorning.com/test-your-hr-knowledge-disability-rules/
Residents fake disabilities in mass scam
Police in the Italian city of Naples have uncovered a massive fraud in which hundreds of people used falsified medical records to claim disability allowances.
Toyota iReal - A Wheelchair On Steroids
Toyota's new mobility concept
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B_JZtiI0QM
Heather Mills survives Dancing on Ice
Ms Mills, the former wife of Beatle Paul McCartney, impressed the judges despite her disability of having only one leg.
Just in Case: The Skinny on Buying Disability Insurance
Disability-insurance benefits from the workplace and the government are getting harder to come by—and that's putting more pressure on consumers to purchase their own coverage in case a medical condition keeps them from working.
Mum who gave disabled son lethal heroin injection jailed for life
A MUM who gave her disabled son a lethal heroin injection to end his "living hell" must serve at least nine years in jail.
C: RESOURCES – Newsletter, Publication,Journal, Guideline,Website
Disability News India (DNI)
www.disabilityindia.com/html/news.html
WHO Disability and Rehabilitation Newsletter
Issue No. 9, December 2009
Deaf Studies Journal
The Deaf Studies Digital Journal (DSDJ) is the first peer-reviewed academic and creative arts journal to feature work in a signed and a written language. For those non-signers, articles and other signed texts may be downloaded in PDF. To view the Journal, go to http://dsdj.gallaudet.edu/
Welcome to Disabled Explorers
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for the disabled through independent 4wd backcountry travel. We are disabled ourselves and we are here to help with advice and inspiration.
http://disabledexplorers.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
NCPAD is an information center concerned with physical activity and disability. Being physically active is good for every body.
http://www.ncpad.org/index.php
D.R.P.I.-Canada Newsletter, December 2009
Disability Rights Promotion International Canada (DRPI-Canada) would like to share with you the latest edition of its newsletter. An accessible version is available on the DRPI-Canada website at: http://www.yorku.ca/drpi/CanadaNewsDec09.html
First ENUSP Newsletter
The first newsletter issued by the European Network of (ex) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP) is now available on line.
http://www.enusp.org/newsletter/2010/1.pdf
Documentary Video on Brain Injury
Brain Injury Dialogues is an “accurate, sympathetic, and empowering depiction of 5 survivors of brain injury.” To view an excerpt, go to http://www.braininjurydialogues.org/clips.html
Hand controls for cars with automatic gear transmission
Car for physically challenged
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQLzLDwGx08&feature=related
Car for handicapped driver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xijqUDxtbYs
Portable hand control - How to install and use a portable hand control for people with disabilities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5nzEAZVzNI&feature=related
How to Drive Hand Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzbzpjbuSIw&feature=related
Monarch Hand Controls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQLzLDwGx08&feature=related
D: ANNOUNCEMENTS
Conference on Minimum Standards at Trivandrum, Kerala (9-10 February, 2010)
Sphere India, in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority, Govt. of India, Government of Kerala and Sphere India member agencies, is organizing a conference on “Minimum Standards of Food, Water, Medical Cover, Sanitation & Hygiene and Psycho-Social Support in Disaster Relief” at Trivandrum, Kerala on 9th-10th February, 2010.
For details contact Mr. Raman Kumar, Focal Point – Training & Capacity Building Program, Mobile: 099100-82661, E-mail: raman@sphereindia.org.in
DPI, academics and disability organizations around the world continue to debate the definition of disability. VSA Arts wants you to create your visual interpretation of disability and copy it on to a postcard.
To read more information in English, go to
Vermont Studio Centre (VSC) Fellowship
VSC is offering fellowships for “artists and writers who live with spinal cord Injury (SCI), spinal cord disease (SCD) or who use a wheelchair and/or have a spinal cord injury.” Deadline is 15 February 2010. For more information, go to http://www.vermontstudiocenter.org/fellowships/
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.