Differently-abled face social stigma : Coimbatore

It is not just the public infrastructure that needs to be more disabled-friendly, even people have to change, according to differently-abled persons and activists in the city. Real life experiences of differently-abled persons here revealed that they face social stigma and ridicule in their daily life, which upsets them more than the lack of special facilities for them at public places. People with disabilities complain that they are often treated rudely by the general public.

Bus conductors and drivers, many say, are the worst-behaved. "There were many instances when the disabled have filed formal complaints with the transport corporation and the district collector," M Kamaraj of Thiramai said. He said that even the public travelling in government buses is not courteous to them and many people openly express the feeling that they are uncomfortable travelling with differently-abled persons. A cross section of people who TOI interacted with revealed that often the public refuses to even give the allotted seat to a disabled person. "If we ask them to give the seat that is allotted to us they show contempt," an orthopedically-challenged person said.

S Manuel working with Seesha, a movement working for the disabled at Thondamuthur, said drivers and conductors of the government buses and even people with disabilities (PWD) should be aware of rights, concessions and facilities offered by the state government to the latter. "Recently, we conducted a camp for drivers and conductors of government buses in the city. We found out that 90% of the transport staff is unaware about the rights and benefits that PWDs are entitled to," he said. According to him, training programmes for transport staff should be conducted regularly to sensitivise them.

Speaking further, Manuel said that even the differently-abled people need to be made aware of their rights. "Not just disabled persons but even the person who is accompanying them are allowed travel concession in government buses and trains," he said. Activists also appealed to the public to respect the disabled persons and give them a helping hand. "Public occupying the seat for the differently-abled should vacate the seat for disabled persons as most clashes commence here," activists say. On the other hand, since the transport staff themselves are unaware of the travel concessions offered to the disabled by the government, they ask the poor disabled persons to show the Government Order. "How can we show Government Order to them? Where will we get it?" asks Srinivasan, a differently-abled person in Coimbatore.

The public must realize that the differently-abled wants their rights to be respected, not sympathy.


Source : TOI , 6th March  2013 

Specially-abled persons treated at health camp at Ghumka

At least 226 differently able persons were identified and treated at a health camp organised at Ghumka village under the guidance of collector Ashok Agrawal.


Civil surgeon Dr Mahobe, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Bhalerao, ophthalmologist Dr VK Shrivastava and other medical experts were present at the camp.

On the occasion, disability certificates have also been given away to the patients.

Dr Mahobe said 226 certificates have been issued, in which 104 patients were orthopaedically handicapped, 53 were mentally disturbed, 26 were suffering from eye defects and 18 were suffering from ear defects.
Dr Mahobe said differently-abled persons are also part of the society and people should cooperate with them. They have also the right to education and they can also work like a normal man after certain trainings.


Source : The Pioneer ( 5th  March 2013 )- Rajnandgaon 

Differently-abled threaten protest over non-inclusion : khatmandu

The organisations representing differently-abled people warned that they would go for stern protest if their representation in the appointment of the judiciary as per capability and talent would not be guaranteed.

Various organisations like Nepal Apanga Sangh Khagendra Nawa Jeevan Kendra, Nepal Spinal Cord Injury Khelkud Sangh Jorpati and Nepal Manab Adhikar Samaj Boudha among others issued the warning to the government in a joint press conference in the Reporters Club in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

On the occasion, Chairman of the Yuva Apanga Sangathan Nepal Prakash Shrestha said that though the government had decided to include the differently-abled people in the decision making positions earlier, subsequently, the government has not implemented their pronouncement till date. He further demanded inclusion of the differently abled in the decision making position according to their ability and talent.

Shrestha further underscored that the differently-abled don’t want charity but they are ready to compete with the times.


Source : The Himalayan imes ( 5th March 2013 )  

Sex and learning disabilities

Educating persons with learning disabilities about their sexuality from young is as essential as teaching them ABCs.

SEX is a topic that guarantees animated debate, what more when it is discussed within the context of people with learning disabilities. That includes people with Down Syndrome, autism and other types of developmental delays. With such diversity and varying degrees of cognitive functioning, challenges are plenty.
It is a slippery slope when differences in belief systems, values and cultures are thrown in the mix as well. Take, for example, the issue of masturbation. Whether in the West or East, views on such a touchy topic remain deeply divided.

  

Early education: Caregivers are advised to educate their learning-disabled charges about sex and their bodies five years ahead of their developmental phases.

When argued from a liberal and equal rights perspective, it is viewed as a socially acceptable behaviour done in privacy. As such, it should not be excluded from people with disabilities. In fact, if one were to Google “sex education for people with learning disabilities”, modules complete with illustrations are available. But for others, in keeping their faith, it is a no-go zone since the very act is forbidden.
So naturally it created a buzz recently within the community working for and living with people with learning disabilities when a talk entitled Sexuality, Disability And The Young Person With Autism was held in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Organised by the Vocational Training Centre under the aegis of the Selangor-based Archdiocesan Office for Human Development, over 60 parents and teachers tackled the issue head-on, acknowledging that sex is a subject not to be swept under the carpet and they should not pretend that their charges are angelic and asexual.

That they are intellectually challenged does not mean physically, they are wired differently. “They have sexual urges and needs just like anyone else,” asserts speaker Dr Russell Shuttleworth, a senior lecturer from the Faculty of Health Science of Deakin University, Australia.

As such, he says, lessons on sexual awareness, the difference between private and public boundaries, and understanding the bodily changes that come with the onset of puberty, have to be taught. They are just as pertinent as learning ABCs for people with learning disabilities, he stresses.

“They need to learn about their bodies, the appropriate names of their body parts, and their functions and sexual hygiene,” adds Dr Shuttleworth, who had previously worked as a support staff member with the disabled community in San Francisco in the United States.

To prepare persons with learning disabilities about their growing bodies and to safeguard them against sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour in the public sphere, he advises caregivers to teach their charges five years ahead of their developmental phases.

Calling it a “Five-Year Rule”, he says at preschool through primary school levels, lessons should include the differences in male and female bodily functions, appropriate versus inappropriate touching as well as an introduction to puberty. For the female students, it is vital to teach them about menstrual care.

“We should employ the same teaching methods used for modifying behaviour and improving cognitive skills to sex education,” notes Dr Shuttleworth, who has degrees in anthropology and social work.

Forget the birds and the bees when labelling sexual organs. Be concrete, he says. Equally fundamental is to be consistent and repetitive about sexual safety.

For practical reasons it is best to get someone of the same gender to teach the basics of safety and hygiene.
Another area which needs to be vigorously and equally emphasised is the proper etiquette for the use of public toilets.

All this is to ensure that when they reach puberty (a word derived from Latin meaning “age of maturity”), they are better prepared to cope with their hormonally-charged bodies. Generally, puberty occurs between the ages of 10 and 12 for girls, and 12-13 for boys.

Besides an increase in weight and height as well as the growth of pubic hair, puberty for both genders can be an emotional roller-coaster time with the maturing of their reproductive organs.

For the female, it is about ovulation and menstruation while for the male, it is about spontaneous erections and wet dreams. The latter can be potentially embarrassing especially when it occurs in public places.

In a three-year study conducted by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds in Britain, researchers found that although there is greater social integration, the learning disabled still lack basic sex education, leaving them embarrassed, vulnerable and confused.

As such, Dr Shuttleworth reiterates that persons with learning disabilities must be taught about their bodies and how to manage the changes and the ensuing sexual urges that come with adulthood.

He urges parents and caregivers of the learning disabled persons to take a clinical approach in dealing with sexual issues. He believes that the learning disabled must be given an outlet to express themselves sexually without courting trouble with the law while preventing sexual abuse. He terms it as “sexual facilitation” and considers Denmark a country well ahead of others in terms of providing avenues to gratify the sexual needs of the disabled.

However, he concedes that fulfilling the sexual needs of the learning disabled remains a grey area even in developed nations. In general, while most parents heartily agree that it’s important to raise awareness among their children about their sexual organs in order for them to care for themselves in personal hygiene and safety, helping them to be sexually fulfilled is another matter altogether. A general concern for most parents is their children’s vulnerability to the danger of sexual abuse and unwanted pregnancies.

Sexual freedom or not, the challenge remains in teaching people with learning disabilities how to draw a line between what is acceptable behaviour in public and what is considered private. For instance, if an adolescent is caught touching himself publicly, sensible teachers and caregivers should redirect him to physical activities that keep his hands occupied or let him have a time-out in his own privacy, away from other students.

Other areas of concern are understanding the differences in friendships, dating and sexual relationships within the context of family values.

Although many participants concede there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the multi-dimensional issues on sex and learning disabilities, they agree that the way to go is pragmatism tempered with common sense.


Source : The Star ( 6th March 2013 ) 

The United Nations and indigenous persons with disabilities

Over 1 billion people, or approximately 15 percent of the world’s population, have disabilities. While no global data exists regarding indigenous persons with disabilities, available statistics show that indigenous peoples are disproportionately likely to experience disability in comparison to the general population.  Indigenous persons with disabilities often experience multiple discrimination and face barriers to the full enjoyment of their rights, based on their indigenous status and also on disability.

The international community has recognized that special measures are required to protect the rights of the world's indigenous peoples. The first instrument that addressed their rights was the 1957 ILO Convention 107, which has been superseded by the 1989 ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. Over the past few decades the United Nations has increasingly engaged indigenous people through two International Decades as well as the establishment of specific entities that promote their rights within the UN system.

The Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is an independent expert body that provides advice to and promotes the coordination of activities related to indigenous peoples within the UN system. The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (first appointed in 2001) addresses specific cases of human rights violations, conducts country visits and promotes good practices.
Both the international indigenous rights and the international disability rights movements have achieved great advances in recent years. Notably, in 2007, following more than two decades of negotiation, the General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2006, the General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force in 2008.
While both movements have been active on the rights of sub-groups within their constituencies and although both the UNDRIP and the UNCRPD include protections for indigenous peoples with disabilities , the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities have not been addressed centrally by either movement. However, there is a growing effort to change this.

In 2012, at its 11th session, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, encouraged by the participation of a strong delegation of indigenous persons with disabilities from different regions of the world, appointed two of its members to undertake a study on the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on challenges faced with respect to the full enjoyment of human rights and inclusion in development. In preparing the report, an expert meeting was held in Madrid on 20-21 November 2012, which brought together indigenous persons with disabilities from different regions, as well as other experts, including from the UN, working in the areas of indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities.

The report, which was prepared with participation from the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will be submitted to the Forum at its twelfth session in 2013. The report will likely contain recommendations for further action by Member States, UN entities and both organizations of persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples and indigenous peoples’ organizations to advance the situation of indigenous peoples with disabilities.

Links and resources relating to indigenous persons with disabilities

• Study on the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities: (Forthcoming)
• Interactive panel discussion: “Indigenous Persons with Disabilities: Overcoming Challenges to Achieving Rights and Inclusion in Development”. Side-event to the 11th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 11 May 2012, United Nations Headquarters, New York
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous PeopleS
• International Norms and Standards Relating to Disability: Persons with disabilities and multiple discrimination - Rights of Special Groups: Rights of Indigenous Populations

Source : United Nation Organization 

Animals Help Children With Autism Interact Better

Animals help children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) interact better; they show increased positive social behaviors when an animal is present.

The finding came from a new study by researchers, led by Marguerite E O'Haire, from the University of Queesland, Australia and was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Kids between the ages of five and thirteen with ASD were involved in the investigation. The experts analyzed their interaction with adults and with peers who were developing normally, while two guinea pigs were present. The interactions were compared a second time with toys instead of the guinea pigs.

According to the results, when the animals were present, the kids with ASD displayed more social behaviors such as:

• talking
• making physical contact
• looking at faces

Compared to when they were playing with toys, the kids with ASD were more receptive to social advances from their peers when the animals were in sight.

The children laughed and smiled more when the animals were present compared to the toys, and also reduced behaviors of:

• frowning
• whining
• crying

Prior research has indicated that people have a higher probability of receiving overtures of friendship from strangers when taking a dog for a walk as opposed to when they walk unaccompanied.

Comparable outcomes have also been examined for individuals who have smaller animals, such as rabbits or turtles with them.

This 'social lubricant' effect of animals on human social interactions may be especially critical for people with socio-emotional disabilities, according to the researchers.

The capability of the animals to assist boys and girls with ASD communicate with adults may also be used to help them interact with teachers, therapists, and other adults in their life.

Animal-assisted interventions may also benefit the classroom dynamics as well, the scientists said.

The authors concluded:

"For children with ASD, the school classroom can be a stressful and overwhelming environment due to social challenges and peer victimization. If an animal can reduce this stress or artificially change children's perception of the classroom and its occupants, then a child with ASD may feel more at ease and open to social approach behaviors."

Source : Medical News Today ( 28th feb 2013 ) 

Speech Emerges in Children On the Autism Spectrum With Severe Language Delay at Greater Rate Than Previously Thought

New findings published in Pediatrics by the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Autism and Related Disorders reveal that 70 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have a history of severe language delay, achieved phrase or fluent speech by age eight. This suggests that more children presenting with ASD and severe language delay at age four can be expected to make notable language gains than was previously thought. Abnormalities in communication and language are a defining feature of ASD, yet prior research into the factors predicting the age and quality of speech attainment has been limited.


The study used the largest sample to date to examine the relationship between key deficits associated with ASD and attainment of phrase and/or fluent speech following a severe language delay, characterized by a child not putting words together into meaningful phrases by age four. As a common milestone of speech development, phrase speech is defined as using non-echoed three-word utterances that sometimes involve a verb and are spontaneous meaningful word combinations; whereas fluent speech is defined as the ability to use complex utterances to talk about topics outside of the immediate physical context.

"We found that nonverbal intelligence was the strongest predictor of phrase speech, while social interest and engagement were as robust, if not greater, when predicting the age that children attained phrase speech and fluent speech," said Ericka L. Wodka, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist in Kennedy Krieger's Center for Autism and Related Disorders and lead study author. "Children with typical nonverbal intelligence attained language almost six months ahead of those with scores below the average."

These findings reinforce that core abilities, such as nonverbal intelligence and social engagement, have a greater influence on the development of communication than other behaviors associated with ASD, such as repetitive and abnormal sensory behaviors. "Our findings continue to support the importance of considering both nonverbal intellectual level and social communication in treatment planning, highlighting the differing impact of these factors as related to treatment goals," said Dr. Wodka.

Data for this retrospective study were from the Simon Simplex Collection (SSC), a unique multi-site database project that gathers biological and phenotypic data on children with ASD aged four- to eighteen-years-old without a previous genetic history of ASD. The database establishes a permanent repository of genetic samples from 2,700 families, each of which has one child affected with an ASD and unaffected parents and siblings.

From the SSC, a total of 535 children, ages eight years or older, were studied. Using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), a standard parent-interview that distinguishes children with ASD from non-ASD populations, and the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule (ADOS), a clinician-administered observation that assesses social, communicative and stereotyped behaviors, researchers selected children because they either had no phrase speech at their time of enrollment in the SSC or their phrase speech onset occurred after age four.

Based on ADI-R results and their language presentation, children in this study were administered one of four evaluation modules -- no words or single words (Module 1), phrase speech (Module 2) or fluent speech (Module 3 or 4). Of the 535 participants in the study, 119 children mastered phrase speech and 253 children were speaking fluently by their eighth birthday, while 163 children never attained phrase or fluent speech
"We hope the results of this study empower parents of children with autism and severe language delays to know that, with the appropriate therapy, a child will likely make significant gains in this area over time; however, progress should be expected to be slower for those children with lower intellectual abilities," said Dr. Wodka. "Additionally, we hope these findings provide clinicians with better defined therapeutic targets for their patients with autism."

Future longitudinal studies, including both simplex and multiplex families, are required to fully capture the prevalence and predictors of language development in children with ASD. Additionally, further research into the impact of social cognition strategies (e.g., perspective taking) on the development of language, as well as the relationship among specific social deficits and fluent speech development, may hold important implications to the design of intervention.


Source : Science Daily ( 4th march 2013 ) 

Animals Can Help Kids With Autism More Than Toys Can !

Anyone who’s ever owned a pet can attest to the therapeutic qualities fuzzy, scaly or feathered friends can have. Therapy animals have been around in a rigorous way for fifty years, and each new study finds applications that expand the possible uses of pets. Recently, researchers explored the potential for therapy animals to help kids with autism and found that they were more effective than toys.
The study, published in PLoS ONE, let a classroom of autistic students play with two guinea pigs for about ten minutes. Compared with another group who played with toys for ten minutes, the kids who played with animals seemed to be more social, interact with their peers more and showed fewer negative behaviors.

The Huffington Post spoke with one of the researchers on the study:

“Children with autism engaged in 55 percent more social behaviors when they were with the animals, compared to toys,” said O’Haire, who added that the amount they smiled more than doubled.

“These are big improvements for children who struggle to interact socially and often suffer from heightened anxiety and stress,” O’Haire said. “The ability of an animal to bring out a smile or get a child talking was a huge finding.”

This makes some sense. Kids presented with toys can engage in solitary play, sitting by themselves and playing. They’re also more likely to become destructive and throw a toy than they are to throw a guinea pig. But exactly why the guinea pigs made the kids more social isn’t obvious. Disability Scoop writes:

It’s unclear exactly why kids with autism saw such benefits from the guinea pigs, but researchers suggested that it may be that the presence of the animals made the environment less stressful for them.

And, interestingly, the children warmed up to the animals, but not to humans. In the discussion, the authors write:

In the present study, children with ASD demonstrated warmth and affection to the animals, but not to humans. This paradox may indicate that they felt more comfortable or closer to the animals than the people. Or, it may evidence a different type of relationship between children with ASD and animals versus children with ASD and other humans.

But it could be a first step to understanding how and when to use animals to help autistic kids come out of their shells.

Source : .Smithsonianmag ( 4th March 2013 )

Deaf Team at Gallaudet University Create New iPad Storybook App

The National Science Foundation-funded Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) at Gallaudet University research center has released the first of a series of three bilingual storybook apps, developed to help language acquisition and reading in all young children; in particular for those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

   

The Baobab storybook app improves language acquisition. Image by Gallaudet University

Deaf Team Create New iPad App

An all-deaf team created the new storybook app for the iPad, presenting The Baobab with original storytelling from Gallaudet alum April Jackson-Woodard and eye-catching animations from deaf artist Yiqiao Wang. The app’s unique feature is the interactive support by an American Sign Language (ASL) user. It also includes an ASL and spoken English glossary of 170 signs.

State-of-the-art  Bilingual Storybook App

Researchers at Gallaudet say that their new interactive bilingual storybook app reflects state-of-the-art innovation in bilingual language learning and research, and focuses on the dual acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL) and English and learning to read in English.
The researchers add that this app is unique in the world since it was built upon findings of extensive research done on both hearing and deaf bilinguals. Past research conducted by the VL2 Center team demonstrates that early visual language experience with ASL aids reading  acquisition in English and offers other important advantages for a deaf child’s linguistic, communicative, cognitive, academic, literacy, and psychosocial development.

The Baobab Sentence Preview. Image by Gallaudet University

App Promotes the ‘Bilingual Advantage’ in Child Development

In a news release, Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto, Science Director and Co-Principal Investigator of VL2 says that “Early exposure to bilingualism provides tremendous higher cognitive, language, and reading advantages for young children and the advantages continue throughout their entire lifetime. Research has proven that these beneficial effects, known as the ‘bilingual advantage’ in child development, holds true for children learning two spoken languages as well as deaf children learning both ASL and English.”

Research Proves the Advantages of Second Language Learning

As Petitto mentions, for years research has shown that learning more than one language has positive cognitive effects;  Vivian Cook, Professor of Applied Linguistics, states in Multi-Competence and the Learning of Many Languages. Language and Culture and Curriculum: “a single mind with more than one language has a totality that is very different from a mind with a single language.”

Dr. Colin Baker, Professor of Education at Bangor University and specialist in language planning and bilingual education, explains in Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism that “the ownership of two or more languages may increase fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration in thinking.”
Baker has reviewed years of research and concludes that bilinguals have some cognitive advantages over monolinguals most noticeably in the areas of divergent thinking; they are focusing on meaning rather than sounds. Bilinguals have the advantage of viewing language arbitrarily and not being under the assumption that there is only one fixed label for each item.

Sign-Language App Interview

The Baobab Glossary. Image by Gallaudet University

Decoded Science contacted Melissa Malzkuhn, Digital Innovation and Media Strategies Manager for VL2, who led the development of this app, and Kristen Harmon, Ph.D., Professor of English at Gallaudet University, to ask for some additional details about the newly released app:

Decoded Science: What is the size of the deaf children population that would benefit from these books in language acquisition?

Dr. Harmon: The CDC would probably have the most up-to-date numbers on the incidence of deafness among the school age population. This is also intended for all visual learners and for all hearing students interested in learning about ASL.  

Decoded Science:  Who chose the subjects and vocabulary content of the stories?

Melissa Malzkuhn: As the project director, I had the final decision on subjects, content, and design approach. … We had a team craft The Baobab, and then after it was developed in ASL, we translated it to English and worked around the vocabularies, trying to fit in a balance of several challenging words for young readers, as well as introducing commonly used words. It’s important to note, all the ASL signs for this storybook app are content-based.  

Decoded Science:  ‘Baobab’ isn’t a common word, was word frequency taken into account in vocabulary choice?

Melissa Malzkuhn:  We liked putting “Baobab” in this story because while it’s not commonly known, it is something real, a tree that sits in a land far away. If you are from America, you’ll learn that the Baobab tree grows commonly in the southern part of Africa including Madagascar.  It didn’t change how we determined vocabulary.    


Source : Decode D Science , 4th march 2013

Decoded Science:  What future research do you have planned?
Melissa Malzkuhn: We plan to do further studies from this app, including eye tracking and assessments, in particular how children use the gestural interface. If you play with the app, you will see that there are two different gesture controls to view vocabulary, one to tap and play, the default setting, and the other to touch and hold to view. We believe that by touching and holding the text to view, we encourage children to focus and we intend to do studies to see whether that is effective in learning.  We are very excited about the planned studies, which are now pending review with the Institutional Review Board, and will start in a few months.  
I’d like to add that we also hid an Easter egg in the app. (Hint: it has to do with the iPad accelerometer when in the read mode). We want children to discover something on their own.

Language Learning should be Fun

Melissa Malzkuhn also emphasized that the main goal of their app was for children to have fun while acquiring language and reading skills. The team tried to make the story imaginative, compelling, and educational – and also one that can be enjoyed by children and parents.
Research shows the benefits of acquiring a second language. If the team succeeds in improving language acquisition in deaf children through an entertaining app, the same principles and technology may be applicable to other second-languages as well; potentially improving cognitive abilities for a whole generation of kids.

Physically challenged tries his luck in Mysore City Corporation election

Perhaps for the first time in the history of Mysore City Corporation, a physically challenged person has thrown his hat into the ring from a city ward to take on two-time independent corporator.

Azgar Pasha, an independent candidate contesting from ward 49, says he entered the fray because so far there has been no political representation for people with disability and getting jobs for them from elected representatives was like "getting blood from a stone". "If we have political power, we can address the problems better than anyone else," he says.

Azgar, a polio attack victim, says he has the support of his friends and well-wishers who have volunteered to help him during campaigning. A section of people from the ward have also promised to cast their votes in his favour, says the 35-year-old social worker.

"The ward people have chosen an independent candidate twice and this time I am seeking their support as an independent," says Azgar, who has been promising voters that he would step down if he fails to meet their expectations.

Jagadish, another physically challenged person, says they have been campaigning on a tricycle for Azgar from dawn to dusk. "I am from a different ward but I want Azgar to win. Like me, people from Hunsur, Krishna Raja Nagar and Periyapatna have voluntarily joined the campaign," he adds.

State Physically Challenged Association convenor Prabhuswamy, who is Azgar's strength, says: "It's a beginning and in the coming days we will decide to contest assembly and council polls." According to him, physically challenged people are a deprived class in society.

Azgar claims he was demoralized by district leaders when he announced his candidature, but regained courage by the support he received. He is campaigning for nearly 10 hours a day on his tricycle along with his friends. According to him, of the total 7,000 plus voters in the ward, about 200 are physically challenged.

Source : TOI , Mysore ( 5th march 2013 ) 

Job fair for differently-abled draws enthusiastic response: Bhubaneshwar

As many as 1,000 differently-abled persons participated in the first of its kind job fair in the state, organized by Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped (VRCH) here on Monday. A large number of institutes and employers from various sectors came forward with opportunities for people with disabilities.

"The event got a huge response. We are first scrutinizing the applications on the basis of educational qualifications and skills. The applicants will appear for interviews by different companies as per their vacancy and requirement on Tuesday. Each person is getting an offer of at least two jobs," said VRCH rehabs assistant director Ram Kishore Sharma.

People below 35 years of age with locomotor and hearing impairment, with a minimum qualification of matriculation, participated in the fair. "Employment opportunities for the disabled are extremely limited. However, through this fair, I hope that my brother would be able to find a job that would enable him to become independent and self-sufficient," said Sonali Mohanta from Keonjhar district, who accompanied her 24-year-old hearing and speech-impaired brother Ramesh.

Polio-affected Kalia Dakua, a commerce graduate with knowledge of software tally, from Ganjam district was quite hopeful of getting a job in the fair. "I came to know about the fair from an NGO working in our area. It is a great opportunity to get jobs. I can do back office assistance work and office accounting and am quite hopeful that I will get through the interviews," he said.

Organizations that participated in the fair seemed equally enthusiastic about the effort and said the disabled were the most stable employees in any organization, who are often found to possess 'scalable skills' that could be accentuated through proper training. "The mindset of companies towards people with disabilities has been changing, which is evident in the fair. Persons with disabilities are stable, efficient and more loyal," said Jitendra Agrawal, CEO of Sarthak Education Trust, a non-government organization and co-organizer of the fair.

"We are looking to recruit as many people as we can, mainly freshers, for our retail outlets. We have received several resumes and we would shortlist them on the basis of an interview," said P K Swain, HR manager of a retail company.

"We are planning to organize more such fairs in the future for people with other kinds of disabilities," Sharma said.

As per the 2001 census, Odisha has about 10.22 lakh persons with disabilities. The 2011 census has not yet disclosed the number of disabled persons in the state.



Source : TOI , Bhubaneshwar ( 5th march 2013 ) 

Dharmapuri govt hospital docs go on flash strike

Doctors at the government medical college hospital here went on a flash strike on Monday after three differently-abled people allegedly attacked a chief doctor in the orthopaedic department for refusing to attest an application to avail railway pass under the differently-abled category.

S Tamil Selvi, a differently-abled person and LICagent residing at Golden Nagar in Dharmapuri town, approached Dr K Sakthivel at the Dharmapuri GH to attest his application for a railway pass under the differently-abled category. However, the doctor refused to attest her application. Instead, he asked her to approach the district welfare department for the differently-abled.

Consequently, along with Tamil Nadu All Types of Differently-Abled Association (TATDAA) state vice president KR Chakravarthy and its district executive president P Saravanan, Tamil Selvi went to meet with chief doctor P Sridhar. The trio was waiting for him outside the classroom where he was lecturing students.

"The doctor was taking class and we were waiting outside the classroom. Suddenly, he came outside and told us not to wait in the corridor. He was very rude and refused to listen to what we had to say. He gathered his belongings from the classroom and proceeded to walk away when we blocked his way. He pushed Chakravarthy, who also suffers a disability, and left," Saravanan said.

Dr Sridhar informed the other doctors, including district president of Tamil Nadu government hospital doctor's association Dr N Govindaraju, about the incident. The doctors immediately went on a flash strike, telling a completely different story than what had actually happened.

"Tamil Selvi did not have the required documents for the railway pass, when she approached Dr Sakthivel. He had clearly explained why her application could not be attested. Instead of bringing the necessary documents, she brought two other persons and tried to force the doctor to attest her application. That's why Dr Sakthivel had directed them to get proper authorisation from Dr Sridhar," said Dr Govindaraju. Moreover, the trio intercepted Dr Sridhar when he had an emergency to deal with.

Doctors submitted a petition to Residential Medical Officer M Elangovan demanding action against the differently-abled persons who allegedly attacked Dr Sridhar. The RMO lodged a complaint with Dharmapuri town police. "We have registered a case against Saravanan and Chakravarthy," police said.

Saravanan refuted the doctor's charge. "We didn't attack Dr. Sridhar. His complaint is purely false. We will hold a protest against doctors in Dharmapuri on Tuesday," he said.


Source : TOI , Coimbataore , Dharmapuri ( 5th March 2013 ) 

Rehab centre at GMCH boon for differently-abled : guwhati

Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Guwahati, which is housed on the Composite Regional Centre (CRC) campus, has taken the initiative to run a rehabilitation centre at Gauhati Medical College and hospital (GMCH).

GMCH continues to function without a rehabilitation centre, over a decade after it was closed down because of lack of funds and manpower.

ALIMCO has also appointed a deputy director for organizing camps in order to identify persons with disabilities and provide them with limbs free of cost. Nearly around 1000 patients come to GMCH yearly for limb and other requirements, Tulsi Bhattacharjee, the head of the department of orthopedics at GMCH, said.

A two-day disabled identification camp was organized by ALIMCO, Guwahati, recently. A total of 168 patients attended the first day of the camp.

The officer-in-charge of ALIMCO, Guwahati, R C Sahoo, said, "The Centre has provided Rs 16 lakh for this purpose. Under this project, we will provide tricycles to 31 beneficiaries, 33 wheelchairs, 98 hearing aid digital, auxiliary crutches to 44 patients and four walking sticks to the blind."

The doctors at GMCH said there was an urgent need for a good rehab centre that can provide artificial limbs to needy differently-abled people of the state.

"There was a GMCH rehabilitation centre, but it stopped functioning from the late 90s due to paucity of funds and lack of trained staff. Since the centre closed, we refer patients with disabilities to CRC of the government, which is attached to GMCH. The centre attends to patients with all kinds of disabilities," Bhattacharjee said.

He said, "The state is lagging behind as far as limb replacement is concerned. This is because of lack of initiative taken by the state government. When there was a rehabilitation centre at GMCH, we did not have a workshop to manufacture limbs and we used to bring them from Kanpur whenever required. This involved a lot of investment and after a while the government failed to bear the expenses. Moreover, the employees at the centre were not properly trained."

He, however, added that the CRC, equipped with all the facilities, has been of a great help in providing rehabilitation to physically challenged persons.


Source : TOI , Guwahati ( 5th march 2013 )

5 differently-abled students appear in JAC boards : Ranchi

The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) is seeing only five differently abled students of different categories including visually impaired, deaf and dumb and orthopaedic appearing for this year’s board examination from the capital city.

At Marwari Girls’ High School in Ranchi’s Upper Bazaar, 15-year-olds Ram Oraon, Manju Ekka and Lalita Kumari were seen assertively attempting the commerce paper of the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC)-conducted matriculation examination.

“According to the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act 1995, suitable modification in the examination system to eliminate purely mathematical questions for the benefit of blind students and students with low vision; restructuring of curriculum for the benefit of children with disabilities and hearing impairment to facilitate them to take only one language as part of their curriculum is done,” said former state disability commissioner Satish Chandra. He further added so that these children are at ease while writing their papers.

Apart from writers, the administration has also allowed 30 extra minutes to each special examinee to answer their papers. District Education Officer (DEO) Mahip Kumar Singh said, “Till know we have only received five applications in which the student requires a writer to give examinations. And according to that we have provided facilities to them.”

Whereas JAC has asked the DEO’s of every district to make arrangements for such special students in the 24 districts of Jharkhand. Joint Secretary, JAC A.K Jha said, “There are 4-5 students who are differently abed in every district of Jharkhand.

All the on duty District Education Officers are managing and providing the amenities which are requisite and obligatory for such special students.”

Source : The Pioneer ( 27th feb 2013 ) 

Differently-abled man to undertake swimathon : Mumbai

A differently-abled man from the Worli slum in Mumbai will make an unprecedented attempt to swim the 21-km stretch in the Arabian Sea from the Gateway of India to Rewas in mainland Raigad and make a return journey.

Prakash M. Nadar, 35, has been afflicted by polio in both legs and can move around only on crutches or a wheelchair will swim 42 km on March 8 as he plans a return journey back to Gateway of India, thus attempting to create a world record.

The Mumbai-Rewas-Mumbai swimathon in the Arabian Sea will be first ever attempt by any swimmer.

"It is International Women's Day so I have dedicated by record-creating attempt to my mother, M. Balasundari," Nadar told IANS in Mumbai on Tuesday.

After mentally preparing himself for the last 18 years, Nadar, encouraged by Swabhiman Sanghatana leader Nitesh Rane and Income Tax Commissioner V. Mahalingam is ready to take the plunge on Friday noon for the 15-hour effort, depending on the weather and water conditions.

"I shall enter the waters at Gateway of India, swim to Rewas on the mainland at Raigad and without a halt, return to the starting point, as per the rules. The swim is going to be extremely difficult as I shall be battling two different types of tidal currents all along," Nadar explained.

Born and living in the Madraswadi slum at Motilal Nagar in Worli, Nadar took his first swimming lessons over 20 years ago in the grimy, stinking gutter waters flowing into the Arabian Sea nearby.

"That area had claimed many lives, but that was the only place I could 'afford' to learn swimming free of cost," smiled the school dropout, and pointed to his swimming and other sports medals with an impressive tally of 81 golds, 29 silvers and 27 bronzes from all over India.

Seeing him perform at a local swimming event, a senior police official, Balasaheb Gadge (now an assistant commissioner of police) noticed the spark in Nadar.

"He made great efforts to get me trained at the professionally-run swimming pool in the police camp, Worli," Nadar, who has donated blood 66 times, said gratefully.

His first inspiration for swimming came from the legendary Mumbaikar, Rajaram Ghag, who became the second differently-abled person in the world to swim the dangerous English Channel several years ago.

Besides his family comprising wife Satya, son Hariharan, 6, and daughter Varshini, 4, Nadar will be cheered for his attempt by scores of Worli slum-dwellers, Swabhiman Sanghatana activists and differently-abled sportspersons.

Nadar laments the "near total absence" of encouragement for any sports barring cricket in the country, which makes it difficult for them to excel.

"A small gesture by ACP Gadge helped me hone my swimming skills and enabled me win gold medals in national events. Why cannot the authorities encourage other sports equally? There are 2.20 crore differently-abled people, men and women, in India as per 2011 Census, but where are the opportunities?" he asked.

He said that the differently-abled people in our country can do wonders with a little support instead of mere lip sympathy, and understanding by the officialdom and the general people at large.

On his part, Nadar has taken the first step by employing four differently-abled people at his small stall, aptly named 'Swabhiman Communication Centre,' outside Mumbai's Regional Passport Office to support his family.


Source : ND TV ( 5th march 2013 ) 

Differently-abled contests polls : Mysore , Karnataka

Ajgar Pasha, a physically-challenged man is on a mission. He wants to bring in a change in the lives of differently-abled by being part of active politics.

When no political party showed interest in him, Pasha(35) decided to take on the major political parties in the poll fray by filing nomination papers as an independent candidate from NR Mohalla, ward no 49.  A group of disabled people accompany him during his door-to-door campaign on tri-wheelers. 

Pasha suffers from polio  and has studied till II PU.  His  symbol is television. On Monday, he said despite the state having 18 lakh differently-abled people, which include 44,000 in Mysore district and 8,000 in Mysore city, political parties did not show any interest to solve their issues.

“Even the JD(S), which promised seats for them, did not keep its promise. The corporators failed to utilise the `3.50 crore earmarked for the differently-abled which is three per cent of the total funds.  The MLAs, who had to spend `10 lakh for the disabled from the local area development fund, never exhibited their commitment,” he said. Pasha, who is earning his livelihood with a petty shop, is the fourth of the six children of his family.  “Political parties approached me to take back my nomination papers but I stuck to my stand.” 

Source : new indian express , Karnataka  (5 th march 2013 ) 

Handicap man to undertake swimathon : Mumbai

A physically handicapped man from the Worli slum here will make an unprecedented attempt to swim the 21-km stretch in the Arabian Sea from the Gateway of India to Rewas in mainland Raigad and make a return journey.

Prakash M. Nadar, 35, has been afflicted by polio in both legs and can move around only on crutches or a wheelchair will swim 42 km March 8 as he plans a return journey back to Gateway of India, thus attempting to create a world record.

The Mumbai-Rewas-Mumbai swimathon in the Arabian Sea will be first ever attempt by any swimmer.

“It is International Women’s Day so I have dedicated by record-creating attempt to my mother, M. Balasundari,” Nadar told IANS here Tuesday.

After mentally preparing himself for the last 18 years, Nadar, encouraged by Swabhiman Sanghatana leader Nitesh Rane and Income Tax Commissioner V. Mahalingam is ready to take the plunge here Friday noon for the 15-hour effort, depending on the weather and water conditions.

“I shall enter the waters at Gateway of India, swim to Rewas on the mainland at Raigad and without a halt, return to the starting point, as per the rules. The swim is going to be extremely difficult as I shall be battling two different types of tidal currents all along,” Nadar explained.

Born and living in the Madraswadi slum at Motilal Nagar in Worli, Nadar took his first swimming lessons over 20 years ago in the grimy, stinking gutter waters flowing into the Arabian Sea nearby.

“That area had claimed many lives, but that was the only place I could ‘afford’ to learn swimming free of cost,” smiled the school dropout, and pointed to his swimming and other sports medals with an impressive tally of 81 golds, 29 silvers and 27 bronzes from all over India.

Seeing him perform at a local swimming event, a senior police official, Balasaheb Gadge (now an assistant commissioner of police) noticed the spark in Nadar.

“He made great efforts to get me trained at the professionally-run swimming pool in the police camp, Worli,” Nadar, who has donated blood 66 times, said gratefully.

His first inspiration for swimming came from the legendary Mumbaikar, Rajaram Ghag, who became the second handicapped person in the world to swim the dangerous English Channel several years ago.

Besides his family comprising wife Satya, son Hariharan,6, and daughter Varshini,4, Nadar will be cheered for his attempt by scores of Worli slum-dwellers, Swabhiman Sanghatana activists and handicapped sportspersons.

Nadar laments the “near total absence” of encouragement for any sports barring cricket in the country, which makes it difficult for them to excel.

“A small gesture by ACP Gadge helped me hone my swimming skills and enabled me win gold medals in national events. Why cannot the authorities encourage other sports equally? There are 2.20 crore physically handicapped people, men and women, in India as per 2011 Census, but where are the opportunities?” he asked.

He said that the handicapped in our country can do wonders with a little support instead of mere lip sympathy, and understanding by the officialdom and the general people at large. “They can start with ordinary things, like making all public toilets in the city handicapped-friendly,” he said.

On his part, Nadar has taken the first step by employing four physically-challenged people at his small stall, aptly named ‘Swabhiman Communication Centre,’ outside Mumbai’s Regional Passport Office to support his family.

Source : vancouver desi ( 5th March 2013 )  

Five physically challenged received motorbikes : Chennai

At a special meeting held for the alternatively-abled persons in Thanjavur Collectorate, the District Collector K.Baskaran distributed motorbikes to five alternatively-abled persons.

The Collector on Thursday visited Kumbakonam and inspected that a multi-purpose auditorium being constructed at a cost of rs 64Lakhs. 

Source : Live Chennai ( 28th feb 2013 )

311 key posts in mental hospitals not filled : Pune

Several posts of mental health professionals are vacant at the four regional mental hospitals in the state, says the latest report of the state health department.

The shortage of psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists and other skilled staff is hampering patient care. This at a time when a significant proportion of state's population has recognisable mental disorders in the form of depression, anxiety, somatoform disorders, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, alcohol and drug abuse.

"Total 311 posts, including key positions of psychiatrist, psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, medical officers, attendants etc have been vacant for over a year now," said a state health official. A recent report of the state health department says there are total 2,195 sanctioned posts for all the four state-run regional hospitals. Of them, only 1,884 posts are occupied.

"It's not just the skilled manpower that is in demand. Even the key post of a superintendent has been vacant at the regional mental hospitals at Pune and Ratnagiri," said a state official.

Vilas Bhailume, acting superintendent at regional mental hospital, Pune, also known as Yerawada mental hospital, confirmed the finding. "The post of the superintendent here has been lying vacant since April last year. Recently, the deputy superintendent's post also fell vacant. Now, I hold the additional charge of both these posts." Besides, posts of clinical psychologists, positions of class I psychiatrist, administrative officer, medical record officer, metron, assistant metron are also vacant at the regional mental hospital in Pune.

"Total 12 out of the 32 posts of psychiatric nurses, two of occupational therapists and six of the 120 posts of staff nurses and the two posts of supervisors are vacant," Bhailume said. Besides, positions of senior and junior clerks, four posts of incharge attendants, cooks, barbers and drivers are also unoccupied.

With so many positions unoccupied, the management at the hospital in Pune has turned out to be quite a task. An official said, "We have to manage. What else one can do? Since our staff nurses have been treating patients with all sorts of mental illness for years, they double up as psychiatric nurses. Similarly, other jobs are taken care of with whatever resources we have. This has burdened the existing staff and hampered their performance in their areas of expertise."

Rajendra Shirsath, deputy superintendent at regional mental hospital in Ratnagiri, said, "The post of superintendent here has been unoccupied since 2005-06. Currently, I have been given the additional charge. Besides, posts of clinical psychologist and matron have not been filled. We also need a dietician. A nurse is assigned the work of taking care of patients' diet. We have to manage things and see that overall quality of work is satisfactory, to say the least. But since everyone has two or three additional charges, an individual's area of expertise definitely suffers."

The regional mental hospital in Nagpur, which has a bed strength of 940, has 71 posts vacant. "Most of the posts that are not filled pertains to staff nurses and class IV employees," said Abhay Gajbhiye, superintendent of regional mental hospital, Nagpur.

A state health official said, "Earlier, the director of state public health department had the powers to recruit all the staff needed at regional mental health hospital. Recently, certain powers have been delegated to deputy director. As officials are overburdened even at directorate level, certain issues like recruitment that requires a few permissions from higher level get sidelined."

State health minister Suresh Shetty said, "We have initiated the process to recruit people. All posts will soon be filled. Besides, the state government has decided to strengthen mental health services across the state. We have already shortlised areas that need more attention." 


Source : TOI , Pune ( 4th March 2013 )

Mainstreaming the rights of people with disabilities in ministries in occupied Palestinian territory

Seminars on mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities were held in Ramallah for government officials of occupied Palestinian territory and UN agencies from 18 to 19 February 2013. A WHO expert Chapal Khasnabis conducted the seminars, sponsored by WHO in the occupied Palestinian territory and Diakonia/NAD (Norwegian Association of the Disabled).


The rights of people with physical disabilities has received strong endorsement from the Palestinian Prime Minister who addressed the 50 participants from various ministries and disability groups.

  

Mainstreaming the rights of people with disabilities represents an investment in human capital

WHO Representative for occupied Palestinian territory Tony Laurance, Diakonia/NAD Director Cecilia Angelid and the Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs, Majida Masri, also spoke about the importance of changing attitudes as well as policies and recognizing services for disabled persons as a right rather than charity. The seminar was facilitated by a WHO-Geneva expert Chapal Khasnabis, a specialist in community-based rehabilitation, as part of the WHO oPt Right to Health Advocacy project.


The second day’s seminar focused on mainstreaming within UN agencies. Representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Special Coordinator Office for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNICEF and WHO participated in the discussion on how to initiate practical steps to mainstream disability within their agencies, as well as within their counterpart line ministries, focusing on employment policies, access and programme beneficiaries.


Two Palestinians with disabilities Shatha Abu Srour and Bashar Naser gave testimonials about how their lives were affected by the lack of access to services and their expectations that government and UN agencies could take the lead in improving the lives of people with physical disabilities in occupied Palestinian territory.
Khasnabis pointed out that mainstreaming disability represented an investment in human capital rather than a drain on resources, but that the biggest challenge is to change attitudes. He posed the question: “Do you have an inclusive heart, or do your current practices exclude people of diversity, such as people with disabilities? A community-based approach makes the best use of existing resources and includes persons with disability in programme design and development, monitoring and evaluation, so that they are not invisible.”


The prevalence rate of disability depends on whether one measures within a narrow or wide definition, and ranges in occupied Palestinian territory from 2.7% (114 000 persons) to 7% (300 000 persons), according to a survey carried out by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2011.


Source : WHO  EMRO ,  Ramallah , ( 21st Feb 2013 )