Issue 3 June 2011
Insight Plus Perspectives on social inclusion ©Peter Di Campo/Sightsavers ©Peter www.sightsavers.org
Contents
Foreword 2 Diane Mulligan
Social inclusion: a way forward 4 Praveen Kumar and Prasannakumar PN
Making elections accessible to disabled people in Cameroon 8 Cyrille Evini
Working with partners in Bangladesh: social inclusion and inclusive education 11 Zakia Haque and Nusrat Zerin
Inclusive community development for community-based rehabilitation 15 Niaz Ullah Khan and Munazza Gillani
First ever careers fair for people with disabilities in Ghana 18 Joyce Ashun
A study of the role of networking in promoting social inclusion in Bangladesh 21 Gertrude Fefoame, Zakia Haque, Diane Mulligan and Susie Miles
Empowering disabled people through employment opportunities in Ampara, Sri Lanka 25 Dr Sunil Fernando and Padmasiri Bandara
Inside Sightsavers Uganda since the launch of the CBR Guidelines 29 Julie Nabukeera
Project Access: an advocacy initiative in India 31 Dr Rajesh Kapse
Promoting social inclusion through accessible water and sanitation services 34 Munazza Gillani, Muhammad Bilal and Niaz Ullah Khan
Learning summary 37 Taitos Matafeni
Front cover photo: Musu Konneh selling items from her stall, Sierra Leone
www.sightsavers.org
From the editor Claire Stevens, Learning Support Officer
Welcome to the third issue of Insight Plus, Sightsavers’ bi-annual learning review.
Working with partners across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, Sightsavers’ aim is to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. This series collates learning and best practice from across our programmes, with each issue focusing on a different thematic area. In this issue, we look at social inclusion and how working together with disabled people, their families Sightsavers and local communities can break down barriers and Grosvenor Hall ensure that disabled people are able to participate fully Bolnore Road in society, receive an education, gain employment and Haywards Heath be part of local decision-making processes. West Sussex Featured case studies include joint efforts towards an RH16 4BX accessible electoral process in Cameroon, new ways UK of working towards social inclusion in Uganda, and Tel: +44 (0) 1444 446600 Fax: +44 (0) 1444 446688 campaigning for accessible banking systems in India. www.sightsavers.org We also learn more about a recent research study into the role of networking in promoting social inclusion in Copyright Bangladesh. Any Insight Plus material may be I hope you find Insight Plus useful, and welcome your freely reproduced, provided that comments and suggestions. Please send your feedback acknowledgement is given to to [email protected] Sightsavers as the author.
ISSN 2044-4338
Page 1 Foreword Diane Mulligan, Programme Development Advisor
When I joined Sightsavers four years ago, most of our social inclusion work was delivered with partner organisations through limited community-based rehabilitation and education for blind and low vision children. Since then, the organisation has embraced a new strategic plan that places inclusive education, empowerment of disabled people and community development as three out of four ‘change themes’ to guide our programme work. In addition, the UN disability convention has been ratified by over 100 countries, the WHO/ILO/UNESCO/IDDC community-based rehabilitation guidelines were finally launched in 2010, the MDG outcome document from the 2010 review recommended the collection and disaggregation of data along disability lines, and the WHO World Disability Report was ©/Sightsavers released in June 2011. Diane Mulligan meets Denisia Each of these milestones has provided an ever expanding international framework that contextualises Sightsavers’ social inclusion work and allows our ‘change themes’ to be linked to the wider global inclusive development agenda. This agenda promotes a ‘twin track approach’ to disability that seeks to both deliver disability-specific projects and programmes, as well as to ‘mainstream’ disability among general development stakeholders. But enough of the macro-level, big picture stuff; here is a micro-level view of a recent visit to Malawi where I met an inspiring woman who shows us what can be achieved in one of the poorest countries we work in.
Page 2 www.sightsavers.org Denisia’s story Denisia is 41 and lives in the Deza district and also received counselling. Currently, of Malawi. When she was a year old, she she is accompanied on visits to the hospital contracted measles and became blind. by her sister, so that she is clear about the Denisia attended her local mainstream primary administration regime of her drugs. Her advice school, accessing Braille books at a local to other blind people to prevent becoming resource centre. She was an excellent student HIV positive is to try and abstain from sexual and received a scholarship to a prestigious relations or, if this is not possible, to use secondary school, but became pregnant and condoms, which are free at hospitals or can be could not continue with her education. bought at local shops. In 1993, Denisia lost her parents. She got Denisia belongs to a support group for married the following year, aged 24 and had people living positively called ‘Unity’. It is an three further children, two of whom died. I anonymous group that meets locally. There are met her eldest boy, who had returned from about 200 members, both men and women, Lilongwe, the capital, where he had been but she is the only blind person. Denisia also working in a house for three months, but did belongs to another support group; the Malawi not like the work so had come back to the Union of the Blind (MUB), which she joined in village. I also met her other son, who is at 2003 when they began to establish branches primary school. outside of the capital city. MUB is one of Sightsavers’ partners in Malawi and has helped Denisia’s husband was a traditional healer. Denisia to live more independently and to gain He travelled widely and Denisia explained daily living skills, although she does not use a that she could not always keep track of his white cane. In 2006, Denisia became a peer whereabouts. In 2007, both Denisia and her educator for MUB, assisting other blind people husband tested positive for HIV. Denisia’s to become more independent and teaching husband left her and his children because of them how to avoid contracting HIV. her positive result. In 2009, Denisia started free anti-retroviral treatment at the nearby hospital A typical day for Denisia involves housework, getting her child ready for school, selling goods and shopping in the market. Denisia’s income comes from a home-based small business where she sells sugar, paraffin and salt. She attended a training workshop with MUB and instead of using the daily allowance provided for an evening meal, she saved it to use as capital to start her business. Denisia has a savings account, which she acquired from a previous joint account with her husband. When I visited Denisia, she was helping to settle her baby niece who was crying. Denisia lives in a very poor rural area, she is blind and she is HIV positive. But despite her
©/Sightsavers challenging situation, Denisia is a very dynamic, enthusiastic and motivated individual. Denisia with her family
Page 3 Social inclusion: a way forward Praveen Kumar, Senior Programme Officer, North East India Prasannakumar PN, Area Director, North East India
Introduction thereby reducing marginalisation. There was also a strong preventive element to Everyone has the right to health, education, a these programmes. Over the last 25 years, livelihood and a life lived with dignity. However, Sightsavers’ approach to CBR has evolved the needs of disabled people have traditionally from services delivered to the individual to been treated as special and separate and this one that is participative and inclusive. One of has kept them outside mainstream society. the key components of Sightsavers’ current People with disabilities, especially those who strategy is the social inclusion of disabled are blind or have low vision, can easily become people. During the last decade the external isolated from their communities. They often find environment has also seen some changes, it harder to attend school, to find employment, such as the Millennium Development Goals to be part of day-to-day community activities (MDGs), the United Nations Convention on and to exercise their social, economic, cultural, Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) civil and political rights. and the WHO CBR Guidelines and Matrix. Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) Within this framework, this article aims to was initiated in 1978 by the World Health describe the transition plan of Sightsavers’ Organization (WHO) as a strategy to address social inclusion programmes in North East some of these issues through general India, especially in the State of Orissa, and community development for the rehabilitation, how they are being aligned with organisational equalisation and social inclusion of all people strategy and other international commitments. with disabilities. Over the last 30 years, CBR has evolved into a multi-sectoral strategy to address the broader needs of disabled people, Programme design ensuring their participation and inclusion in Sightsavers CBR projects in North East India society and enhancing the quality of their lives. were previously designed as stand alone Sightsavers was one of the first organisations interventions for an individual’s rehabilitation, to adopt CBR as an organisational strategy and with a bias towards the provision of eye care programmes in India have been developed as a preventive and curative measure. Based using this approach since 1983. Initially, on the changing scenario internationally, as projects focused on service delivery, aiming well as within Sightsavers, all projects are to equip blind people with skills to help them being redesigned considering the WHO CBR to lead more fulfilling and independent lives, Guidelines and Matrix and the PRSP (Poverty
Inclusive health
Inclusive Inclusive Inclusive Society education development society for all
Inclusive livelihood
Page 4 www.sightsavers.org Strategies
3 tier strategy
Community level NGO/district level State level
PRI CBO DPO VDC DDRC IPP Staff SDF INGO VRC
SHG SHAG C Club NGOs DPOs DSW WCD OPEPA
Model village Projects IEC
Reduction Strategy Papers) approach, with disability resource centre (where available) and scalability in mind. In the new approach, CBR district social welfare department to ensure has been identified as primarily a community- appropriate rehabilitation facilities and assistive based process for the individual development devices are available to disabled people, of disabled people and is therefore an wherever appropriate. essential part of poverty reduction strategies to The implementing organisation and its project act as a vehicle for mainstreaming disability. team sensitise other non-governmental Inclusive development is integral to the organisations (NGOs) in the district on promotion and protection of human rights inclusive programme planning and including of disabled people. Aligning the programme disabled people in their programmes at all with the CBR Matrix, the overall strategy is to levels. In addition to this, the projects also ensure provision of inclusive health, education include disabled people as team members and livelihood opportunities for disabled wherever appropriate. The implementing people, leading to inclusive development and organisation also promotes a district level DPO an inclusive society, as depicted in the diagram which works closely with the CBR project. below left. State level To ensure inclusive development for disabled people, a three tier strategy has been adopted At the state level, it is planned to work closely in the programme, especially in its CBR with state level disability fora and other approach. international NGOs working in the disability sector, whenever and wherever appropriate. Community Level Sightsavers and its partners will also work In addition to working with individual visually closely with various government departments impaired people, and other disabled people, such as the disability commissioner, the at the community level, the projects sensitise vocational rehabilitation centre and the state and train Panchayati Raj Institutions (local education department. In addition to the administrative bodies), community-based above, Sightsavers will develop appropriate organisations and other local groups such information, education and communication as village development committees, self-help (IEC) materials in the local language for each groups and disabled people’s organisations state. (DPOs), adopting a twin-track approach. This Empowerment processes at all levels will be enhances their awareness levels, which leads key to the strategy, which includes training to acceptance and inclusion of disabled and exposure for project staff, identified DPO people at the community level. members and other stakeholders, information NGO/district level generation and flow, and facilitating legal assistance to disabled people through the At the district level, the projects are working project. closely with the government-run district
Page 5 Changes in process Ensuring UNCRPD at the grassroots level Based on the above transition plan, the following changes are currently being The CBR projects are focusing on familiarising undertaken at various levels of implementation. communities with the concept of the rights of disabled people and with the United Nations From project to programmes Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Various approaches are being As part of Sightsavers’ new strategic direction, used to promote collaboration among local all programme portfolios were reviewed. In groups and establish a common voice. North East India, standalone CBR projects in This has resulted in the inclusion of several Orissa and Jharkhand are being brought under disabled people in existing self-help groups two state level social inclusion programmes. and also in the formation of new self-help As part of this move, all aspects of the projects groups of disabled people. will be based at the district level except the rehabilitation aspect which will be in one block Aligning with the CBR Matrix (sub-district) of the district. The rehabilitation and education aspects will be the entry Moving from the older approach and aligning points, after which other components will be with the CBR Matrix was initially considered introduced at appropriate levels, with scale up a challenge. However, as the projects started in mind. interlinking the components and referring beneficiaries needing support to other Currently some of the notable changes that stakeholders who were stronger in those have been incorporated in the projects are areas, the projects slowly became aligned the adoption of a twin-track approach at all with the matrix. Moreover, adoption of a twin- appropriate levels and a gradual shift towards track approach, thereby strengthening the promoting CBR as a poverty reduction strategy. opportunities for better health, education and livelihoods, has been empowering for disabled Adoption of a twin-track approach people. A twin-track approach encompasses a) While maintaining our existing focus on disability specific programmes and b) the rehabilitation and livelihoods, the new mainstreaming of disability in all activities. approach has increased focus on the This approach means that Sightsavers will education and empowerment components of work to ensure that a disability perspective the matrix. is included in all its projects across the area. At the same time, Sightsavers will support, Poverty reduction where appropriate, initiatives aimed directly at Disability is both a cause and consequence the empowerment of people with disabilities. of poverty (DFID, 20001) and poor people Adopting a twin-track approach is being themselves describe people with disabilities as encouraged in the projects in order to reduce among the most excluded or ‘poorest of the stigma and combat exclusion. poor’ (Narayan and Petesch, 20022). Because of this well established link between disability and poverty, the Millennium Development Health Education Goals cannot be achieved without including people with disabilities. The link between poverty and disability is an example of discrimination, social exclusion and denial of rights, together with a lack of access to Livelihood Social basic services. It is not confined to a person’s impairment itself and hence Sightsavers North East India has been adopting a broader disability perspective in almost all its initiatives. The projects ensure that disabled people Empowerment benefit through the national flagship programme of NREGS (National Rural 1 DFID (2000) Disability, Poverty and Development. Department for International Development: London. 2 Narayan, D. and Petesch, P. (2002), Voices of the Poor: From Many Lands: World Bank. 3 Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) http://www.nlm.nic.in/jss.htm
Page 6 www.sightsavers.org Employment Guarantee Scheme) and NRHM Challenges and learning (National Rural Health Mission), ensuring they are part of wider development programmes. v The process of changing the direction of A skills development programme is also being our social inclusion was challenging and provided in collaboration with Jan Shikshan we met several hurdles, such as feeling lost Sansthan3. A Government of India scheme, and the fear of not being able to align our this offers vocational skills and technical programmes with the organisational vision knowledge to poor people at a very low cost, and strategy. Clearer guidelines on this ensuring that beneficiaries receive training in would have been helpful. their preferred trade. v It was also challenging for the team to Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) synchronise the timeline of several projects, the strategy plan period and commitments Being poor means being voiceless! Working made to partners. The team is still working with DPOs is our approach to enabling on smoother ways to move from projects to disabled people to have a voice of their own, programmes. an important step in reducing their poverty. v Within the team and across our partner All CBR projects in Orissa have promoted organisations, we saw varied levels of district level DPOs and are in the process understanding in relation to the new of strengthening them at the project level. direction and approaches. Appropriate In addition, Sightsavers is planning a DPO interventions were required to improve strengthening project with specific focus people’s understanding and ensure that we on building DPO capacity for advocacy and were all on the same page. leadership. Accessibility CBO: Community-based Organisation C Club: Children’s Club An accessibility study of Sightsavers office in Kolkata and four hospital partners is planned DDRC: District Disability Resource Centre during 2011, with the aim of enhancing DPO: Disabled People’s Organisation disabled people’s access to better eye health. DSW: Department of Social Welfare In a period of two years, it is planned to IEC: Information Education Communication enhance the accessibility at all Sightsavers- supported hospitals in the area. Based on INGO: International Non Governmental this experience, Sightsavers will advocate Organisation with the state governments for enhancing the IPP: Inclusive Project Planning accessibility of public hospitals in the state. JSS: Jan Shikshan Sansthan (http://www.nlm. nic.in/jss.htm) NGO: Non Governmental Organisation Advocacy agenda OPEPA: Orissa Primary Education Programme For the smooth realisation of the above plans, Authority (www.opepa.in,) it is necessary to have appropriate systems PRI: Panchayati Raj Institution (local and policies. Advocacy plays a key role in administrative body) ensuring that these elements are in place. SDF: State Disability Forum The following are key advocacy issues that SHAG: Self Help Advocacy Group Sightsavers North East India plans to take up during the next five years, from 2011 to 2014: SHG: Self Help Group SSA: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education For All) v State governments to revisit State Disability www.ssa.nic.in Policy based on new laws on disability. VDC: Village Development Committee v Accessible health care for disabled people at government hospitals. VRC: Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, a Government of India initiative (www.dget.gov.in/ v Smoothing the process of disability vrc) certification and other entitlements for WCD: Women and Child Development disabled people in Orissa and Jharkhand. Department (the Stage Government disability v Scale up of CBR initiatives by other programme is managed under this department stakeholders. in many states)
Page 7 Making elections accessible to disabled people in Cameroon Cyrille Evini, Programme Manager, Cameroon ©Sightsavers
ELECAM display board
Background elections in the 2011 presidential elections. Cameroon has been independent since the 1st of January 1960 and the constitution and How did it all start? laws of the country have always endorsed the rights of all citizens to participate in electoral Sightsavers Cameroon country office was processes. However, no specific steps have inspired by experiences in Sierra Leone, been taken to ensure that disabled people Liberia and Ghana, where Sightsavers had are able to participate in the electoral process previously supported the introduction of on an equal basis and, as a result, their accessible elections. In mid-2010, Sightsavers participation has been at best marginal and Cameroon carried out informal consultations often lacking in dignity. In effect, no reasonable with local stakeholders including disabled adjustments have ever been made to ensure people’s organisations (DPOs) and blind that disabled people take part in elections people’s organisations (BPOs), United equally and in significant numbers. In a bid Nations regional agencies and the National to address this, and in collaboration with Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms. other stakeholders, Sightsavers Cameroon The initiative was unanimously backed and engaged the national electoral body, Elections a letter was written to ELECAM to request Cameroon (ELECAM), to pilot accessible discussions about this issue. On 22 October
Page 8 www.sightsavers.org 2010, Sightsavers led a group of stakeholders key learning. At the end of the entire process, including the United Nations’ Centre for it is expected that all stakeholders will attend Human Rights and Democracy in Central a workshop to document best practices, so as Africa, the United Nations Development to trigger scaling up of the project during the Programme Special Programme for Elections, next elections. the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms, the Executive Director of the national umbrella disabled people’s How far have we gone? organisation (UNAPHAC) and the national president of the national blind union (ANAC). Since the first meeting with ELECAM on 22 This group met with the national president October 2010 a lot has been achieved. A of ELECAM to explore the possibility of sub-regional training and advocacy workshop establishing a partnership between ELECAM was held to sensitise decision makers on the and the Sightsavers-led group, with the aim of United Nations Convention on the Rights of making the electoral process more inclusive. Persons with Disabilities and the need for Following this meeting, ELECAM appointed inclusion in all aspects of life. Sensitisation a focal person to work with Sightsavers and workshops and training on the rights of other stakeholders to explore strategies aimed disabled people were also held for Members at facilitating the inclusion of disabled people of Parliament and for journalists. in the electoral process. A planning workshop was held on the effective participation of people with disabilities in the Cameroon electoral process and, from this, a What does the project entail? plan of action was developed. In implementing the activities included in the action plan, the The project has four objectives: following achievements have been seen to 1. Mobilisation to ensure mass registration of date: disabled people in voting lists v ELECAM has included a disability field To achieve this objective, a number of in the computer programme used communication/sensitisation activities will to register voters. This allows for the take place, targeting decision makers, political disaggregation of data by disability status leaders, DPOs, people with disabilities and and impairment type. the general public. Also included are training v ELECAM has developed a display board workshops to equip stakeholders with the skills featuring disabled people participating and knowledge to understand the different in the electoral process alongside non ways of making elections accessible to disabled people disabled people. v Regional and sub-regional 2. Making 15 pilot polling stations accessible representatives of ELECAM have been to disabled people instructed to actively engage DPOs This objective focuses on making polling and their members in all aspects of the stations physically accessible to disabled electoral process. people and also producing tactile ballot papers v Sensitisation and awareness raising for visually impaired people. campaigns through TV, radio and written 3. Ensuring effective participation of disabled media by DPOs and ELECAM, calling for people in the election, both as voters and disabled people’s participation in the observers electoral process and increasing their This includes supporting disabled people to understanding of their basic rights as participate effectively in elections. The project citizens. will also train disabled people as election v Many disabled people have registered observers and ensure that existing observers and are hoping to vote for the first time receive training on assessing disabled people’s in their lives. They are excited to be participation in the electoral process. included in the electoral process.
4. Ensuring that the whole process is v Disabled people are making their voices documented heard through the media, including Regular meetings will be held to document radio and TV programmes. They are the process, address challenges and capture also promoting their message during occasions such as Women’s Day and
Page 9 the best available evidence to back up their advocacy efforts, and that it is important to share information and best practice with other interested parties. Another challenge was the absence of National ID Cards for over eighty percent of disabled people and, consequently, their inability to register in voting lists. There is also limited understanding of the electoral process by civil society actors and political apathy by some disabled people themselves. To address this, the project engaged partners in a number of activities related to accessible elections and the social inclusion of disabled people, with the aim of building their understanding and involvement. Networking and partnering was also a key learning from this project. Having a wide range of partners has been very beneficial as each partner brings different strengths and experience; authority, legitimacy, credibility, technical expertise, funding etc. As a country office, and given that Sightsavers is relatively new to the area of rights for disabled people, ©Sightsavers networking with well established partners Stakeholders in discussion helped to fast track the project’s impact in this area. National Youth Day, during which a group of disabled people marched with a What are our next steps? banner calling for the electoral process to be made inclusive. Working towards the project objectives and
v Commitment and engagement from action plan, the project now intends to build on ELECAM and the state, as evidenced by the above achievements through the following their New Year speeches. activities: v v Advocacy/sensitisation meeting with political Developing and implementing a media party and other national opinion leaders to plan to rally more stakeholders around the encourage them to add disability to their project.
agenda. v Identifying the 15 pilot polling stations and
v Capacity building of DPOs, BPOs and other upgrading them so they are accessible to stakeholders on the legal framework around disabled people.
elections in Cameroon. v Capacity building initiatives with DPOs and BPOs, covering advocacy techniques, organisational development, resource What have been the challenges mobilisation and leadership.
and learning so far? v Training disabled people on accessible elections, and training disabled people and Firstly, there is an absence of local data on other stakeholders as election observers. the number of disabled people and their geographic distribution within the country. This v Supporting the production of tactile voting had an impact on the planning and monitoring materials. of the project. Having reliable data on disability We hope to continue the momentum of this is crucial, both for planning and for advocacy project to achieve all our objectives and also purposes. A key learning from this project is to build on the broader partnerships and that actors engaging in advocacy for the rights networks that we have joined or established as of disabled people should pro-actively seek part of the process.
Page 10 www.sightsavers.org Working with partners in Bangladesh: social inclusion and inclusive education Zakia Haque, Project Manager, Bangladesh Nusrat Zerin, Project Manager, Bangladesh © Rifat Khan/Sightsavers
Tactile teaching materials
Introduction Narshingdi district. ABC works in the field of social inclusion and inclusive education and Sightsavers Bangladesh is working with the success of the programme depends on partners and local communities to raise their participatory approach to working with awareness about the rights of people with communities and beneficiaries, as described disabilities. By involving people with disabilities below and in the featured case studies. and their communities in the planning and delivery of appropriate services, we are enhancing the development and inclusion Assistance for Blind Children of people with disabilities within their own communities. We are working in areas such Assistance for Blind Children (ABC) is a as community-based rehabilitation, inclusive non-profit organisation in Bangladesh, education of children with disabilities and the established in April 1978. Their areas of inclusive planning and delivery of eye health focus include treating and preventing eye and other services at community level. conditions and blindness, education services for visually impaired children, socio-economic Assistance for Blind Children (ABC) is one rehabilitation of blind children and adults and of our successful implementing partners in generally raising awareness of these issues.
Page 11 ABC provides eye care services through its two primary schools and during this period ABC eye clinics in Gazipur and Bogra districts. They conducted door-to-door surveys to identify contribute to the field of education for visually visually impaired children and sent teachers impaired children through establishing seven from the 10 schools for foundation training boarding schools across different districts. on inclusive education and Braille at the There are six schools for boys and one for national Centre for Disability in Development. girls, covering different grades/classes. These Work was also carried out to ensure that the schools fall under the Integrated Government classrooms and wider school environments Education Programme run by the Department were accessible for visually impaired children, of Social Services within the Government of with adaptations such as improved safety Bangladesh. railings and colour contrasting for doors, ABC has also established a Braille production windows and stairs. With the support of unit to supply Braille textbooks to their Sightsavers, the programme was extended in schools. With the help of Sightsavers, this unit 2008 to focus more on the capacity building 1 is also supporting the Government’s special of school teachers. Working in one upazila education programme and contributing to their in Narshingdi district, the project also aimed requirement for Braille textbooks. The unit to increase awareness and involvement of produces a range of Braille materials, including the local community and school authorities magazines, a calendar and recreational in planning for visually impaired children to reading materials, which are distributed to attend mainstream primary schools. Braille readers throughout the country. ABC’s experiences in rehabilitation and From 1987, with support from Sightsavers, education for visually impaired people, ABC started to implement community-based combined with financial, technical and rehabilitation activities in two sub-districts of professional support from Sightsavers, has Tangail district. Through this project, visually enabled them to move towards promoting impaired people were identified by a survey the wider social inclusion of visually impaired and were provided with initial rehabilitation people. In implementing social inclusion and services, such as orientation, mobility and daily inclusive education programmes in Narshingdi living skills. district, Sightsavers Bangladesh and ABC have made significant progress in scaling up these activities at the district level. 28 primary Expanding their work schools are included in the mainstream education programme in Raypura and Shivpur, From 2009, following Sightsavers’ new strategic two upazilas in Narshingdi district. A total framework, ABC and Sightsavers made some of 58 disabled children are covered by this changes to the design of their social inclusion programme, among them 37 who are visually and inclusive education programmes in impaired. This programme is linked to ABC’s Narshingdi district. These programmes were wider social inclusion initiatives in several expanded to look at disability issues more ways, including community referral pathways, broadly and consider how they could promote awareness raising activities and involving equal opportunities and full participation self-help group members in providing Braille of people with disabilities in mainstream and inclusive education training, creating national development initiatives. Areas of focus a sustainable community resource pool. included the formation of self-help groups The programme is also working to build the for people with disabilities, leadership and capacity of Government education officials, skills-based training for income generating mainstream teachers and teacher trainers, activities and creating links with different increasing their understanding of inclusive government safety net programmes such education. The programme is advocating that as disability allowance and microcredit from responsibility for the education of disabled banks etc. They also focused on implementing children should sit within the Ministry of mainstream education programmes and Education, and not separately within the raising awareness of disability amongst local Ministry of Social Welfare as it does currently. communities. Overall, the programme is emerging as a ABC launched a mainstream education demonstration model for social inclusion and programme for visually impaired children on a inclusive education at the community level. pilot basis from July 2006 to December 2007. The pilot was conducted with 10 government 1 An upazila is a sub-district
Page 12 www.sightsavers.org
Jahanara Akter: a renewed leaf
“I always had a desire that I won’t remain idle at home... I will work hard to become empowered” says Jahanara Akter as she tells us the story of her journey to triumph over a world that had shut its eyes to her. When Jahanara was two, she had a diarrheal disease. She recovered within two weeks, but started losing her sight. By the time she was five, her vision was lost completely. With shattered confidence and dependency on others, Jahanara could not participate fully in community life and was often made to feel unwelcome, if not shunned. She was unable to complete her daily chores without help and had no opportunities for a proper education and no employment prospects. Her life in Thanahati village in Raipura, Narshingdi, became a burden for her family. In 2005, at the age of 26, Jahanara was identified through a door-to-door survey conducted by a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) project run by ABC and Sightsavers. Jahanara received basic rehabilitation training, including orientation, mobility and daily living skills. She started learning to be independent again; doing her daily chores by herself, using her white cane to move around and slowly reintegrating into ©Shafiqul Alam Kiron/Sightsavers her community. She gradually left her isolation behind, tackling her challenges with a fresh perspective and the power of her Jahanara reading Braille new knowledge. In later months, she became a keen learner of Braille and also received training in leadership and advocacy skills. With the support of CBR field workers from ABC, Jahanara formed Raipura Protibondhi Kallyan Shomobay Shomity, a self-help group for people with disabilities. Jahanara remarks “as a disabled person, I’m not staying at home, rather I can encourage other disabled people to get involved in income generating activities.” She is chairperson of the group, which has around 20 members and which spearheads entrepreneurial activities such as making candles for the local market. Jahanara also teaches Braille to visually impaired students in her local community and is soon to be recruited as a resource teacher by a local school authority in her village. With her confidence and good communication skills, Jahanara participates in and delivers speeches at various CBR workshops and discussion meetings. She emphasises the neglect of education rights; “parents keep their disabled child at home. They don’t know that disabled children have equal rights for education.” Sharing her experiences, she encourages other people like her and other leaders in the community to take a stand. Jahanara is well known among local political leaders, government officials and local NGOs. She strives to bring neglected issues regarding disability into the mainstream and has visited the local Member of Parliament to present the concerns of local people with disabilities. A local philanthropist has also responded to Jahanara’s efforts with financial support for a candle factory for the Shomity. Jahanara is well respected by the members of her self-help group and beyond. A dynamic personality, she is also a great singer, writes poetry and plays many different musical instruments. She has recently got married to another
member of her group, taking the plunge to yet another ©Shafiqul Alam Kiron/Sightsavers happy adventure. Jahanara facilitating a community awareness meeting
Page 13 Shakil Mia: a new hope for life Md. Shakil Mia is eight years old and lives with his parents and two brothers in Mirzanagar village in Narshingdi district. His father, Md. Jahangir Mia, is a day labourer and his mother, Nilufa Akhter, is a housewife. Shakil became blind at the age of four as a result of an accident while playing ‘danguli’, a local game involving a bat and a small piece of wood. He received an injury to his eyes and gradually lost his sight. Initially, he received traditional treatment within the village, but was later taken to the Dhaka Progressive Lions Eye Hospital in Narshingdi, Islamia Eye Hospital in Dhaka city and the National Institute of Ophthalmology. No improvement was seen and Shakil became blind. He found it difficult to perform day to day activities at home and was very dependant on his mother. His parents were not aware that he needed education for his development. In 2010, at the age of seven, Shakil was identified by a door to door survey in Narshingdi district, run by ABC and Sightsavers, as part of their community-based rehabilitation project. Mr. Mominul Haque, an ABC rehabilitation assistant, informed Shakil’s parents that visually impaired children could study at the nearest primary school. Initially, Shakil’s parents were sceptical, but they received guidance and counselling from Md. Sazzadul Islam, the community educator from ABC’s mainstream education project, and from Mr Tariqul Islam, ABC’s CBR project officer. They discussed the need for Shakil
©Nusrat Zerin/Sightsavers ©Nusrat to receive an education and encouraged his parents to enrol him in the nearby government primary school, where teachers Shakil practicing pre-Braille tactile had received training in inclusive education and had the skills techniques to support Shakil’s development. Shakil was enrolled at Uttar Mirzanagar Government primary school in 2010. After starting to study with other children, his family and other community members saw that blind children can learn alongside their peers. At school, Shakil attends class regularly and takes part in activities such as assemblies and physical exercise. Teachers trained in inclusive education support him and help him to learn Braille. They produce different types of tactile education materials using items such as lentils, rice, string and sticks. These materials allow Shakil to practise pre-Braille techniques at school and at home, following the shapes with his fingers to read Braille alphabets. His mother, Nilufa, is educated and is very interested in supporting her son with his studies. She has started to learn Braille from the community educator and says ”to make my son educated and independent, I want to learn Braille and help him in studies at home, so whenever he faces difficulties in reading, writing in Braille I may help him.” Shakil is making good progress at school; he is learning the alphabet in both Bangla and English and can now read and write around five words in both languages. Alongside his schooling, Shakil is also receiving basic rehabilitation training covering orientation, mobility and daily living skills. He can now perform tasks on his own, get around using his white cane and play with neighbouring children. He has recently joined the blind cricket team in Narshingdi, organised by ABC, and is keen to complete his education and Zerin/Sightsavers ©Nusrat prepare himself to get a good job in the future. Shakil and his mother with his teacher and staff from ABC
Page 14 www.sightsavers.org Inclusive community development for community-based rehabilitation Niaz Ullah Khan, Country Director, Pakistan Munazza Gillani, Programme Manager, Pakistan ©Muhammad Bilal/Sightsavers
Yasmin Ahktar received a wheelchair through the project
Introduction A CBR project based on the principles of ‘community approaches to handicapped in Sightsavers supports a twin-track approach to development’ (CAHD), was initiated with the community-based rehabilitation (CBR), which Civil and Human Institutional Development promotes the mainstreaming of disability Programme (CHIP) in Swabi District, Pakistan, across all development initiatives, as well from 2005 to 2009. Taking our learning from as the implementation of disability-specific this project, a new initiative was then designed; programmes. Sightsavers strives for an Inclusive Community Development through inclusive community development approach, Mainstreaming People with Disability. Focusing with a focus on helping community-based on two tehsils (sub-districts) of Jehlum District, organisations (CBOs) to include disability Punjab Province, this pilot project is being in their interventions and activities. We also implemented through a partnership between support disabled people’s organisations Sightsavers, CHIP and the Special Talent (DPOs) to advocate for the rights of disabled Exchange Program (STEP). The project is people and for the ratification and effective supported through the Civil Society Challenge implementation of international and national Fund of the UK Department for International commitments to integrating disability into Development and will run for four years from development. 2008 to 2012. The project assists civil society
Page 15 government representatives and other service providers. A network of linkages and partnerships are being established between citizens, CSOs, DPOs, local government, elected representatives and the private sector. Local Government departments, CSOs and other stakeholders are contacted at district and sub-district levels to ensure relationships and linkages exist between the two Tehsils of Jehlum District. Through a baseline study1 337 people with disabilities were identified by CSO survey teams working with communities, representing a prevalence rate of less than 1.1 percent. The national 1981 census rate was 0.45 to 0.53 percent, and the Directorate General, Special Education, established a later rate of 2.6 percent in a 1986 survey. In the sixth national five year plan of 1984, a figure of between four to six percent was estimated2. This diversity in prevalence rates reflects both the wide range of criteria used in studies to identify disability and impairment levels, and the attitudes of local communities and those ©Muhammad Bilal/Sightsavers undertaking studies. The baseline study figure Making local housing more accessible for the current project in Jhelum has already increased and, with greater awareness across organisations (CSOs) and local government the targeted population, is likely to be shown to in working together to establish, promote and rise further if the study is repeated in the later strengthen Citizens Community Boards (CCBs) stages of the project. and women’s organisations in Jehlum District. Using a rights-based approach to social mobilisation, there groups are supported to Contribution to the Millennium include disabled people and enable them to Development Goals realise their right to participate in decision- making processes which affect their lives. The project is contributing directly or indirectly The lessons and recommendations from the to the achievement of four of the Millennium pilot project will be used to advocate for the Development Goals (MDGs):
implementation of legislation and pro-disability v Goal one: Eradicate extreme poverty and poverty alleviation strategies within the hunger mainstream development agenda. In line with this MDG, the project contributes to reducing poverty among disabled people living in rural areas. Frequently excluded Programme approach from microfinance, skills training and other The project is being implemented in 30 villages livelihood and employment support projects, within the two tehsils of Jehlum District; Tehsil they make up a particularly poor and Sohawa and Tehsil Jehlum. The population of marginalised group. By promoting formal the project area is 30,000, with an estimated registration of people with disabilities, those 3,000 people targeted by the project, including who are able to compete for employment people with disabilities, communities, local can do so in line with the Government
1 Baseline Survey Report under Project on Inclusive Development through Mainstreaming People with Disabilities in Social Mobilization in District Jehlum. December 2008 2 See for example: Disability prevalence and correlates in Pakistan: a demographic analysis Pakistan Development Review, Autumn, 1992 by Mohammad Afzal. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6788/is_3_31/ ai_n28620593/?tag=content;col1.
Page 16 www.sightsavers.org requirement that employers include a Meeting this challenge requires further analysis percentage of registered disabled people in to assess the minimum levels of support their workforce. needed for inclusive community structures
v Goal two: Achieve universal primary to take off. This is important so that a clear education model approach can be developed and made available for replication in other districts, as the The project has improved the enrolment project intends. of children with disabilities into public and community-managed primary schools. 33 Relations with the Government have been children, 17 boys and 16 girls have been difficult to coordinate because, although enrolled into mainstream schools. individual key players have demonstrated enthusiasm, the relevant political and v Goal three: Promote gender equality and institutional structures lack clarity and empower women direction. This is in part due to a history The project works to strengthen women’s of addressing disability from a special organisations and empower women to needs or segregated perspective with participate in local development plans. little attention to mainstreaming through Disabled women are a particularly inclusion and integration. A further marginalised and vulnerable social group factor has been the uncertainty created and the project has therefore placed special politically and administratively through the emphasis on making them more visible and decision to decentralise services formerly involved in local decision making. managed nationally to the provinces
v Goal six: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and (the 18th Constitutional Amendment). other diseases Following consultations at national and provincial level, key disability actors have Working with the national HIV/AIDS made recommendations for the effective programme, the project has highlighted the implementation of a National Action results of a study undertaken with disabled Plan on Disability. The National Planning people and their families: Understanding the Commission and other key government status of knowledge and risk perceptions ministries and departments have used these about HIV vulnerabilities of people with recommendations to update the existing disability in District Jehlum. The project aims 2006 plan, but the revised version has not to enhance disabled people’s awareness yet been released due to uncertainties about around the prevention of HIV/AIDS. the decentralisation of responsibilities for its Through promoting disabled people’s general implementation. participation in community life and decision- Internally, the complementary roles of making, they are then able to benefit from the three partners have been critical to wider services and programmes that aim to understanding, developing and implementing achieve these, and other, MDGs. the project. CHIP, experienced in community development, has undertaken or coordinated the main survey and facilitation work at Lessons and challenges community, tehsil and district levels. STEP, as One of the challenges faced by this project an accomplished DPO, has provided advice is finding ways to meet the expectations of and assessments on accessibility options, plus disabled people and their families that their awareness and capacity building on disability. basic medical assessment and assistive Sightsavers has used its expertise and device needs will be met. The project aimed to experience of working with government service stimulate demand from communities for these providers to focus the project on linking needs to be addressed by service providers community level initiatives to the Government (Government and others), with minimal draw at practical, policy and strategic levels. This has on project resources. However, we found that been achieved through stakeholder workshops prioritising to meet at least some of these in four provinces of Pakistan and a national expectations was important in achieving consultation workshop. STEP and Sightsavers credibility for our community inclusion work. have planned and led these consultations with This has been achieved through significant CHIP providing evidence from the programme. effort by the project partners in setting up an assessment programme and seeking non- project funding support for assistive devices.
Page 17 First ever careers fair for people with disabilities in Ghana Joyce Ashun, Country Director, Ghana
organisations (NGOs), including Sightsavers, to a breakfast meeting to seek their input on how to include disabled people in their workforce. The invitation was also extended to other companies to share ideas on diversity and inclusion and discuss how these issues could be included in their recruitment policies. During this meeting, it became apparent that corporate organisations, including SCB, could benefit from increased awareness about disability issues and the potential that people with disabilities could be employed productively within their companies. It was therefore agreed to invite some disabled people to come and speak to the organisations involved. Towards the first careers fair Following this agreement, Sightsavers, in collaboration with our partner Ghana Blind Union (GBU), invited four visually impaired people to be present at the next meeting to ©Albert Owusu-Ansah/Active Media speak about their capabilities and aspirations. After being impressed by the four disabled Mawuse Yakor, left and her sister Mawunyor at the fair people, the Chief Executive of SCB agreed to organise a careers fair in collaboration Background with Sightsavers Ghana. This fair would bring corporate organisations, disabled people and In 2007, Sightsavers entered into a partnership other stakeholders together to share ideas with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) as part about inclusion and how to create employment of ‘Seeing is Believing’, the bank’s corporate opportunities for disabled people. social responsibility initiative. This focuses The objectives of the careers fair were to: on eye care with the long term goal of contributing to the elimination of avoidable v Highlight the various challenges faced by blindness by the year 2020. The project in disabled people in their search for work and Ghana was centred on setting up district during employment.
structures, strengthening management, v Build awareness among companies on the planning and reporting processes, and skills and capabilities of disabled people.
integrating the project into the mainstream v Create employment opportunities for health care delivery system. It looked at the disabled people. provision of appropriate technology, improving cataract surgery numbers and providing a v Build confidence among disabled people refraction and low vision service. The project about their own abilities and the potential was implemented in 21 districts in the eastern opportunities for employment. region of Ghana, ending in December 2010. The careers fair was held on 29 May 2010 and To further build on this partnership, and as part was attended by Standard Chartered Bank of SCB’s diversity and inclusion policy, SCB and 26 other corporate organisations from the Ghana decided to focus on broader disability banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, issues. They invited a few non-governmental brewery, oil and recruitment sectors. In
Page 18 www.sightsavers.org addition to Sightsavers, 10 other NGOs were beyond those invited to the fair. The also present. Government of Ghana was also represented The fair attracted 120 people, including at the event by officials from the Ministries individuals with physical impairments, those of Education, Local Government and Rural with visual, hearing or speech impairments, and Development, Employment and Social Welfare. people living with albinism. As per the criteria of the fair, all disabled people held at least a first Learning and challenges degree or a higher national diploma. The careers fair event was hailed as a success and will now be held annually in Ghana. A Highlights of the fair strong NGO-corporate partnership was key to Organisations attending the fair conducted this success, as was setting out clear roles and more than 200 interviews with qualified responsibilities for each partner in developing disabled people for potential employment. The and managing the event. It is also important two recruitment agencies present, Montran that key players articulate their expectations on and L’ane Services, also committed to taking the use of each other’s logos, flyers, banners the CVs of 68 applicants in order to actively etc, and that due recognition is given to all conduct job searches for them. parties involved. SCB committed to recruiting four individuals From the experience of organising the first out of the 68 interviews they conducted. Three careers fair, it is recommended that funding disabled people were employed by them soon of the event is discussed early on in the after the event, including George Amoah who planning process. Financial contributions from features in the case study below. all partners should be anticipated early on to avoid delays when the process of organising Several other organisations, including the event is underway. In this case, Sightsavers Sightsavers, Vodafone and Barclays Bank, did not have enough allocation within their also committed to engaging the services of existing budget, but SCB agreed to contribute qualified disabled people. Having previously hugely to the event to compensate for this. employed a visually impaired person on national service for one year, Sightsavers In identifying disabled people to invite to the Ghana is currently employing a second visually event, it was noted that data on graduate impaired person on their front desk. Employed disabled people in the country was not readily on a temporary three month basis at present, available. Ghana Blind Union were able to this person is now being considered for a assist in locating and bringing disabled people permanent contract. together for the event, but it is clear that more work needs to be done in collecting such data In addition to the direct employment into a central resource. opportunities afforded by the fair, the event also enabled disabled people to put their message across to the corporate world in Next steps general. A series of speakers was organised, In partnership with the Ghana Federation included Mawuse Yakor who is visually of the Disabled (GFD), the main disabled impaired. Mawuse spoke passionately and people’s organisation in Ghana, a three-year said “there is the need for employers to look project has been developed based on the past an individual’s disability to see their careers fair concept. If approved, GFD will be professional potential in the workplace”. the main implementing organisation of this Two television stations, two radio stations and project, which will enhance sustainability and two print media houses covered the event, impact. providing much needed publicity and raising The initiative will involve advocacy for the the awareness of individuals and organisations ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which will ensure broader “All we need is a chance to recognition of the rights of disabled people, including that of employment. In partnership work and prove our abilities” with SCB, the project also aims to bring more Farida Bedwie, careers fair participant corporate organisations on board. Follow up mechanisms will be put in place to track
Page 19 how many disabled people from the first and been working with disabled people in our subsequent careers fairs are in employment, programmes, the careers fair served to raise and what kinds of support they can be offered organisational awareness of the important role in order to perform well in the roles that they that we could play in facilitating employment have secured. for disabled people. For Sightsavers, even though we had already
Case study: George Amoah comes from Nkawkaw in the eastern region of Ghana. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2006 with a degree in Business Administration and then completed his compulsory one year national service at the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) in Tema. Following his national service, George returned home and undertook some voluntary work. He organised classes for people who failed to get the required grades for university and also volunteered as an accountant and administrator at Kidcare International in Ghana, an NGO focusing on education and services for children, particularly orphans. During this time, George made several attempts to apply for jobs, but yielded no results. He then heard through a friend about the careers fair that was due to be held in Accra and quickly submitted his application to be involved. ©Godwin Ahiabu/Sightsavers At the fair, George had the George working at his desk opportunity to interact with a number of HR officers from corporate organisations, including Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). A few days after the fair, SCB invited him to a telephone interview and subsequently offered employment with the bank on an internship basis, starting in June 2010. George works in the client services group, investigating quality issues raised by corporate clients and working to resolve them. He travels to work daily from Tema to Accra, a distance of 30 kilometres. He uses public transport and, just like all the other workers, is expected at work by eight o’clock in the morning. Despite the challenges of using a wheelchair and waiting in a long queue for a bus every morning, George ensures that he always makes it to work on time. In the short time that he has worked at SCB, George has made a name for himself. He is noted as a dedicated person, committed to bringing something positive to the organisation. He has received various accolades during his internship with the bank and is hoping to sign another contract, perhaps on a permanent basis, when his current internship comes to an end. In terms of improving future careers fairs, George suggests that the event should be publicised nationwide, across all possible media, in order to reach out to every disabled person in the country. Public institutions and private employers should also be encouraged to take part in future fairs. To enhance the opportunities for disabled people to access jobs, George also recommends that organisations should be clear about their policies on diversity and inclusion. They should follow the example of SCB, who, through their role in the careers fair, have articulated their policies and demonstrated that they are prepared to live by them.
Page 20 www.sightsavers.org A study of the role of networking in promoting social inclusion in Bangladesh Gertrude Fefoame, Africa Social Inclusion Advisor Zakia Haque, Project Manager, Bangladesh Diane Mulligan, Programme Development Advisor Susie Miles, Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Manchester University
created by CBR workers, to enable a blind shopkeeper to orientate himself in relation to the village, houses, shops, mosques etc. In this way he was able to fully participate as a shopkeeper in his community. The evaluation demonstrated that the status of people with disabilities at family and community level had been improved, as they had been able to access local services and resources and become more involved in their own communities. Attitudinal change at community level and among local government staff and other stakeholders had been achieved. The strength of networking in Bangladesh, and the role it plays in improving the lives of people with disabilities, was identified by the evaluation team as a key success factor for this programme.
“I had a strong sense that they were all connected to each other. Networking had gone past helping people set up businesses. They knew who to contact and find the people who know how to help them. The key actors in this programme know ©Sightsavers each other well and can make appropriate Local shop keeper using his tactile village map referrals” Diane Mulligan Background Sightsavers supports a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme in three Researching the role of rural districts in Bangladesh. This programme was evaluated in 2009, with a focus on networking the approaches used to promote social Following on from the CBR evaluation, and in inclusion, social mobilisation and community order to further explore the role of networking development. The findings revealed that in promoting CBR and social inclusion more the CBR programme had made significant widely, a one week study was conducted changes in the lives of people with disabilities, by a research team in January 2011. The especially blind and low vision (visually research team consisted of three women; two impaired) people, whose mobility and self- Sightsavers employees, one from Ghana and esteem had increased. One example cited by one from Bangladesh, and a researcher from the CBR evaluation was of a tactile village map, the UK. Interviews and focus group discussions
Page 21 were conducted with leaders and members of disabilities. One example of this approach eight non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is the Centre for Disability in Development based in the capital, Dhaka, one government- (CDD), a disability-focused NGO which is led foundation and three self-help groups now working with a number of development representing rural communities. organisations who have trained field social The guiding research question for this workers and mandatory disability resource study was, ‘What is the role of networking in posts who can identify and respond to the promoting social inclusion for people with needs of people with a range of disabilities. disabilities in Bangladesh?’ Networking is a v The National Forum of Organisations complex concept that means different things Working with the Disabled to different people and tends to be used The National Forum of Organisations loosely with little consensus as to its meaning. Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) is an Having discussed the concept as a research advocacy organisation which works in three team, we decided not to present any ready- main areas: made definitions of networking, but instead to explore participants’ understanding and • Coordinating advocacy efforts and experience of networks and networking. In enabling access to resources. addition, there is no direct translation of the • Raising awareness of disability issues words ‘network’ or ‘networking’ in Bangla, with through their network of members, the the nearest translation being ‘communication’. media and organised events. The English word ‘network’ was used in • Serving as a resource group for policy interviews conducted in Bangla and research development and implementation of participants told us that ‘networking’ can be programmes by the Government and used to mean; relationships, coordination, other organisations. collaboration, partnerships, alliance and allies. The main benefits of networking NFOWD allows smaller organisations to come were perceived to be the sharing of human together and form thematic focus groups that resources and information. are able to advise the Government on the formulation of policies and implementation The researchers are still in the process of of programmes. For example, Sightsavers is a analysing all the data collected and writing member of the disability, advocacy, education a journal article. Broadly speaking two and health thematic groups. different types of data were collected; national examples of how networking is leading to This kind of network is unique as it provides rights-based policy development, and local no direct services at all, but promotes level examples of how networking is impacting networking and coordination between all types on the quality of life of people with disabilities. of organisations and facilitates the sharing of information and resources. NFOWD offers a central point of reference on disability National networking issues and the size of their membership has given them a recognised voice in this We will begin with national level issues which sector. Every organisation/individual that we arose from the interviews with Dhaka-based interviewed during the study was either a organisations: member of NFOWD or had used them as a
v Working through mainstream development reference point, thus demonstrating the role of organisations networking in influencing social inclusion Bangladesh is one of the most densely v National lobbying populated countries in the world with The majority of research participants a population of 164 million. It is also a reported that they engaged in awareness country where a very large number of raising through the media and that they had NGOs play a key role in delivering services. been involved in lobbying for rights-based It therefore makes sense for specialist policies and legislation. The Government disability organisations to work through of Bangladesh ratified the United Nations the highly developed structures already Convention on the Rights of People with established by mainstream agencies, as Disabilities (UNCRPD) in May 2008 and well as government services, in order to there is a strong civil society lobby which achieve maximum coverage of people with includes lawyers and parliamentarians and
Page 22 www.sightsavers.org group leader, he also has the responsibility of visiting disabled people in the area to get to know them and to encourage the sharing of experiences between families. In this way he is able to get to know the situation in the whole family and community; he does not focus only on the disabled family member. The following short example highlights the way in which Tareque has used his status in his community to take a stand for social justice; in this case, the right to education.
Fatima was 14 years old. Her parents wanted to arrange her marriage ceremony, but Tareque and two influential community elders decided to try to stop this happening. They believed that Fatima needed to continue her studies until she was 18 years ©Sightsavers old. She was from a very poor family; their Conducting interviews during the research study neighbours pressured her parents because they considered her to be old and the marriage offer they had received meant that is determined to hold the government to they would not have had to pay a dowry. account on progress in implementing the Tareque went to Fatima’s house together Convention. with the community elders to convince the
v The role of government parents to delay the marriage. They were The Foundation is a multi-disciplinary, quasi- successful and Fatima was allowed to government umbrella body on disability continue in school. She married a different issues, composed of government and non- man when she reached the age of 18 and government representatives. The majority the parents did not have to pay a dowry. of people we spoke to claimed that their This meant that Fatima’s education was organisations had been involved in these not interrupted, her own children are now initiatives; indicating the power and breadth more likely to become educated, and her of networking. Although there is widespread desperately poor parents were not forced to dissatisfaction with the government’s pay a dowry, although they had to support commitment to disability issues, there was their daughter for a further four years of evidence of well-established communication education. and networking channels which enable ongoing dialogue between the Government and non-governmental organisations. v Safety Many parents are afraid to let their girls go out of the house or to school for fear of Local networking abuse. The issue of ensuring the safety of young disabled children arose in several A focus group discussion took place with of the stories told by the self-help group representatives of three self-help groups from members. Once the children become different areas of the country. Some of the members of a self-help group, they become issues and discussions are detailed below: more secure in their communities as girls
v Status in the community and taking a stand and women. In the following example the for social justice self-help group provided protection for a vulnerable disabled girl. The president of the federation of self- help groups, Tareque, is a paid employee of the mosque which plays a major role A 12 year old deaf girl started at the BRAC1 in village life. He uses the opportunity of informal school with the support of the Friday prayers to talk about the rights of self-help group. One day she was sexually disabled people. In his role as self-help assaulted. She informed her mother, who
Page 23 was concerned that this would ruin her for disabled people in the community in chances of getting married. The matter was order to promote greater social inclusion. discussed in the self-help group and the v Sharing, learning and mentoring culprit was identified. The self-help group met the village leader and together they As the self-help groups are now recognised came to the decision to punish the man by as having brought about positive change in making him pay financial compensation of their communities, more and more parents 15,000 Taka (50 Taka:US$1). The man paid want their young people to be registered in the ‘fine’ and the family was able to use the these groups. This serves a dual purpose; money to buy a cow for income generating. the parents see the self-help groups as As a result of taking a stand against the playing a mentoring role for their children injustice of sexual assaults on young and, at the same time, the groups provide disabled girls, the community respects the opportunities for safe socialisation. Although self-help group. They can see that the group the groups are intended for adults, they is powerful and can achieve results. have found themselves accepting younger members. The self-help group leaders have been able to raise awareness at national Although the deaf girl was very young, level of the issues facing individuals and she asked to become an associate organisations at village-level through their member of the group as she saw it as a links with a diverse range of organisations, form of protection in the community. Her including those that are disability-specific, membership of a community group that had such as the Bangladesh Visually Impaired status in the community, and that took a Persons’ Society and national micro-credit stand on issues of social justice, helped her organisations. to feel and stay safe. v The right to social inclusion In conclusion In the following example the self-help group uses networking to challenge social Bangladesh has a long history of voluntarism exclusion. and community networking which goes back hundreds of years. Although the nature of networking is changing, with the increased Lists of vulnerable people are held at village use of mobile phones and the internet, face- level to ensure that land is allocated to to-face networking has an important role those most in need. The self-help group to play. Promoting self-confidence among decided to ensure that this list included people with disabilities, challenging negative disabled people. However, when they attitudes in wider society and creating space scrutinised the list of land allocations to for people with disabilities to become more landless people, they discovered that no visible and engaged in their families and in disabled people had been allocated land. communities are some of the benefits. The They decided to challenge this situation as networking process makes effective use of a group. They have taken their struggle to limited resources, maximises effort and builds the district level in face to face meetings on existing social structures and community and in writing. They have argued that it is development. The involvement of influential their right to have access to land because leaders (many of whom are visually impaired) they are the most vulnerable people in and their organisations in challenging their communities. They are still fighting to discrimination and promoting a more inclusive be granted access to one acre of land for approach to development at both local and cultivation. national levels is transforming the lives of people with visual impairments and other Although this is an ongoing struggle, it is disabilities. important to recognise the commitment and organisational skills that this campaign has required. In this way the self-help group has taken a stand on the issue of equal rights
1 BRAC is a development organisation in Bangladesh, dedicated to alleviating poverty by empowering people to bring about change in their own lives
Page 24 www.sightsavers.org Empowering disabled people through employment opportunities in Ampara, Sri Lanka Dr Sunil Fernando, Country Director, Sri Lanka Padmasiri Bandara, Programme Officer, Sri Lanka ©Sightsavers
Nilantha, a young disabled man from the project target area
Background percent. Furthermore, unemployment amongst people with disabilities is relatively high. One Disabled people represent 20 percent cause of this is lack of access to education of the world’s poorest populations. It is and health services. Sightsavers Sri Lanka therefore widely recognised, including and their partners aim to advance progress by the World Bank, that the Millennium towards MDGs two (achieving universal Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be primary education) and four (reducing child met without specific measures to improve mortality) by providing access to education disabled people’s inclusion in mainstream and basic health services for children with development processes. In Sri Lanka, people disabilities, and towards MDG three (promoting with disabilities have significantly lower levels gender equality and empowering women) by of income, as evidenced by the percentages promoting equal access to these services by of people who are employed and yet live women with disabilities, who are often doubly under US$1 per day; this ranges from 43 disadvantaged by both gender and disability to 88 percent for different disabilities, while discrimination. the national average is approximately 6.6
Page 25 ©Sightsavers
The house of a disabled person, due to be re-built
Working in Ampara district establishing a process for the economic development of people with disabilities. The Following the tsunami and exposure to project sits within the ‘Re-awakening Eastern’ armed conflict, Ampara district in the Eastern programme which prioritises access to Province of Sri Lanka is now in the process of employment and is undertaking necessary development, under the Government’s ‘Re- village infrastructure development. It will assist awakening Eastern’ programme. However, the Government in reaching one of the most these initiatives do not currently incorporate marginalised groups and aims to provide the needs and rights of people with disabilities, opportunities for people with disabilities in of which there are approximately 8,400 in Ampara through social mobilisation, economic Ampara. People with disabilities are often left empowerment and the development of out of development processes due to social partnerships between the public and private stigma and the attitudes of development sectors. Working together with disabled practitioners. Many families and communities people, the project will influence local consider their disabled members as incapable, authorities to think about accessibility in all vulnerable or as a burden, treating them their infrastructure developments, enabling with sympathy and failing to recognise their everyone to participate in community life fundamental rights as human beings. without any barriers. Women with disabilities Sightsavers Sri Lanka is working with partner will be given a priority since, due to organisations to implement a project which marginalisation and exclusion, they are more will complement Government efforts by likely to experience extreme poverty.
Page 26 www.sightsavers.org Specifically, the project seeks to: development initiatives. The project will use
v Mobilise people with disabilities to raise these CSOs and their networks in developing awareness of social inclusion issues. necessary linkages between government institutions, communities, citizens’ groups v Deliver economic empowerment to and people with disabilities. Working through facilitate sustainable household and village their network members, DWDN will support livelihoods. disabled people’s groups and community
v Develop public and private sector groups established by WDC to influence and partnerships with disabled people and lobby stakeholders such as local authorities, communities to sustain the work initiated private enterprises such as banks and local and increase available resources for further CSOs, asking them to include disability in their development. development agendas and to strengthen and protect the rights of people with disabilities. Sightsavers Sri Lanka will monitor overall The process programme implementation, facilitate advocacy and policy dialogue with government The project aims to enhance the economic institutions and other stakeholders, develop development of disabled people through the capacity of partner organisations and access to employment and necessary village provide support to reporting and monitoring. infrastructure development. The process begins with the social mobilisation of disabled people in the project’s target areas, a role Progress to date which is being carried out by local women’s groups. The project will build on existing The project was started in September 2010 women’s groups that have already been and 15 women’s groups and 12 self-help established by the Women’s Development groups have so far been established to Centre (WDC) and will mobilise them to mobilise disabled people in the target areas. establish further active women’s groups. These Leaders of the women’s groups received groups will then facilitate the formation of self- a two week intensive training on disability, help groups of disabled people and will work orientation and mobility, daily living skills, closely with social mobilisers from WDC to counselling, nutrition and HIV/Aids, which will identify the specific needs of disabled people help them in working with communities and in their local area. They will look at service providing services to people with disabilities. provision for health, education, housing, water, The women’s groups also interact with the sanitation and employment. WDC will promote families of disabled people, educating them on accessible health and education services the importance of including disabled people through networking with relevant government in society and on the capacity of disabled institutions and Civil Society Organisations people to become independent and gain (CSOs), and will provide assistance to people employment. The women’s groups educate with disabilities. family members about mobility and daily living Disabled people identified by WDC as needing skills, so that they can assist local disabled assistance with housing, water and sanitation people effectively. or livelihoods are linked with the Development Together with disabled people and their family with Disabled Network (DWDN) who will and community members, the women’s groups facilitate the provision of these services have identified the specific needs of disabled in consultation with all stakeholders and people in accessing health, education and beneficiaries. Building on their existing work to other services. Linkages were developed with empower disabled people, DWDN will develop both public and private institutions working in the capacity of disabled people to secure the health, social services, vocational training employment and to articulate their needs and educational sectors in order to provide to local authorities. DWDN will also provide accessible services. Housing, water and technical expertise in delivering training and sanitation needs have been identified and capacity building initiatives to CSOs and public forwarded to DWDN for the necessary support. and private sector stakeholders. Four awareness programmes have also been DWDN has already begun to enhance the conducted for community leaders and local capacity of 50 CSOs in Ampara, particularly authority officials on the United Nations around mainstreaming disability into local Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Page 27 A disability survey was conducted in the target and will provide a platform for private sector areas to identify people with disabilities and institutions to identify skilled disabled people establish the kinds of services and assistance for employment. Further, it will raise awareness already available. This survey was augmented of the need to move away from traditional with a market survey, where different types of livelihood options for disabled people, such as employment opportunities and their viability weaving chairs or selling lotteries or consumer were assessed. The information from both items door to door, and will promote new surveys will be fed into the project to inform opportunities in the fields or information the implementation of specific activities. technology, banking, the media etc. 10 disabled people and their families have received assistance in rebuilding their dilapidated houses and sanitation facilities, or Conclusion in renovating their existing ones to make them more accessible. 25 people with disabilities are The project in Ampara has made progress being provided with assistance and appropriate towards the social inclusion of disabled people training in order to secure employment. A within their communities; namely in the three preliminary workshop was also conducted for key areas of mobilisation, empowerment potential employers in the district to challenge and the development of links between their attitudes and beliefs and to raise their disabled people and key local stakeholders. awareness on the importance of providing The project is well established in the target employment opportunities for disabled people. areas and people with disabilities and their The workshop was organised by the Chamber families are being mobilised to engage of Commerce in Ampara and assisted by the in community activities and development Employer Federation of Sri Lanka. A careers initiatives, and to articulate their needs to fair is being planned in the district to provide local authorities. Awareness is being raised an opportunity for people with disabilities to among these authorities on the importance present themselves to potential employers of including people with disabilities in the and a careers guidance programme is development agenda within the district. This being organised prior to this, to prepare the is very clearly demonstrated by the actions of candidates and enhance their interview skills. the Chief Minister of Eastern Province who has opened up a resource centre for people To promote opportunities for disabled with disabilities to exhibit and market their people to develop their vocational skills and products. The project will continue to work with obtain public recognition of their skills and beneficiaries and key stakeholders throughout achievements, the project will assist DWDN its operation, with the aim of achieving lasting in organising a vocational skills competition change in the lives of disabled people in for disabled people. The competition in Ampara and beyond. Ampara will be one of a countrywide series
Page 28 www.sightsavers.org Inside Sightsavers Uganda since the launch of the CBR Guidelines Julie Nabukeera, Programme Manager, Uganda
attend this conference and since then we have taken the following steps to use the guidelines and embed them in our programming.
Sharing the CBR guidelines Sightsavers Uganda has been keen to share the CBR guidelines with various stakeholders, starting with in-house sharing within the Sightsavers’ country office. Employees were taken through the guidelines and a forum was then held for over 150 participants, including disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), district governments and Ministry of Health officials. This has resulted in a greater appreciation
©Sightsavers amongst programme staff and stakeholders of the principles of the guidelines and the key Uganda country office team discussing the CBR areas of focus for programming. Sightsavers guidelines during their learning and reflection day Uganda’s focus will be on the empowerment and education components in the CBR matrix, whilst other partners will address livelihoods, Introduction health and social components. Developed by WHO, ILO, UNESCO1, and the International Disability and Development CBR stakeholder mapping Consortium (IDDC), the guidelines on community-based rehabilitation provide In liaison with its partner organisations, practical guidance for development Sightsavers Uganda has started to map practitioners on how to develop or strengthen all the CBR actors in the 14 district local community-based programmes that are governments, who are key partners. We are inclusive of disabled people and their families. endeavouring to establish a network for They are a guide to developing, planning and CBR coordination and referrals, to ensure implementing community-based programmes coherence with the CBR components that through the combined efforts of disabled Sightsavers Uganda does not currently focus people, their families and communities, as well on. We hope to have completed the mapping as representatives from the appropriate health, process by the end of June 2011. education, vocational and social sectors. The guidelines emphasise increased collaboration DPO/BPO pre-empowerment among the different sectors providing services for disabled people and the need for assessment government support and the development of To roll out our focus on empowerment, an national policies. in-depth assessment of three district-based The guidelines were formally launched on 27 blind people’s organisations (BPOs) and one October 2010 at the fourth CBR Africa Network disabled people’s organisation (DPO) was conference in Abuja, Nigeria. Sightsavers conducted to appraise their capacity for self- Uganda sponsored one employee and one advocacy. This is a result of a partnership with representative from a partner organisation to Action for Disability and Development (ADD)
1 World Health Organization, International Labour Organization and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization respectively
Page 29 and is one of a series of partnership steps Strengthening our CBR to support self-advocacy for selected DPOs. A comprehensive plan of action is being network developed from the reports. During the national stakeholders’ forum planned for August 2011, we hope to engage Model programmes and with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social projects in light of CBR Development, the forum participants and the Uganda coordinating office for the CBR Africa Sightsavers Uganda has adopted the CBR Network to formally create a national CBR guidelines as the working approach to network that will strengthen CBR practice in- achieving greater social inclusion. Presently, country. two programmes for health and education Sightsavers Uganda has also made efforts respectively are being designed according to to partner with practitioners from broader the principles laid out in the CBR guidelines. networks who are working across health, The results of the mapping report, currently education, social, livelihood and empowerment being conducted in the 14 district local sectors. Improving our links with these actors governments, will provide deeper information should help to widen our reach and avoid the to create a network of linkages, collaboration individual components of the CBR matrix being and coordination for these programmes. This viewed as separate and disconnected. will reduce duplication and increase the impact of our programmes. Learning and reflection: a new Collaborating to share the day at the country office guidelines with national and We have initiated an internal learning and reflection day within the Sightsavers Uganda district-level partners country office. This takes place on the last We plan to engage with the Ministry of Gender, Friday of every month. Two reflections have so Labour and Social Development and three far been undertaken and CBR formed a key organisations who participated at the launch portion of our discussions. To date, we have of the guidelines; Action on Disability and celebrated the change in our understanding Development, Kyambogo University Special of CBR since the launch of the guidelines. Our Needs Education Faculty and the Ministry of appreciation of CBR has extended beyond Health. Through this collaboration we hope to mobility and orientation to the broader concepts share the guidelines with more national and and principles set out in the guidelines. district-level partners and this is planned for The release of the guidelines for community- August 2011. based rehabilitation is an important step in enhancing our work with disabled people. We are optimistic that the guidelines will help to shape our strategic direction, networks and programmes in achieving social inclusion for disabled people.
Page 30 www.sightsavers.org Project Access: an advocacy initiative in India Dr Rajesh Kapse, Programme Officer, South India ©Peter Caton/Sightsavers ©Peter
Using technology to access print media in India
Introduction Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), disabled people in It is estimated that India has 100 million the country still face several challenges, such people who are visually impaired, have as the two issues highlighted above. 1 dyslexia or another disability that means Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually they are unable to access printed material Challenged (XRCVC) is a department as comfortably, flexibly and conveniently as established by Dr Sam Taraporwala, a blind people without disabilities. In India, people with assistant professor working at Saint Xavier’s print impairment are denied their fundamental college, Mumbai. Set up in 2003, XRCVC right to life, dignity, speech, education and is involved in providing advocacy, support information, as their access to printed material services and training to visually impaired is restricted due to copyright law in the individuals. XRCVC had received several country. Similarly, visually impaired people complaints from disabled people regarding face several challenges in using banking access to banking and print media and services in India as these are not completely decided to conduct an advocacy campaign, accessible to them. In spite of the fact that the with support from Sightsavers2. All the Indian Government of India has ratified the United members of the World Blind Union, along with
1 36 million visually impaired people http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/., 60 million people with dyslexia http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia#Incidence and 2.4 million with cerebral palsy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_ 2 “Project Access” An advocacy project on Accessibility issues of Visually Challenged – XRCVC, Mumbai. Oct 2007 Author: Govind Madhav, Programme Officer Sightsavers, Internal document palsy
Page 31 XRCVC, Sightsavers and the DAISY forum of However, it was observed that this bill would India3 joined hands to initiate this campaign. not be in favour of visually impaired people. To Called ‘Project Access’, the campaign targeted challenge this, Dr Taraporwala, Ketan Kothari the Government of India, publishers and (Programme Officer for Sightsavers South writers for access to print material, and the India), and other experts met eminent leaders Reserve Bank of India and other banks on the of the opposition party and advocated for the issue of accessible banking. The project has bill to be opposed. Due to their efforts, the bill achieved various successes in last three years, was not passed and was sent to Parliament’s as described in the article below. standing committee for revision. Following this, a committee of expert organisations was formed, including Inclusive Planet, Mumbai, Project Access the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, and the Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore. After identifying banking and print media This committee developed a paper; Right to as their advocacy focus, XRCVC designed knowledge for persons with print impairment: a the Project Access campaign, a structured proposal to amend the Indian copyright regime advocacy project with three objectives: and submitted it to the Registrar of Copyright,
v To make the printed word easily accessible Government of India. to print disabled people by changing The advocacy team also presented their copyright law. case in front of the parliamentary standing
v To advocate for and contribute to the committee and explained that, given access development and implementation of to materials in the right format, visually accessible solutions within the banking impaired people could read printed media system. using assistive technology solutions such
v To creating awareness about the lives of as screen reading software, magnifiers and visually impaired people within the sighted CCTV devices. Most of the parliamentary community and relevant stakeholders, committee members were previously unaware helping to break existing misconceptions. of this fact. Alongside direct advocacy with the Government, XRCVC also contacted several Accessible print renowned authors and encouraged them to support Project Access. This added weight to Many visually impaired students had the campaign and was useful in convincing the approached XRCVC asking for various books Government of the need for change. in accessible formats. Dr Sam Taraporwala, the director of XRCVC, therefore contacted In conducting the advocacy campaign, the the publishers to ask if they could provide team did encounter several challenges. electronic copies of the relevant titles. This Publishers objected strongly to any amendment request was met with some reluctance from to the law due to fears about piracy and the publishers; they were scared of piracy and uncertainly as to how they might safeguard it was also observed that Indian copyright does against this. In addition, various stakeholders not permit conversion of copyrighted work involved in the campaign, such as organisations into formats which are accessible by persons of visually impaired people, differed in their with print impairment. Consequently, XRCVC understanding of how it should be conducted. decided to advocate for the Indian copyright However, the project was able to successfully laws to be amended and did extensive overcome these challenges through open and research into copyright law across the globe. balanced dialogue with all parties. They concluded that 50 nations worldwide As a result of the above initiatives, the have made exceptions to their copyright laws, Government of India has accepted that the allowing materials to be printed in formats that copyright law should be changed and the will enable print impaired people to access amendment is now in the final stages. This them4. will provide better access to the printed word At that time, the Government of India was and most definitely bring a very direct positive in the process of passing a bill regarding change to the lives of millions of persons with amendments to the Indian copyright law. print impairment. 3 Digital Accessible Information System http://www.daisy.org/about_us http://www.daisyindia.org/ 4 “Right to knowledge for persons with print impairment: a proposal to amend the Indian copyright regime” November 2009, Inclusive Planet, Mumbai, Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore
Page 32 www.sightsavers.org facilities….are invariably offered to the visually challenged without any discrimination.” As a result of this circular, some banks have started providing services to visually impaired people, but several others are still denying this access. One reason for this is a lack of understanding by bank officials on how to make banking accessible. To combat this, the advocacy team, with support from the Access India e-group, a network of blind computer users from all over India, developed operational guidelines for the Indian Bank Association (IBA). These guidelines have been
©Peter Caton/Sightsavers ©Peter accepted by the IBA and they are now in Banking systems should be accessible to all the process of implementing them. Another challenge is the attitude of some bank officials, Accessible banking who may doubt the ability of a visually impaired person to operate an account independently The second advocacy issue addressed by the and have concerns about whether the safety campaign was access to banking. Despite and security of services can be maintained. the Government of India’s ratification of the This issue can be address by giving UNCRPD, the banking system in the country presentations to the banks and improving their did not permit visually impaired people to open awareness and understanding. and operate their own bank accounts in the way that sighted people were able to. Similar hurdles were also faced in accessing other Conclusion financial services, such as ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), insurance, dematerialised As described above, Project Access is an investment (DEMAT) accounts etc. example of a successful advocacy campaign. The Project Access team met with the Deputy A passionate group of visually impaired Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to people advocated strongly on the two issues discuss these issues. The Deputy Governor to various stakeholders, overcoming various was unaware of the challenges faced by challenges and obstacles. They achieved visually impaired people and the team successful results which could have a positive emphasised that banking is one of the most impact on the lives of visually impaired people important aspects in a person’s life and that in India. The following factors contributed to several other countries across the world had their success:
made banking services accessible to all. v Clear identification of need-based advocacy The Deputy Governors then discussed issues.
these issues with several bank officials and v A structured programmatic approach.
discovered more about the extent and reality of v Coordination with likeminded organisations these challenges. Through the advocacy efforts and experts. of Project Access, the Reserve Bank of India immediately issued a circular to all commercial v Rigorous research to establish sound facts banks in India on the topic of access to to convince stakeholders.
banking for visually impaired people5. Issued v Passion and resilience in overcoming on June 4 2008, the circular clearly states; “it obstacles. has been brought to our notice that visually challenged persons are facing problems in Despite the results achieved to date, the availing banking facilities. It may be noted that advocacy team have identified some remaining banking facilities including cheque book facility challenges around operationalising the new / operation of ATM / locker etc. cannot be laws and guidelines on the ground. The team denied to the visually challenged as they are is geared up to continue their efforts, using legally competent to contract…… Banks are their strategic approach to advocacy and their therefore advised to ensure that all banking passion for creating an inclusive world.
5 Banking facilities to the visually challenged, RBI / 2007-08 / 358 DBOD. No .Leg BC. 91 /09.07.005/2007-08, June 4, 2008
Page 33 Promoting social inclusion through accessible water and sanitation services Munazza Gillani, Programme Manager, Pakistan Muhammad Bilal, Programme Officer, Pakistan Niaz Ullah Khan, Country Director, Pakistan ©Hasnain/Sightsavers
An access ramp at one of the demonstration sites
Summary to promote social inclusion by developing accessible WATSAN, the project focuses on Inaccessible physical infrastructure within a mainstreaming disability into development by community, specifically water and sanitation mobilising communities around this issue. The (WATSAN), can hinder the social inclusion project developed an approach for testing in of people with disabilities. Inclusive design the field and guidelines are being prepared for and research into the process of providing advocacy and replication of the approach. adaptations for WATSAN is extremely limited in Pakistan and generally WATSAN facilities are designed without taking into account the Introduction specific needs of vulnerable groups, such as disabled people, women, children and Pakistan is the sixth largest country in the older people. In 2010, Sightsavers piloted an world with a population of around 180 million. initiative in the district of Mansehra, which was According to the 1998 Pakistan population affected by the 2005 earthquake. Designed census, the disability ratio in the country is
Page 34 www.sightsavers.org 2.49 percent. However, the World Health barriers further restrict learning and growth Organization (WHO) estimates the proportion opportunities for people with disabilities and, at 10 percent and non-governmental in Mansehra district, there is a pronounced organisations (NGOs) and disabled people’s lack of rehabilitation centres with specialised organisations (DPOs) in Pakistan claim that services. disabled people make up seven percent of the Of all poorer people, people with disabilities total population. This disparity in estimates has are the ones that have least access to safe hindered the planning of appropriate WATSAN water and sanitation facilities. This restricts services and facilities for disabled people. their opportunities for growth, development Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is and improved livelihoods. However, most a key challenge in Pakistan, and people with disabled people do not need separate disabilities are among one of the vulnerable ‘special’ facilities; with a little awareness, groups for whom access is particularly limited planning and adaptations, disabled people unless appropriate services and facilities are can access ordinary water points and toilets. made available. Furthermore, improved, accessible facilities Access to clean water and effective sanitation benefit everyone in the community, including has a catalytic effect on many aspects of elderly people, pregnant women and children, human development, being essential for and will ultimately reduce waterborne diseases, a healthy population and environmental trachoma and conjunctivitis. sustainability. The WHO estimates that 88 percent of diarrheal disease is attributed to an unsafe water supply and inadequate Approach sanitation and hygiene. High incidence of Sightsavers Pakistan adopted a twin-track vector-borne disease, intestinal disease and approach for the pilot project which ensures arsenic poisoning in developing countries is that (a) disability issues are actively considered strongly correlated with unsanitary practices in mainstream development work, and (b) and the absence of nearby sources of safe more focused or targeted activities for people water. Waterborne and infectious diseases with disabilities are implemented where are of serious concern in Pakistan, including necessary1. By strengthening disability work eye diseases such as trachoma which can through the twin-track approach, the project be prevented through face washing and aims to provide an enabling environment for better sanitation and environmental hygiene. people with disabilities to achieve greater In addition, convenient access to water and livelihood security, greater equality, full sanitation facilities increases privacy and participation in community life and greater reduces the risk of violence against disabled independence and self determination. At the people, particularly children and women with community level, the project underpins the disabilities. inclusion of disabled people by ensuring the In 2010, Sightsavers Pakistan piloted a project development of accessible WATSAN initiatives, to improve access to water and sanitation for with community involvement in the design, people with disabilities in the Mansehra district execution and implementation of the scheme. in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to As a result of this involvement, the villages are the 1998 Pakistan national population census, now prioritising the issues and challenges of there are about 15,000 people of all ages with vulnerable groups in general and disabled disabilities in Mansehra. However, this number people in particular. rapidly increased to over 30,000 following the Specifically, this project will address physical earthquake that hit the region on 8 October infrastructure barriers that limit access to 2005. Due to poverty and lack of awareness, WATSAN by disabled people and other most disabled people face restricted mobility vulnerable groups. This will be done by: and remain dependent upon others for their basic needs. They are mostly unseen, unheard 1. Building the capacity of disabled people and one of the most marginalised group in the The project will work to build the capacity of community. Disabled people face multiple daily disabled people to engage with and influence living, social and economic challenges, such decision makers at the local and national level. as physical and political barriers that hamper As part of the project implementation team, their freedom of movement in society. These
1 Disability, poverty and development. UK, Department for International Development, 2000 (www.make- development-inclusive.org/docsen/DFIDdisabilityPovertyDev.pdf).
Page 35 manual has been prepared, based on the experience of the project, and is being tested within the communities. This will be shared widely with the WATSAN sector in Pakistan.
Conclusion Sightsavers is working to promote social inclusion of disabled people and there is growing recognition of inclusive strategies
©Hasnain/Sightsavers within the Government of Pakistan. However, Ghulam Hussain with accessible there is lack of understanding about good facilities constructed by the project inclusive development practices in relation to water and sanitation. Therefore, this project’s social mobilisers are working at the community focus is on building the capacity of local level to form inclusive Village Development WATSAN service providers and policy makers Committees that include disabled people as to develop demonstrable approach and equal members and provide a forum for their practices to promote accessible and affordable voice to be heard in local decision making. local WATSAN solutions. Government officials Disability awareness sessions have been have received training on disability issues carried out in local communities with the active and are becoming involved in the design and participation of disabled people, and Village implementation of the project. It is hoped that Development Committees have also received this involvement will promote lasting change training on physical accessibility and inclusion and good practice within local government and issues beyond the WATSAN perspective. beyond. These committees will later work as catalysts The project is also working to strengthen the for sensitising local communities, as well as voices and skills of people with disabilities, local WATSAN service providers, regarding and other vulnerable groups, so that they are accessible, socially acceptable and affordable able to influence and advocate with district physical infrastructure. Governments and other stakeholders for their 2. Establishing demonstration pilot projects rights. The inclusion of disabled people in local development initiatives will not only increase The project is demonstrating local, cost their participation in local decision making and effective WATSAN solutions by constructing consultations, but will also increase their self accessible latrines and water points at esteem and dignity within their families and various communal places such as schools social circles. and mosques. Identified by local people, the demonstration sites have generated increased Overall, the project has taken water and demand for accessible WATSAN and have sanitation as a strategic entry point for attracted attention from both the public and community development, as the provision of private sector. The initiative aims to showcase safe drinking water and sanitation services are accessible infrastructure developments which pre-requisites for an effective primary health can be easily adopted and implemented by care system and support the prevention of local communities. many eye diseases, such as trachoma. Beyond the specific activities mentioned above, the 3. Building the capacity of WATSAN project is working to establish linkages among implementers community-based organisations (CBOs), In parallel to the above activities, the project disabled people organisations (DPOs), non- has a strong focus on local capacity building governmental organisations (NGOs) and and is aiming to enhance the capacity of district governments, with the aim of promoting implementers to adapt WATSAN facilities wider community development and social in ways that address the needs of disabled inclusion. people. With this in mind, local Government In conclusion, the development of accessible, officers are being trained on how to design safe drinking and sanitation services will help and construct accessible WATSAN schemes to promote necessary changes in attitude at to reduce physical barriers and also promote the local level, which are critical for any policy environmentally friendly practices. A training and institutional change.
Page 36 www.sightsavers.org Learning summary Taitos Matafeni, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems
Introduction Another benefit is the effective use of limited resources through maximising efforts and Statistics on disability indicate that at least building on existing social and community 10 percent of the world’s population or development structures. 1 650 million people are disabled . The 2010 The challenge with this approach is MDG review indicated that “the Millennium coordinating the various actors and ensuring Development Goals cannot be achieved that communities and beneficiaries are without the full and effective inclusion of not overburdened with differing voices and persons with disabilities and their participation approaches. Jointly setting clear goals, roles in all stages of the MDGs processes.” These and responsibilities for each stakeholder group statements and statistics demonstrate the has helped Sightsavers and our partners to urgent need for the development community deliver effective disability-specific programmes to partner with disabled people in delivering and to mainstream disability across our wider positive change in their lives. programming2. Sightsavers’ work on social inclusion has evolved from services delivered to the 3. Link social inclusion and poverty reduction individual to a participative and inclusive Disability is both a cause and consequence of approach, as described in this journal. What poverty, and progress towards the MDGs is set follows is a summary of learning points from to be stifled if disabled people are not included these case studies, which we feel may be in development initiatives. Our programmes useful for both Sightsavers’ programmes and have, in part, been using social inclusion as other professionals and organisations working a means to ending poverty and have made to mainstream disability in their work. successful attempts to link into country poverty reduction strategies. The articles in 1. Engage communities and beneficiaries this series have demonstrated how, through By partnering with communities and social inclusion principles, Sighstavers has beneficiaries, and engaging them as drivers afforded equality of opportunity in employment, of the change process, we have seen greater education, health, water and sanitation services acceptance and recognition of disabled and in general community life. people as equal members of society. A real indicator of success has been changes in national systems which accommodate the equal participation of disabled people in every Conclusion day tasks. The 2010 MDG review highlighted the link Our programmes have also empowered between disability and many of the Millennium disabled people to ensure that their voice is Development Goals. Social inclusion presents heard in relation to development issues. This development managers with a double-edged approach promotes self-confidence among sword in dealing with the dilemma of the disabled people and creates space for them to human race “failing to achieve the goals it be visible and engaged in their everyday life. has set for itself”. Sightsavers’ work in social inclusion demonstrates how, from a process 2. Adopt a multi-stakeholder strategy perspective, we have adopted social inclusion Realising that the CBR matrix proposes a as a ‘means’ to ensure disabled people multi-dimensional approach to social inclusion, have the same opportunities in life as other Sightsavers has taken to working with citizens. On the other hand, we have used multiple stakeholders. Having a wide range of social inclusion to define the end towards partners is beneficial as each brings different which we are working, as encapsulated in experiences and strengths, such as authority, our organisational vision statement “..visually credibility, technical expertise, funding etc. impaired people participate equally in society.”
1 Some facts about people with Disabilities. http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/facts.shtml 2 Also referred to as the ‘twin track approach’.
Page 37 Sightsavers Grosvenor Hall Bolnore Road Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 4BX UK Tel: +44 (0) 1444 446600 Fax: +44 (0) 1444 446688
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