From: Mahesh Chandrasekar [mailto:advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 12:41 PM Subject: April 2012 - CBR Forum - E- News Bulletin
CBR Forum E-News Bulletin – A Compilation of News, Information and Updates April 2012 - CBR Forum - E- News Bulletin First issue: Oct 2007, Current Issue No. #56 Networking, Advocacy and Lobbying – in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and enhance the potential to exercise these rights. Compiled by: Mary Battihun and Mahesh advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com<mailto:advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com> A: INDIA A1: ACTS/ POLICY/ PROGRAMMES RS passes Bill to include disabled in RTE NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Bill to include children with disabilities in the ambit of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Moving the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2010, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that it provides children with severe disabilities the right to receive home-based education. http://expressbuzz.com/topnews/rs-passes-bill-to-include-disabled-in-rte/385483.html Give disabled children choice, amend RTE Act, says NAC The Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council (NAC) has asked the Government to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act to provide disabled children a choice to study either in an ordinary/inclusive or a special school. http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/57278-give-disabled-children-choice-amend-rte-act-says-nac.html Amendment to Education Bill passed, disability net widened The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 that widens the net for disabled children bringing under its purview children with severe disability. Such children would have the option of receiving education at home. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3350093.ece Urban development in the 12th Plan: Who's in? Who's out It seems likely that the 12th Plan will also incorporate the same old gendered assumptions that have effectively invisibilised women -- particularly working class women -- from urban policies in India, writes Kalyani Menon-Sen http://infochangeindia.org/urban-india/analysis/urban-development-in-the-12th-plan-whos-in-whos-out.html Policy interventions, schemes for autism on the anvil In a first step towards recognising autism as a condition that can be classified as a “disability”, the State government will soon make official a policy that extends all benefits and schemes extended to persons with disability, including medical support, intervention and educational benefits, to those diagnosed with autism. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3272302.ece Move to trim pensions draws activists' ire The State Government's effort to drastically trim the entire spectrum of social security pensions by fixing district-wise caps on the number of beneficiaries is drawing criticism from activists, who argue that it makes a mockery of welfare schemes. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article3289327.ece#.T4vfa2SWZWk.gmail Disabled pensioners’ list slashed by 97% BANGALORE: Robbing Peter to pay Paul has been a time-tested tactic of governments unable to prune wasteful expenditure but yet want to show that they practise austerity. In a move that smacks of insensitivity , the government of Karnataka has allegedly pruned the number of disabled persons eligible for pension in the state by a whopping 97.5%. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Disabled-pensioners-list-slashed-by-97/articleshow/12645518.cms Hint of wider poverty parameters Hyderabad, April 7: Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said the Prime Minister favoured a “multi-dimensional approach” towards fixing the poverty line, marking a shift from consumption-based cut-offs that sparked a controversy last year. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120408/jsp/nation/story_15347516.jsp Haryana bans use of word 'handicapped' Chandigarh: Haryana government has banned the use of expression 'handicapped' saying it violates and undermines the dignity of persons with disability. http://zeenews.india.com/news/haryana/haryana-bans-use-of-word-handicapped_770553.html RBI for waiving ATM charges for senior citizens, differently-abled Mumbai, The Reserve Bank of India wants banks to do senior citizens and physically/visually challenged customers a good turn. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article3287992.ece India and Philippines share experiences on C.R.P.D. Parallel Reporting D.N.I.S. News Network, India: Teams of the coalition drafting the Parallel Report on C.R.P.D. implementation in India and Philippines met in Bangkok on March 17 and 18 to share experiences on the processes in their respective countries. This technical exchange was facilitated by the International Disability Alliance (I.D.A.) and Disabled People’s International (D.P.I.). http://www.dnis.org/news.php?issue_id=2&volume_id=9&news_id=1201&i=2 A2: EDUCATION Give disabled children a choice, amend RTE: NAC New Delhi: The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) wants the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry to amend the right to education (RTE) law to ensure that disabled children have the choice to study either in an ordinary or a special school http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/give-disabled-children-a-choice-amend-rte-nac_769646.html Supreme Court upholds every child’s right to education The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the constitutional validity of the Right to Education Act, 2009, which mandates 25% free seats to poor children up to the age of 14 in government and private aided and unaided schools (but not in unaided minority institutions) uniformly across the country. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_supreme-court-upholds-every-childs-right-to-education_1675189 Teaching is charity: SC New Delhi, April 12: The Supreme Court bench that upheld the right to education act today cited previous judgments that said an educational institution is charitable by nature. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120413/jsp/nation/story_15369787.jsp#.T4f6k9nTr6M UN expert hails Indian court decision to uphold right of every child to education 13 April 2012 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today hailed a decision by the Indian Supreme Court to uphold a law which mandates that a quarter of the places in the county’s private and public schools should be reserved for disadvantaged groups. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41774&Cr=education&Cr1 = Disabled pin hopes on RTE Act The Right to Education (RTE) Act that makes elementary education a right for all children between the ages of 6 and 14, promises to revolutionise the education sector. Tamil Nadu's rules for implementing the Act makes them eligible for admission to a private, neighbourhood school by including children with disabilities in ‘disadvantaged groups', under the provision to reserve 25 per cent seats. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3318212.ece Schools set to skip aid to ‘save’ seats Some of Calcutta’s top minority-run schools would rather drop off the government’s list of “aided” institutions and bear a bigger salary bill than be bound by the Supreme Court’s order to reserve a fourth of their seats for the underprivileged. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120413/jsp/calcutta/story_15366918.jsp#.T4f789nTr6M Minorities rue ruling New Delhi, April 12: Minority groups are unhappy that the Supreme Court has declined to exempt aided minority schools from the Right to Education Act’s provisions. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120413/jsp/nation/story_15369788.jsp#.T4f64NnTr6M Why burden us, ask private schools New Delhi, April 12: Today’s Supreme Court judgment saying all private schools other than unaided minority schools must reserve one in four seats for poor children has provoked dismay in private schools. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120413/jsp/frontpage/story_15369789.jsp#.T4f7XdnTr6M Seal on school seats for poor Court allows sole exception New Delhi, April 12: All schools, barring unaided minority institutions, will have to set aside 25 per cent of their seats for disadvantaged sections in the neighbourhood, the Supreme Court ruled today. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120413/jsp/frontpage/story_15369886.jsp#.T4f4htnTr6M 1000 Scholarships for students with disabilities National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC), for and on behalf of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, invites applications from Students with Disabilities for award of Scholarship under the Scholarship Scheme (Trust Fund) :- http://www.nhfdc.nic.in/site/Trust%20Fund_2011-12.pdf Schools send special-needs children for repeated tests Mumbai: Learning Disability (LD) specialists in the city have been observing a disturbing trend. They claim that when parents bring children with learning disabilities for admission to schools, authorities often ask for them to be re-assessed, even if the child seeking admission has already been handed documents certifying them as having learning disabilities. http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/schools-send-special-needs-children-for-repeated-tests-196192 A3: HEALTH Disclose psychiatric info under RTI? Yes, says CIC; No, says HC Do psychiatry patients have the right to access records of their treatment? While the Central Information Commission (CIC) directed a mental health hospital to provide this information to a patient, the hospital has moved court citing confidentiality. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/disclose-psychiatric-info-under-rti-yes-says-cic;-no-says-hc/940662/ Dementia cases worldwide will triple by 2050: WHO JAIPUR: Nearly 3.7 million people in India are suffering from dementia, and this number is set to double over the next 20 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-12/science/31330970_1_dementia-patients-caregivers-low-and-middle-income-countries Six-fold rise in autism cases in India HYDERABAD: There has been a staggering six-fold rise in the number of autism cases in the country. From an estimated 20 lakh cases in 2003, there are reportedly 1.36 crore autism patients in India at present. As per the latest global survey, one in every 88 children is born with autism now against a ratio of one in 150 till a few years ago. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-01/hyderabad/31269635_1_autism-cases-world-autism-day-autistic-patients Oshiwara victim goes through spine surgery MUMBAI: A four-hour spine surgery was performed on 26-year-old animator Charu Khandal on Thursday morning , four days after she landed in hospital with severe injuries sustained in an accident in which a motorist, apparently driving drunk, rammed into the auto in which she was travelling. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-30/mumbai/31260750_1_spine-surgery-sister-ritu-and-friend-vertebrae A4: LIVELIHOOD/ EMPLOYMENT Ahmedabad University gives career option to visually impaired The Ahmedabad University (AU) has granted affiliation to a college of physiotherapy for visually impaired in Ahmedabad http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ahmedabad-university-gives-career-option-to-visually-impaired_1679236 A5: ACCESS Now the blind and deaf can ‘read' and send SMS Now the visually and audio impaired can ‘read' and send SMS through a simple application called PocketSMS. It can be downloaded for free from Bapsi.org. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/article3318264.ece DU students bat for disabled-friendly campus Students with disabilities will hold a protest on Wednesday demanding a more disabled-friendly campus from Delhi University authorities. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/239411/du-students-bat-disabled-friendly.html Getting grounded on the disability issue Disabled activists being humiliated on domestic flights make headline news. But the daily travails of the disabled who attempt to travel by bus, rail or tram never get any attention. Isn't it more important to ensure that the poor and disabled are brought into the arena of rights, asks Shampa Sengupta http://infochangeindia.org/disabilities/analysis/getting-grounded-on-the-disability-issue.html#.T4pZsfF2VGM.email Travel trauma of those with special needs Travelling may be a joy to many but it is most often a humiliating experience for the differently abled. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120420/jsp/calcutta/story_15395314.jsp#.T5D7V9nTr6M Court notice to Centre, DGCA on deplaning of disabled The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and the Director-General of Civil Aviation, on a complaint seeking action against SpiceJet for deplaning Jeeja Ghosh on the ground that she was suffering from cerebral palsy, a physical disability. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3282569.ece Making the Railways friendly for the disabled –Part I http://www.moneylife.in/article/making-the-railways-friendly-for-the-disabled-ndashpart-i/24814.html?dhiti=1&p= Making the Railways friendly for the disabled –Part II http://moneylife.in/article/making-the-railways-friendly-for-the-disabled-ndashpart-ii/24877.html App for autistic kids Bangalore, April 5: In the 1988 Hollywood film Rain Man, the autistic savant played by Dustin Hoffman gets upset because, in a breach of the routine he is used to, the pancakes have been put on the table before the maple syrup http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120406/jsp/nation/story_15341243.jsp Accessible tourism: The right moves A small percentage of Indian travellers with special needs have been exploring the world, willing to spend money to see destinations that encourage barrier-free travel. http://www.expresstravelworld.com/201204/management01.shtml A6: DISCRIMINATION/ APATHY Disability study brings out hard facts BHUBANESWAR: Are persons with disability (PWD) living a happy life in the state? A recent study has brought out many a startling fact about them that can leave you gaping in wonder. For example, only 36.5 of the disabled persons have life partners. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-05/bhubaneswar/31293915_1_disabled-persons-pwds-disability-study Government schemes blind to visually challenged: Study Despite talks of inclusive growth, government programmes have often ignored persons with blindness in rural areas, leading to widespread unemployment and lack of utilisation of their skills, a research study by All-India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) has revealed. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/239393/government-schemes-blind-visually-challenged.html Mentally challenged girl abducted, raped AHMEDABAD: Mother of a 16-year old girl has filed a complaint against a youth for abducting and raping her daughter over two days on Sunday. Police have started search for the absconding youth http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Mentally-challenged-girl-abducted-raped/articleshow/12697624.cms ‘Make disabled rights violation penal offence' Expressing concern at the continuing violation of the rights of persons with disabilities, the 20th party congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded penal provisions to make such infringement an offence. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3291564.ece Supreme Court asks Centre to repatriate mentally unsound Pak prisoners Voicing deep concern over mentally unsound Pakistani nationals languishing in Indian jails even after completion of their sentences, the Supreme Court today asked the government why they should not be repatriated, saying such detention “pains us”. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3299668.ece?homepage=true Outfit of disabled mulls national front To battle out the routine discrimination being meted out to the disabled, a conference organised by the Able Disabled All People Together (Adapt) discussed forming of a national front for the differently-abled. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_outfit-of-disabled-mulls-national-front_1672138 A7: EXCELLENCE He runs a company from his bedside PANCHKULA: To say that Sumit Mehta, 28, is a picture of grit is a serious understatement. Suffering muscular dystrophy since birth because of which he can neither walk nor sit properly, Sumit is a tech whiz who leads his software company from the front even though he has to stay in bed all day. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/He-runs-a-company-from-his-bedside/articleshow/12589908.cms Hearing impairment is no barrier to success for Pune model Pune: With a passion for modelling that could not be deterred, Maitraya Kotecha, a hearing impaired boy from Pune, with sheer determination, is on the threshold of making a successful career. http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-hearing-impairment-is-no-barrier-to-success-for-pune-model-3152464.html No hand for writing. So what? Hanuman B Hona-konde has no hands and his left leg has stunted growth. But that does not deter him from writing the SSLC exam with the other normal leg. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/239101/no-hand-writing-so-what.html Helping them rediscover life BANGALORE: All was well with 24-year-old S Vinay Kumar till the day he was diagnosed with incurable congenital glaucoma. Rough days began as Vinay started losing his vision every day and finally lost it completely in 2007. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Helping-them-rediscover-life/articleshow/12683667.cms ‘I never asked: Why me? It is a question people who pray to God a lot ask...’ One day your world goes dark, as if a light is switched off, never to be turned on again. You can't see where you are going or the faces of your family and friends. For most people vision loss can be devastating. But this young lass has taken it in her stride and even finds her new life adventurous http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/81/201204142012041419453248415357fc2/%E2%80%98I-never-asked-Why-me-It-is-a-question-people-who-pray-to-God-a-lot-ask%E2%80%99.html Mothers’ network to help autistic children For mothers of these autistic children, the challenges of parenting are not any different. Barring communication and behavioural issues, their children go about their lives. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/240674/mothers-network-help-autistic-children.html Sense and sensitivity Tariq effortlessly rolls his wheelchair over a short incline and enters a room where music and freshly-made snacks make an inviting combo. This ramp is of a conspicuously reduced dimension — barely one-and-a-half-ft long — but it provides Tariq and other differently-abled people access to the often elusive world where they can meet the able-bodied on an equal footing. Welcome to Kalakkal Café, a youth hangout erected on the foundations of inclusivity. http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/leisure/article3272924.ece Omar grants Rs 1.21 lakh to visually impaired Advocate Jammu, Mar 30 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah granted an amount of Rs 1,21,500 to Advocate Suraj Singh, who has a hundred per cent vision disability, for purchase of Braille system and other required equipment. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/omar-grants-rs-121-lakh-to-visually-impaired-advocate/981198.html Coping, not child's play Aparna Thota is brave enough to admit that coping with an autistic child isn't easy. “I recognised mild traces of autism in Dhruv around the time he was three. I kept trying to do my best... but when people around you tell you that he's doing well and there isn't anything wrong, you just want to cling on to that ‘truth'. I lost my focus many a time, because it was the most believable truth – that my son was doing ‘okay',” she says. http://www.thehindu.com/health/article3265868.ece Special schools help autistic children stand tall NAGPUR: Most people are devastated or even depressed on learning their child suffers from a learning disability. But a visit to Shakti Learning Centre and Research Institute is enough to pep up the most dejected parents. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Special-schools-help-autistic-children-stand-tall/articleshow/12497985.cms B: INTERNATIONAL NEWS B1: ACTS/ POLICY/ PROGRAMMES Repeal Mental Health Laws The Campaign to Repeal Mental Health Laws (U.S. and Canada) has launched its website and welcomes individuals and organizations to sign on as supporters. http://repealmentalhealthlaws.org/ B2: EDUCATION B3: HEALTH John Meletse - He's deaf, gay and HIV positive. He's been sharing his heartfelt message, to inspire the deaf community to communicate openly about sex. Now he's teaching sex education to raise awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS. http://www.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/africanvoices/index.html Cochlear Implants Redefine What It Means To Be Deaf There was a time when a child born deaf had few choices. For more than a century, the only option for parents was to send their son or daughter away to a boarding school for the deaf. There, the children and the schools thrived in the shadows, embracing a distinct culture of silent communication. http://www.npr.org/2012/04/08/150245885/cochlear-implants-redefine-what-it-means-to-be-deaf B4: LIVELIHOOD/ EMPLOYMENT How to help disabled employees deal with emergencies THE LAW: A major focus of emergency planning concerns how to help people with disabilities. However, employers must remember that federal laws may restrict what employers can do in emergencies. http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/29517/how-to-help-disabled-employees-deal-with-emergencies B5: ACCESS Crawling off a train: disability in the UK in 2012 Some years ago I had an operation on my knee which left me in plaster for 6 weeks and on a stick for three months. Since then I have needed to use my stick when my knee is having a bad day and I routinely watch how I walk in case I trip over bumps in the pavement. As for running? Forget it http://www.womensviewsonnews.org/tag/women-and-disability Blind man “drives” automated Google smart car Google’s self-driving smart car R&D project has hit another milestone, with the company allowing a visually impaired person to “drive” one of its test vehicles. http://www.smartcompany.com.au/information-technology/049011-blind-man-drives-automated-google-smart-car.html More disabled people getting driving license They learn to drive modified cars under hospital's rehab scheme http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_784419.html B6: DISCRIMINATION/ APATHY 3 years after 26/11, Brit guest sues Taj Pike fell and broke his spine while trying to climb down from his room using bed sheets. In London A little over three years after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, a Londoner who broke his spine trying to escape the slaughter at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel is suing its owners, the Indian Hotels Company controlled by Tata Sons. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/15/201203312012033108054024488437a3e/3-years-after-2611-Brit-guest-sues-Taj.html B7: EXCELLENCE Tom Wlodkowski, Director of Accessibility, AOL In Tom Wlodkowski’s office, there is a poster that says “If a man who is blind can get to the top of Mount Everest, then he should be able to get anywhere he wants on AOL.” As AOL’s Director of Accessibility, it’s Tom’s job to make sure this is the case http://askjan.org/meet/meetTom.html Blind judo competitor, 12, not allowing disability to block his path Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Blind+judo+competitor+allowing+disability+block+path/6392215/story.html#ixzz1qrkS0jFE C: RESOURCES – Newsletter, Publication, Journal, Study, Website International study on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ZERO PROJECT REPORT 2012 http://www.zeroproject.org/ ENABLE NEWSLETTER - March 2012 The Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) at the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society. It is also available online at: http://www.un.org/disabilities Universal Periodic Review Second Cycle - India http://ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/INSession13.aspx Disability News and Information Service. Volume 9 Issue 2 - April 01, 2012 http://dnis.org/index-2.php?issue_id=2&volume_id=9 D: ANNOUNCEMENTS World CBR Congress: pre and post congress workshops The world CBR congress will be held in Agra (India) from 26 to 28 November 2012. On this occasion, in collaboration with WHO/DAR, IDDC, CBR network and DPI-AP two workshops will be organized: (1) Pre-Congress workshop on “CBR and Intellectual Disabilities” at Jaypee conference centre, Agra (India) on 24 and 25 November 2012. (2) Post-congress workshop on “CBR and Going Beyond the Taboos” at Jaypee conference centre, Agra (India) on 29 and 30 November 2012. If someone has any specific materials including manuals, policy papers and videos related to these workshop themes, please inform me and share them with me at sunil.deepak(at)aifo.it<http://aifo.it> Kindly email advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com<mailto:advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com> for - Contributing news/ events to this E-news bulletin - To unsubscribe this E-news Bulletin Disclaimer: This e-news is a collation of articles/ news from national and international sources. The contents of the same do not necessarily represent the views of CBR Forum. -- C. Mahesh Advocacy Coordinator CBR Forum 14, CK Garden, St. Thomas Town Post Wheeler Road Extension Bangalore - 560 084 Tel - 080- 2549 7387 or 2549 7388 advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com<mailto:advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com> ad...@cbrforum.in<mailto:ad...@cbrforum.in> www.cbrforum.in<http://www.cbrforum.in> "The issue is not the absence of equal rights but the inability to exercise them" "When Policies weaken, Rights must be strengthened" ________________________________ Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. If you have received this email by error, please notify us by return e-mail or telephone and immediately and permanently delete the message and any attachments. 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