From: CBR F [mailto:doccomm.c...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, June 29, 2012 2:54 PM Subject: June 2012 - CBR Forum - E- News Bulletin
CBR Forum E-News Bulletin A Compilation of News, Information and Updates June 2012 - CBR Forum - E- News Bulletin First issue: Oct 2007, Current Issue No. #58 Networking, Advocacy and Lobbying - in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and enhance the potential to exercise these rights. Compiled by: Jaya Bharathy doccomm.c...@gmail.com<mailto:doccomm.c...@gmail.com> A: INDIA A1: ACTS/ POLICY/ PROGRAMMES Govt creates separate department for 2.1 crore disabled people NEW DELHI: In a move to focus on the problems of the disabled, the social justice ministry has carved a separate department to cater to the vulnerable group that accounts for over two crore of the population. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-07/india/32102678_1_crore-disabled-people-national-handicapped-finance-disability-act New progressive Bill for empowerment of disabled people Government is pursuing a new bill to provide "progressive and forward looking dimensions" to the rights of disabled people by expanding its scope on the lines of the United Nation Convention, said Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry on Wednesday. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_new-progressive-bill-for-empowerment-of-disabled-people_1701803 Law on disability in advanced stage Guwahati,: The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr Mukul Wasnik, said on Sunday the framing of a law on disability is at an advanced stage and would come up for consultation at the Centre soon. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article3539826.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy 'It took seven years, but in the end she got justice' When the Mahad police, first landed at her home with their request, Poornima Khade hesitated. The headmistress of a school for special children in the area, had no delusions that the job - helping a 9-year-old girl with Down's Syndrome tell the court that she had been raped - would be easy. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2012060320120603095829847848b07b/%E2%80%98It-took-seven-years-but-in-the-end-she-got-justice%E2%80%99.html Deaf and dumb are valid witnesses: SC The testimony of deaf and dumb witnesses can by relied upon by courts as they are competent and signs and gestures are admissible piece of evidence, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_deaf-and-dumb-are-valid-witnesses-sc_1691870 Disabled to get preference in house allotment Persons with disabilities would now be given preference in allotment of industrial housing units, sheds and plots in Delhi as a policy in this regard has come into force with immediate effect. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article3549822.ece TN to continue 3 per cent reservation for differently abled Chennai, Jun 5 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu government today informed the Madras High Court that it would continue to provide three per cent reservation for the differently abled in the posts of nutritious noon meal organisers. While appointing the organisers, three per cent reservation would be provided for partially deaf persons and those with lesser degree of locomotor disability, Advocate General A Navaneethakrishnan said. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tn-to-continue-3-per-cent-reservation-for-differently-abled/1008153.html A2: EDUCATION Learning the ability to understand disability The WheelTalk School Awareness Program, run by Disability Sport and Recreation, promotes disability awareness by teaching school students how to play wheelchair basketball. This month, the program will visit many schools across Gippsland. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/06/22/3531034.htm Handicapped boy moves HC against denial of admission by IIT A physically challenged student on Monday approached the Delhi High Court accusing the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi of denying him admission on an allegedly discriminatory and arbitrary ground. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_handicapped-boy-moves-hc-against-denial-of-admission-by-iit_1706613 161 special schools don't meet criteria PUNE: As many as 161 special schools run by as many NGOs in the state that had applied for government funds called grant-in-aid do not meet the eligibility criteria, an evaluation undertaken by the Disability Commissionerate, Pune, has said. The report has been sent to the state social justice department. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-21/pune/32351821_1_special-schools-ngos-eligibility-criteria A3: HEALTH Mental disability more common in males A survey conducted on children and young persons with disabilities in Swaziland reveals that more males than females suffer from mental disability.The study was conducted by the deputy prime minister's office's Disability Unit in 2009 and was released in December 2010. http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=40158 Awareness could prevent 80 percent of strokes Identifying the early signs of mental deterioration and timely intervention in stroke or paralysis remains the biggest challenge for health experts even as the region geared for recovery on the World Paralysis Day on Sunday. The health experts especially neurologists are however hopeful that awareness could prevent up to 80 per cent of stroke giving new lease of life to the patients. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-25/kanpur/32408364_1_stroke-brain-cells-early-signs Autism linked to misregulated genes Scientists have found genetic changes that help explain why one person has an autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and another does not. Their study pinpoints ASD risk factors by comparing changes in gene expression with DNA mutation data in the same individuals. This innovative approach is likely to pave the way for future personalized medicine, not just for ASD but also for any disease with a genetic component. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/health/32368330_1_genetic-regions-genetic-variants-autism A4: LIVELIHOOD/ EMPLOYMENT Employment opportunities for disabled bleak in Northeast GUWAHATI: The prevailing employment scenario for people with disabilities in the Northeast is very bleak with an estimated 83 per cent of them being unemployed. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/guwahati/32423490_1_disability-certificate-three-per-cent-reservation-pwd-act HC tells University to appoint handicapped as clerk-cum-typist Taking note of Centre's policy to provide jobs to candidates with physical disabilities, the Bombay High Court has quashed an order of Mumbai University cancelling appointment of a physically handicapped person as telephone operator-cum-receptionist and directed that instead he may be appointed as clerk-cum-typist. http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/hc-tells-university-to-appoint-handicapped-as-clerk-cum-typist/25804/ A5: ACCESS Talking ATM The Union Bank of India along with ATM manufacturer NCR Corporation has launched the 'Accessible' or the 'Talking ATM' for the differently abled. The public sector lender opened its 4,000th ATM at the Blind People Association in Ahmedabad. www.thehindubusinessline.com/industryandeconomy/banking/article3496908.ece<http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industryandeconomy/banking/article3496908.ece> Technology bridging the gap between the abled and differently abled With the internet spreading its wings into even the remotest places on earth, everybody wants to be tangled in the 'world wide web.' This is where Job Access with Speech enters the scene. More commonly known as JAWS, it strives to bridge the gap between the abled and differently abled. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Technology-bridging-the-gap-between-the-abled-and-differently-abled/articleshow/14426723.cms It takes more than disabled-friendly taxis I refer to the letter "Have disabled-friendly taxi service like the UK's" (May 25). This would be a step towards making our public transport more accessible for the less able. Beyond providing such infrastructure, it is pertinent that society supports this. Accessing public transport is a unique, empowering social experience for people with visual impairment. Yet, many have shared that this experience is stressful at times, especially as visual impairment has been termed an invisible disability. http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120613-0000008/It-takes-more-than-disabled-friendly-taxis A5.1: ACCESS TO AIRTRAVEL A6: DISCRIMINATION/ APATHY Three of 5 disabled have no proof of their condition New Delhi: Three in every five differently-abled persons in India have no proof of their disability. Seventeen years after the government enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act in 1995 to make life easier for such persons, evidence from across the country shows that only 39.13 pc of them have been issued disability certificates. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120618/main6.htm IIT says no to rank 113 for disabled New Delhi Seventeen-year-old Amit Kumar was thrilled to have secured the 113th rank in the IIT-JEE this year under the general physically disabled category. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/iit-says-no-to-rank-113-for-disabled/962950/ Disabled athletics champ raped by auto driver MALDA: A national champion, hailed as a 'pride of Bengal' , was kidnapped by an autorickshaw driver, who took advantage of her speech and hearing disability to lock her up in a room and rape her all of Sunday night. The victim escaped at dawn and wandered about in a state of shock before a policeman handed her a pen and paper to write down her ordeal. She is the reigning champion in 200-metres sprint and has won several medals for the state in disabled athletics. She was also feted as a role model for the state by the governor last year. It is yet another shameful incident for Bengal after the Park Street rape and the rape of a homemaker by a Kolkata taxi driver. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Disabled-athletics-champ-raped-by-auto-driver/articleshow/14422626.cms A7: EXCELLENCE Ability beyond disability She's on a unique mission which she calls 'ability beyond disability.' Armed with her qualities of grit, determination, perseverance, accomplishment and passion, Deepa Malik is a fighter and a true champion. Despite being confined to a wheelchair due to paralysis, she has a plethora of achievements and victories to her credit in areas of biking, swimming and car rallying and in track and field events like shot put, javelin and discus throw. She has been representing India at both national and international platforms in the disabled categories. http://www.hindustantimes.com/HTEducation/Chunk-HT-UI-HTEducationSectionPage-OtherStories/Ability-beyond-disability/SP-Article1-869939.aspx Fight for rights Disabled people use sign language as they address protestors during a statewide protest organized by the Network of Persons with Disability Organisation (NPDO) in Hyderabad on Monday. NPDO staged the demonstration highlighting the problems of mentally and physically challenged people and demanded proper utilization of funds allocated by the government for welfare of People with Disabilities department. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/14267896.cms B: INTERNATIONAL NEWS B1: ACTS/ POLICY/ PROGRAMMES Promoting Disability Rights Internationally One billion people, or fifteen percent of the global population have disabilities, according to World Health Organization and World Bank statistics. That is one reason President Barack Obama has highlighted disability rights as an important component of his domestic and international human rights policies, said Special Assistant to President Obama Samantha Power: http://www.voanews.com/policy/editorials/africa/Promoting-Disability-Rights-Internationally-159924835.html UNICEF Calls for Social Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Africa Millions of children in Africa live with some sort of disability. On the Day of the African Child 2012, UNICEF calls on families, communities and governments throughout the continent to protect children with disabilities from discrimination, violence and neglect, and to provide them with access to all the services they need to grow up healthy and live up to their potential. http://allafrica.com/stories/201206180384.html Disability services $1bn short: Minister South Australian Disabilities Minister Ian Hunter says about $8 billion funding is needed if every person in the nation with a disability is to get the services they need. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-25/disability-services-funding-shortfall/4090938 B2: EDUCATION Education policy in a total mess and mismanaged I support the views expressed by Bar Council's Andrew Khoo with regards to the legality in freezing PTPTN loans for students at Unisel. The decision by the Higher Education Minister is political. The right to education is a fundamental human right. Every individual, irrespective of race, gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion or political preference, age or disability, is entitled to free elementary education. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/06/12/education-policy-in-a-total-mess-and-mismanaged/ The rights of children with disabilities As the world celebrates June 16, the theme centers on the rights of children with disabilities. Botswana unfortunately does not have a legislative framework for children with disabilities let alone for people with disabilities. And sadly we have a long way from being able to provide decent education of any sort for most children with disabilities and special needs across the country. Not only is there a dearth of data on children with disabilities and access to education, there is also lack of adequate budgetary allocation to special needs education (SNE), even though we may have established SNE units. http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13825:the-rights-of-children-with-disabilities&catid=21:columns&Itemid=2 B3: HEALTH Portland does the right thing for health care by covering autism treatment The Portland City Council recently approved a new health benefits package for city employees and their dependents. The new package was the result of a detailed process that refined and updated many of the services offered. Among the changes was one that was small in size, but will have a profound impact on many people in our community. At the insistence of Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Dan Saltzman, those covered by the city of Portland's health insurance plans will now be able to receive timely and effective medical treatment for autism. Portland has done the right thing. http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/06/portland_does_the_right_thing.html Alliance encourages persons with disabilities to enter health care field Promoting the employment of people with disabilities in the health care industry is the focus of a new alliance. Two organizations have teamed up to help boost employment and educational opportunities. http://www.riskandinsurance.com/story.jsp?storyId=533348538 B4: LIVELIHOOD/ EMPLOYMENT Moorland Plastics disability employer to take on more staff Moorland Plastics, a not-for-profit company based in Barnsley, currently employs 33 people with disabilities. Marketing and sales manager, James Smith, said the firm intended to employ 20 more people over the next 12 months. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-18519598 B5: ACCESS British Airways steward who blamed in-flight risotto for sickness wins compensation after being banned from flying A British Airways steward, who was banned from flying after he fell ill after eating an in-flight mushroom risotto, has won more than £8,500 in a legal battle with the airline. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2162772/Disability-discrimination B6: DISCRIMINATION/ APATHY The 'Curse' of Childhood Disability in South Africa SOUTH AFRICA -- A few days after providing basic health advice to a young mother who'd just given birth, community health worker Ncedisa Paul received a frantic phone call from the infant's grandmother. It was time for the child to be immunized against polio. But none of the clinics in the Zidindi district in South Africa's Eastern Cape province had the vaccine. http://www.voanews.com/content/the-curse-of-childhood-disability-in-south-africa/1213185.html Hate crime: Support calls for people with learning disabilities Mencap Cymru said nine out of 10 people with a learning disability have been a victim of hate crime and bullying.But the number of people who report these crimes is far lower, it added. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18526155 B7: EXCELLENCE C: RESOURCES - Newsletter, Publication, Journal, Study, Website SexualityandDisability.org Welcome to www.sexualityanddisability.org<http://www.sexualityanddisability.org>, a website that starts with the premise that women who are disabled are sexual beings - just like any other woman. http://www.sexualityanddisability.org/default.aspx Perspectives of Disability-Inclusive Business in Asia and the Pacific http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/perspectives-disability-inclusive-business-asia-and-pacific Reaching out to the mentally ill Tele-psychiatry service has reduced inhibition and ensured people seek treatment http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3398355.ece D: ANNOUNCEMENTS Nominees sought for Disability Network/Lakeshore award The Disability Network/Lakeshore is seeking nominations for its Ability Award - an honor bestowed on someone whose work empowers people with disabilities. Government of Canada Launches Call for Proposals to Support People With Disabilities The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today invited not-for-profit organizations to apply for funding for projects that support the Government's commitments under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/102061258/government-of-canada-launches-call-for-proposals-to-support-people-with-disabilities Kindly email doccomm.c...@gmail.com<mailto:doccomm.c...@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. 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