Bakti's Phase 2 programme for disabled

Bakti (the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers) will be launching the second phase of the Semai Bakti programme to help the disabled on Feb 1. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will launch the national programme at the PDK Puteri Gunung in Taman Tasek Indah, Simpang Ampat, South Seberang Prai here. 

In a press statement, Bakti, headed by Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, the Prime Minister's wife, announced that the objectives for the second phase would be to get the public's commitment in building a caring society regardless of race or religion. 

The programme would involve all MPs' and assemblymen's wives to get constituencies' allocations that would be channelled directly to the disabled. 

Bakti also aimed to better the education quality for the less fortunate through a series of courses to improve the skills of PDK teachers, parents, management staffers and the community. 

A complete research and campaign would also be held under the programme to decrease the number of disabled by working with the Welfare and Health departments to help pregnant mothers. 

Semai Bakti was first launched by the Prime Minister in April 2005.

 

Source: The Star Jan.29, 2008

Identity of Disabled People: When do you want to be called “disabled people”?

Written by Hisayo Katsui

I am heading for Uganda in the end of January for one month to conduct my fieldworks especially on development cooperation activities. When preparing for the trip, I came across with a very important issue of disability identity that I should pay special attention to. In this article, therefore, I am trying to discuss this issue of identity.

Who are disabled people? The official definition of “disabled people” is diverse from country to country. They are usually based on medical diagnosis, on the basis of which people are entitled to certain services, devices, medications and so on. In Northern countries, the definition is increasingly diversifying as more new diagnosis are found and also because the population is aging. When it comes to Southern countries, the definition tends to be more “classic” ones which include often people with observable sensory or physical impairments. This is one way to look at the identity and possibly the easiest way for a researcher to approach “disabled people.”

For instance, in my last article in the newsletter (No.3/2007), I introduced some figures: “10-12% of the population is disabled people in the world and 80% of them live in the South.

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Clubs fail on disabled standards

Only Bolton and Blackburn meet the recommended spacing requirements outlined by the association, although Arsenal come close with 96%.

Tottenham, Portsmouth and Fulham fall short with less than a third of the required space at their grounds.

It is estimated 30,000 disabled fans regularly attend matches in England.

The National Association of Disabled Supporters (Nads) laid out their recommendations in their Accessible Stadia Guide in 2003, which was endorsed by the Premier League and the Football Association.

However, the majority of top-flight clubs are failing to meet the required wheelchair spaces four years on.

A report by 5 Live drew responses from Chelsea, Portsmouth and Fulham with Chelsea, who provide less than half the required seating, pointing out that they provide free tickets for disabled fans at home matches.

Portsmouth said they would aim to increase their capacity for wheelchair spaces should they move to a new ground in the future.

A Fulham statement said: "Fulham Football Club has recently received approval by the local authority for planning consent to redevelop areas of the ground.

The club will continue to investigate ways in which improvements can be made to the current facilities at Craven Cottage for all of our supporters.

"This is in-line with the club's guiding principle of providing a 'Best in Class' service and to be inclusive to all fans."

However, a Nads statement said: "Nads feels that is important that clubs meet these demands whether they are in the business of building new facilities or not.

"Nads believes that clubs should now be moving towards reconciling disabled seating supply and demand and the guidelines.

"It may be that with the pressures exerted by owners and shareholders to maximise profits, the only way forward will be through government intervention and clear legislation."

Exhibit celebrates the beauty of the disabled

In a bid to change the way society looks at disabled people and to celebrate their beauty, the City of Cape Town is to launch a photo exhibition featuring French models with various forms of disability.

The dramatic photo exhibition, which will take place from 2 to 29 February 2008, will be officially opened by the Cape Town mayor, Helen Zille on Friday as part of the Suidoosterfees to promote cultural exchange.

"I fully support this initiative to reconcile the notions of disability and beauty and to change the way society looks at disabled people as well as the way people with disabilities look at themselves," said Mayor Zille.

Entitled "Aesthetic and Disability", the exhibition will be held in the Cape Town Civic Centre concourse.

The city said that the powerful gallery of images was conceptualised by Deza Nguembock, and produced by top photographers, Angele Etoundi Essamba of Amsterdam and Cherif Boubrit of Paris.

Mr Nguembock and Ms Essamba both live with the after effects of childhood polio.

"We decided to launch the exhibition in Cape Town because the Executive Mayor, Helen Zille, was the first public figure to respond positively to our invitation," said Mr Nguembock, who was born in Cameroon but now lives in Paris.

He said they wanted to use their talents to rehabilitate the image that society has for disabled people, and to enrich the image of disabled people in different societies.

"I am thrilled that the world premiere is taking place in Africa, where people with disabilities are not set apart, but form an integral part of society.

"The world will be looking to Cape Town to see how people react to this concept," said Mr Nguembock.

The exhibition includes photos of Nicholas Bissardon of Lyon, a 25-year-old upcoming model who has a birth malformation in his limbs and Evelyne Breton of Marseilles, France - the country's wheelchair marathon race champion for 2000, who became a paraplegic following an accident.

The self-funded project took 12 months to complete and most of the photos were shot in a Paris studio.

After its Cape Town showing, the exhibition will return to Paris and possibly tour New York and Tokyo later this year. - BuaNews, Cape Town

Arc aids developmentally disabled

To some, cleaning tables, swiping cards and interacting with customers is just another tedious day at work. However, it is a step toward independence and a sense of accomplishment to the people the Arc of Orange County serves.

The Arc of Orange County works with local developmentally disabled residents to help incorporate their skills into the community.

The nonprofit is increasing the resources available to these residents with the newly formed Employment Support Services.

The main focus will be to assist individuals in finding paid employment, said Christian Keller, director of group programs and specialized services.

"These guys have a lot of viable and useful skills, but they just need that extra support to go through the process," Keller said.

The month-old department is working with eight people currently, and new referrals come in everyday, Keller said.

"We're just starting to expand the program," said Michelle Antonelli, employment specialist for Arc. "Our goal is to serve many more than that."

Arc works to provide disabled residents with the resources they need to locate, secure and maintain a competitive employment position.

Keller said they try to place clients in jobs that complement existing interests and skills.

"If someone really loves music, we'll look into some of the record stores or a place where they can be working with folks that play instruments," Keller said.

Arc has provided this aid before. They've set up summer internships and volunteer opportunities for clients at local businesses for years.

"We have done bits and pieces of employment support services but nothing to this extent," Keller said. "Now we can put all of our energy and time into helping clients find jobs."

One client already works at Café Carolina in Meadowmont Village.

"It allows him to be around and talk to people he wouldn't normally be exposed to," said Sam Rhule, Café Carolina general manager. "He gets to learn … communication skills and how to deal with people."

Rhule said he would encourage other businesses to become involved with Arc's employment services.

The most successful part of the program is the individual's sense of pride and independence in their vocation, Keller said.

"It's a real job. It's not something that's made up for them," Keller said. "They're in a real business with a real job. They are being able to be productive and contributing members of a society."
Source: The Daily Tar Heel