The Global South to North Disability Research Network E-Newsletter: 3rd Edition (July, 2010) Welcome to the 3rd Edition of the Global South to North Disability Research Network E-newsletter. Our network continue to grow bigger and bigger. We welcome new mailing list members from England, Italy and Pakistan. This makes our network circle bigger and stronger. Please circulate the newsletter and invite more people to the mailing list. This e-newsletter is in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University, Breakthrough UK Ltd, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University [South Africa]) and Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, Disabled People International and African Network on Evidence-to-Action in Disability (AfriNEAD). I would like to welcome on board Disabled People International (www.dpi.org) and the African Network on Evidence-to-Action in Disability (www.afrinead.org) as new partners of the Global South to North Disability Research E-Network. For more information about the two associates, please visit their websites and familiarise yourself with their work. The aims of our e-newsletter are to provide informal, off the press and informative monthly details of global south and global north disability research activities, which might be of interest to audiences including disability activists, organisations of disabled people, students, researchers, policy makers, families, practitioners and local authorities. This sharing and networking links into the aims of the Disability Studies Association (http://www.disabilitystudies.net/), African Network on Evidence-to-Action on Disability (www.afrinead.org) and Disabled People International (www.dpi.org). We look forward to your contributions for the 4th Edition (August) by latest 30th July 2010 so that we have time to put together the e-newsletter. We would appreciate to have contributions from all the continents so that we establish stronger links between the global south and global north. When contributing, please include the following: *  Funding priorities which readers might be able to link into for funding bids. The details of your institution and one contact person and their email address * Monthly commitment to provide us with BRIEF information (including related web links) about disability research activities you and your colleagues are involved with. This could be no more than a few lines. Please ensure that you do not send attachments as we want to keep it workable, informal and relatively easy to read. * To provide details on such things as news on forthcoming publications; conferences/seminars you are attending or hosting; funding opportunities of interest to disability researchers; news from local and national government; international disability issues; stories from research; ideas for research that you would like to explore with interested others; disability studies teaching materials and resources; links to new policy and user consultation, etc? * To provide in your email information categorised in terms of your institution e.g. News from the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University or Activities of the Disability Studies team at University of Cape Town, etc. * To make the email simple text without loads of formatting for ease of putting together the online e-newsletter. * To posit other ideas for developing the e-newsletter. When submitting, please remember to use simple text version for easy accessibility. Once again, thank you for your support, and please submit your contributions to Tsitsi at: tchataika@sun.ac.za   Enjoy the last leg of the FIFA World Cup. Congratulations to the last four countries that be battling to get the golden cup. If your team did not make it on the African soil, never mind, it is only football! And Brazil 2014 is just around the corner! Very best wishes Editors: Tsitsi Chataika (Stellenbosch University, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies & Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin); Dan Goodley (Manchester Metropolitan University) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1. News from the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University Contact: Gubela Mji – gumji@sun.ac.za (a) Announcing The African Network on Evidence-to-Action on Disability (AFRINEAD) 2O11 SYMPOSIUM The African Network on Evidence to – Action- on Disability (AfriNEAD) will be hosting its 3rd bi-annual symposium in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe from the 28th - 30th November 2011. AfriNEAD facilitates the debate on how to translate research into evidence -based advocacy, practice and policy, particularly within the Pan - African context. This is a network of various disability advocacy groups; local and international academics and researchers; health service providers and representatives from various government departments. Central to the AfriNEAD approach is the concept of ubuntu (a person is a person because of other people). Though this concept has sparked considerable debate and difference of opinion, the AfriNEAD membership believes and acknowledges the interdependence or interrelatedness which enhances the opportunities for networking and mutual interdependence within the AfriNEAD membership and beyond. Building on the impetus given by the previous two symposia, it was clear for the network members that to further push forward the debate of using research evidence as a vehicle to realising the rights of disabled people within a Pan-African cosmology certain integral issues such as trust, accountability and openness required to be debated and strategies to be put in place to coherently strengthen the network. It within this context then that the AfriNEAD membership concluded that the theme for AfriNEAD 2011 symposium will be: “Building Communities of Trust: Evidence - to – Action on Disability Research” The AfriNEAD vision is to foster partnerships of trust whereby each partnership developed with AfriNEAD across the spectrum of business, international governments and organizations enables the goals of ensuring that people living with disabilities are empowered thus ensuring the provision of human rights and the provision of services across all sectors of society. We warmly invite you then to join us in this momentous event in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe in November 2011. The call for papers will be around early next year. Please make sure you book your diaries for the symposium. For any further information regarding the AfriNEAD, please log on to www.afrinead.org, or contact the AfriNEAD chairperson at gumji@sun.ac.za or info@afrinead.org. 2. News from RIHSC, Manchester Metropolitan University Contact: Dan Goodley – dgoodley@mmu.ac.uk (a) Disability and the Majority World: Challenging Dominant Epistemologies Conference Date: Friday 9th July, 2010 10am-4.00pm Venue: New Lecture Theatre, Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0JA Conference Programme     9.30- 9.50     Registration 10.00-10.10   Introductory Address: Dan Goodley and Shaun Grech 10.10-10.55     Intersections in Disability, Poverty and Development: a global disability studies? - Shaun Grech (Manchester Metropolitan University) Chair: Dan Goodley 10.55-11.05     Break 11.05-11.50     Medical, social or cha’lla? The poisoned chalice of the disability ‘professional’ in majority world countries - Susan Buell (University of East Anglia) Chair: Susie Miles 11.50-12.00     Break 12.00-12.45     Locating disability in the majority world: geography or poverty? - Alison Sheldon (University of Leeds) Chair: Shaun Grech 12.45-13.15     Lunch: Refactory 13.15-14.00     Rising to the challenge of inclusive networking: balancing insider and outsider perspectives - Susie Miles (University of Manchester) Chair: Susan Buell 14.00- 14.10    Break 14.10-14.55     Disability and the geo-political imagination: Empire, multitude and the contributions of Hardt and Negri - Dan Goodley & Rebecca Lawthom (Manchester Metropolitan University) Chair: Anita Ghai 14.55-15.05     Break 15.05-15.50     Engaging with Disability: An Indian Perspective Anita Ghai (Jesus and Mary College, India) Chair: Shaun Grech 15.50-16.00     Discussion 3. News from Italy Contact: Simona D’Alessio - simonadalessio@yahoo.it (a) Disability Studies in Italy Over the last two decades the emergence of Disability Studies in the US andthe UK did not always correspond to the emergence of similar studies in Southern European countries. Such evidence is particularly visible in Italy where it does not exist (at least until today). Any Disability Studies publication or academic discipline is in line with the works produced by the UPIAS movement in the UK (1976) or the American Society of Disability Studies (1982). The aim of this brief contribution to the e-newsletter is to inform the readers about the birth of a new Disability Studies website in Italy. The website hosts an independent peer-reviewed online journal, named the Italian Journal of Disability Studies, and many other initiatives such as book reviews, links to relevant websites and other information sources concerning Disability Studies. Much in alignment with the purpose of this e-newsletter, the newly born website is hoping to fill in the gap between the northern disability studies networks and the southern ones by giving a voice to the first Italian initiative in the area of Disability Studies. The website and the journal are part of another website named milieu which addresses issues related to the development of inclusive education in opposition to a special needs education tradition. For this reason, both the website and the journal are particularly focused on Disability Studies in Education (DSE). Nevertheless, much space is dedicated to the study of disability from a historical, legislative, cultural and sociological perspective. The editorial board, editors and researchers that contribute to the maintenance of the website are self-funded and work on voluntary basis. The original idea to create a Disability Studies Italy Network resulted from the efforts of a group of researchers who wished to break with a tradition dominated by an individual/medical model of disability and to challenge the well established academic literature still embedded in disabling and abilist discourses. Despite that Italy is celebrated as one of the fewer countries in the world with progressive anti-discriminatory policies (for example in education and in the employment sectors), forms of marginalization are still perpetuated due to the way in which society, policies and services are structured. We argue for a paradigm shift from a deficit model of disability that locates the problem within the person to a social model of disability that supports systemic changes. We believe that unless a shift in thinking in approaching disability is promoted and structural changes are undertaken, exclusion will still be in place. The Italian Journal of Disability Studies is committed to the knowledge and the advancement of Disability Studies in Italy by providing a forum for researchers, activists and scholars to discuss disability from a sociological perspective. In particular, the online journal wishes to provide the Italian audience with insights to the study of disability not simply as a medical condition but as a form of discrimination and oppression experienced by people who differentiate from an established norm. We believe that the creation of this network and its initiatives will help disability activists and scholars to go beyond a narrow interpretation of the notion of disability as an individual and pathological condition of the person and therefore offer to the Italian audience a wider conceptualization and theorization of disability as a social construct. Put briefly, the purposes of Disability Studies Italy can be summarized as follows: 1. Providing scholars, activists and practitioners with a forum to exchange ideas and discuss issues about disability from a sociological perspective 2. Contributing to the development of Disability Studies drawing from an Italian tradition 3. Creating a space to debate disability as a political, social and historical phenomenon beyond the boundary of functional limitations 4. Providing readers with a forum to get acquainted with the latest publications in the area of Disability Studies both in Italian and in English languages 5. Informing readers about initiatives such as conferences, seminars and other relevant initiatives in the area of Disability Studies 6. Providing Italian researchers with new forms of inquiry and research methodologies 7. Including disabled people in the process of theorizing about disability and promoting change and possibly supporting disabled people in the development of positive disability identity (beyond a charity and compensatory model). The first issue of the Journal should be available for downloading at the beginning of September 2010 and will be characterized by four main sections: 1. Academic contributions that address current debates in the area of Disability Studies 2. Personal experiences that provide insights into the life and concerns of disabled people 3. Translations into Italian of relevant works in the area of Disability Studies 4. Book reviews and/or conference proceedings This first issue will be in Italian language and will be focused on the description of Disability Studies and the presentation of the first Italian articles linked to the Disability Studies tradition from an alternative perspective. The following issues will have a main topic, which will be advertised on the website much in advance, and will also accept contributions in English language from all those who wish to contribute to the development of Disability Studies. For information about the website please visit the following link: http://www.milieu.it/DisabilityStudiesItalyEN/DisabilityStudiesItalyEN.html For information about the Italian Journal of Disability Studies please write to: disabilitystudiesitaly@milieu.it 4. News from Inclusive Education in Action Team Contact: Simona D'Alessio - simona@european-agency.org (a) Inclusive Education in Action- A joint project conducted by UNESCO and the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education Inclusive Education in Action (IEA) is a project being conducted jointly by UNESCO and the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education. The project aims to provide a resource for policy makers to help them to design and implement policies for inclusion. The project provides an accessible web-based resource www.inclusive-education-in-action.org which allows users to search for examples in particular areas of policy and practice and also supports feedback on the examples. The goal of the Inclusive Education in Action (IEA) project is to bridge the ‘policy to practice gap’ by providing examples that clearly illustrate the actions described in the UNESCO ‘Policy Guidelines on Inclusion in Education’. The Policy Guidelines consider how the ‘policy cycle’ for inclusive education can be supported by presenting areas of policy concerns; policy questions; gaps to be resolved and suggested actions. The guidelines are available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Russian from http://www.unesco.org/en/education/dynamic-content-singleview/news/unescos_new_policy_guidelines_on_inclusion_in_education_now_available_in_six_languages/browse/3/back/9195/cHash/5c53b98291/) In its 2009-2010 pilot phase, the project is focusing on the broad themes of inclusive policy development; inclusion through early childhood care and education; inclusive curricula; teachers and teacher education and resources and legislation to support inclusion. IEA is kindly requesting materials on examples on good practice in inclusive education. The examples collected by the project team are being presented in an accessible web site that aims to support policy makers to design and develop inclusive policy, or to critically examine their existing systems for inclusion from diverse approaches. The web site (http://www.inclusive-education-in-action.org) shows examples of policy and practice from Europe and other regions of the world. During the 2009-2010 projects pilot phase the examples are in English only and cover selected policy areas from the Guidelines. Examples submitted should relate to the following broad areas of practice: i. Inclusive policy development ii. Inclusion through early childhood care and education iii. Inclusive curricula iv. Teachers and teacher education v. Resources and legislation to support inclusion Examples of Inclusion in Action The examples on the website must clearly illustrate one of the above areas of the UNESCO Policy Guidelines. A framework of criteria has been developed to ensure examples are included from different geographical areas and different settings and situations. Possible examples for the database are being sought via the Agency’s member countries and UNESCO’s networks, including the EFA flagship programme network, the IBE Community of Practice in Curriculum Development, participants that have attended the International Conference of Education (ICE 2008) devoted to inclusive education and other international networks. The examples may include policy statements, descriptions and evaluations of policy developments, case study accounts or personal ‘stories’. The supporting material may include videos and photographs as well as written documents. Submitting examples Below is a template that provides some headings to help you write up your example.The project team will use the information you provide to consider the example and its suitability for the website. Please make sure that you provide contact details as we may wish to contact you for further information if we intend to use the example. At present, we are only able to consider your information in English but additional/supporting material may be in any language. The examples may cover a range of policy and practice for example, nationwide teacher education programs for up-skilling teachers in inclusive education practice; innovative ways of developing curricular for inclusive schools and classrooms; new programs to encourage parental involvement in early childhood education for at risk children or national or international conferences to facilitate collaboration and discussion of key issues among policy makers. If you have any questions, please contact: info@inclusive-education-in-action.org Templates – Please cut and paste this template below into a word document, complete the example, and then email the completed example to examples@inclusive-education-in-action.org by 16th August 2010. All contributions will be fully acknowledged and this is a good opportunity to gain recognition for and facilitate interactions around initiatives from a worldwide network with potential to add value to your work through feedback and discussion with colleagues. Thank you for your help! INFORMATION about your example Your name, job title/role and contact details (as they should appear on the website): Additional/alternative contact for further information (if applicable): Which area(s) of action from the UNESCO policy guidelines does the example link to? Inclusive policy development Yes ? Inclusion through early childhood care and education Yes ? Inclusive curricula Yes ? Teachers and teacher education Yes ? Resources and legislation to support inclusion Yes ? An overview of your example (max 100 words) Background to your example: Short description of geographical location, the setting/situation and size/scope: What issues/challenges does the example address? Please give a brief summary of the key events that lead to this initiative i.e. why was this action undertaken (including relevant theoretical background/research evidence if available). Summary information: What were the main aims of the initiative? How was the initiative implemented? What were the key outcomes? What impact/added value did they provide? What were the biggest challenges? Who worked on and sustained the initiative (key partnerships)? When did the initiative take place (give dates)? What was the timescale? Has the initiative been evaluated or are there plans for this in the future? If so, who will carry out this work? Have any plans been made for future direction of the initiative? Please provide information about supporting materials which are available for your example (i.e. web links, video clips, reports, references etc): 5. News from Sierra Leone Contact: Frank Kallon – frankallon@yahoo.com (a) Handicap International facilitates a workshop for people with disabilities in the Western area of Sierra Leone Handicap International has been very active in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities since the beginning of the civil war in Sierra Leone. Recently, they organized a four-day workshop for fifteen people with disabilities representing organizations in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. The workshop, which took place in Freetown, was focusing on the protection and promotion of people with disabilities’ welfare. The main objective of the training was to discuss successes and challenges facing the people with disabilities in the Sierra Leone, particularly in mainstream participation and social inclusion. (b) People with Disabilities compete in Soccer Tournaments The 2010 FIFA World Cup is the talk of the moment as top teams compete for the golden cup in Africa, for the first time in the history of FIFA. With the same feeling as that of the World Cup, the National Amputees Football Sports Club has just ended a rotational provincial tour in Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kabala in the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Regions of Sierra Leone. The country is emerging from eleven years of civil unrest, a conflict that resulted in devastation consequences, which included burning, looting and killing of civilians. It is however difficult to come to any exact death toll figure, especially given the fact that many deaths that occurred, were not recorded. However, it is estimated that 150, 000 Sierra Leoneans died during this period. People experienced some of the most gruelling atrocities from rebel fighters and renegade soldiers during the war, which resulted in many being amputated. However all hope has not been lost. They have organized this soccer tournament to spread the messages of peace and reconciliation across Sierra Leone. Still, in the spirit of FIFA World Cup, the Single Leg Amputee Sport; a sport club formed specifically by war amputees after the war, over the past years has been engaged in football and other sporting disciplines, which is laudable, given their present plight. The group has just returned home after a successful tournament in Barcelona, Spain. Their participation at international level has lured prominent soccer enthusiasts to invest in Sierra Leone Football. Brazil 2014, here we come! (c) Disabled MP roars over delay in Disability Bill A disabled MP in Sierra Leone, Julius Nye Cuffie has urged the Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Dr. Soccoh Kabia to fast track the enactment of the proposed Disability Bill. MP Cuffie, a representative of the ruling APC party, has expressed concern over the delay in making the Draft Bill into Law. The Draft Bill has been waiting to be tabled for Cabinet for more than 3 months. The MP is irritated because of the multitude of challenges people with disabilities are facing in Sierra Leone. Without a Disability Policy, people with disabilities continue to struggle to accessing social services and being part of the development agenda. Ironically, the Sierra Leone Parliament has enacted the Pension Scheme Bill to specifically benefit retired disabled military personnel. (d) United Nations Secretary General pays a visit to the Amputee Villages in Sierra Leone. The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, who was on an official visit to Sierra Leone, visited the amputee villages at Jui and Grafton Camps in the Western Rural District of Freetown, 35 kilometres away from the city centre on the 14th June, 2010. Amputees living in these villages endured indescribable pain during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Their situation still, is one of hopelessness and despair, as they find it difficult to make a living for themselves and their families, in the midst of the harsh realities of life in post conflict Sierra Leone. 6. News from DPI Pakistan - Rising star Association Contact: Ali Mukhtar jafari - alimukhtarjafari@gmail.com or risingstar@hotmail.co.uk b) Where should we go next? GIVE US MORAL SUPPORT NOT SYMPATHY (The picture illustrates a wheelchair user who can’t get into a building where he/she is supposed to go and register as a person with disability because there are very steep stairs) The procedure to get a Disability Certificate from Ministry of Social Welfare, Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Sindh is in 3 Phases: 1. Registration Certificate from Sindh Employment Exchange. (Relevant Residence Zone) 2. Submitting a Copy of the Employment Registration Certificate at the Directorate of Social Welfare & obtaining an appointment date for a Medical Examination for Disability from the Medical Superintendent of the Sindh Government Services Hospital. (Saddar) 3. Reporting to the Sindh Government Services Hospital on the given date of appointment. The 3 locations are spread out in three different directions, from almost anywhere in the city. The hardships, emotional setbacks, sufferings, physical strains, de-motivation and financial losses the people with disabilities have to face by going from pillar to post in acquiring a Disability Certificate from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Sindh is like going through a cursing machine and a portion of the disabled community has started to presume that by the time they receive their Disability Certificate, it may turn out to be their Death Certificate. The Disabled Community has written letters, Protested, have even complained to the Secretary Social Welfare in person to ease the procedure into a 1 Window Facility at the Directorate’s premises, but it seems that our efforts are not that impactful, or the resistant of Ministry of Social Welfare is much stronger that they are least concern to the hardships, emotional setbacks, sufferings, physical strains, de-motivation and financial losses faced the persons with disabilities. The Disabled Community from Karachi, once again appeal to the Minister Social Welfare Ms N.D Khan, Secretary Social Welfare to consider this appeal a cry of SOS from the Disabled Community. Dear fellow citizens [colleagues abroad], consider this a cry of SOS from the Disabled Community, now is the time to become our ‘VOICE’. Support our Campaign for a 1 Window Facility for Acquiring a Disability Certificate for Persons with Disabilities. Become our ‘Good Will Ambassador’…..Call …Email…Fax…contact personally. Minister Social Welfare Ms N.D Khan (Sindh Province), Tel: 021-9213867 - 021-9213868 - Fax: 021-9213868 Secretary Social Welfare (Sindh Province), Tel: 021-9211201 - 021-9211202 – Fax: 021-9211215 The Disabled Community will always remember your moral support. 7. Comments from the Editor on “Where should we go” contribution by Ali A portion of the disabled community has started to presume that by the time they receive their Disability Certificate, it may turn out to be their Death Certificate. There is no other better way you could have described this situation Ali. I believe that there are many disabled people who going through this grueling experience in many countries. This is a sad situation where more countries have now ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but it seems this is not being translated into action. Is ratifying the Convention just a window dressing gesture? I therefore call upon all member countries represented on this emailing list to share their experiences so that we can name and shame such practices. Please email me at tchataika@sun.ac.za and we will compile a contribution about the registration processes of disabled people from various countries. This would serve as ammunition for us to have a worldwide petition circulating around. We have the capacity to do it colleagues. Food for thought! Remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr:   “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 8. News from the Editors’ Desk (a) In May 2010 The Cabinet Office and Department for Work and Pensions have recently published a report in May 2010 entitled: ‘State of the nation report: poverty, worklessness and welfare dependency in the UK’. The link is below along with an extract from the Press release that came with the report.  http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/410872/web-poverty-report.pdf  Report on poverty, worklessness and welfare dependency The report sets out a comprehensive assessment of poverty in the UK in 2010. The Government will use it to inform policy decisions as it advances its aims of tackling poverty and improving life chances, to ensure that everyone has the best possible chance to fulfil their potential. The Coalition Government recognises that poverty is a multifaceted and wide-reaching problem. This report considers progress against a broad range of poverty and deprivation indicators. These include income poverty, income inequality, indebtedness, unemployment and inactivity, educational and health inequalities, family structure and community breakdown. Key statistics from the report include: * almost one in ten people live in persistent poverty, and there are 800,000 more working age adults in poverty than in 1998/99 * 1.4 million people in the UK have been on an out-of-work benefit for nine or more of the last 10 years * an estimated 670,000 households in the UK are eligible for benefits and tax credits of over £15,600 per year * health inequalities are higher now than they were in the 1970s * there remains a large gap in educational achievement between children from rich and poor backgrounds, with a 39 percentage point gap in gaining 5+ A*-C GCSEs between those living in the most and in the least deprived areas * 5.3 million people suffer from multiple disadvantages in the UK * people living in the poorest neighbourhoods will, on average, die seven years earlier than people living in the richest neighbourhoods Set against international comparisons, income inequality in the UK is now at its highest level since comparable statistics began in 1961, and the proportion of the population living in relative poverty is higher than in many European countries. For young people the findings are particularly alarming. In the UK, the proportion of children growing up in workless households, and the proportion of young people not in work, education or training, is higher than in almost any other European country.  (b) World Bank publishes a report on:  “Disability and International Cooperation and Development: A review of Policies and Practices” Disability has gained currency as a policy issue in the development discourse over the past decade. Recent legal and policy developments such as the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) have resulted in an increased recognition that disability is a development issue and that without accessible and inclusive development programmes, overall goals to reduce global poverty will not be achieved. The CRPD aside from having a specific article focusing on development cooperation (Article 32), is also described as having an explicit social dimension as the majority of its articles focus on barrier removal and positive measures. A recently published report by the World Bank with support from the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs reviews where disability fits within current development policy. The report entitled ‘Disability and International Cooperation and Development: A review of Policies and Practices” examines recent policies of major multilateral and bilateral agencies, which they have employed to include disability in development aid. While the review does not assess the merits or impacts of those policies, it provides a good overview or mapping of activity which is currently taking place on disability and development. The review however does indicate some emerging trends with regard to disability in development and these include; * Disability has become a part of international cooperation and development aid. It was found that all reviewed agencies have included disability in either their policies and/or programmes. In most cases, it was found that this inclusion of disability was explicit and underpinned by relevant policy frameworks. In instances where specific disability policy framework is absent, disability is an integral part of the agencies implemented programmes. * International cooperation policies often link disability to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).The MDGs were referenced in the majority of policies reviewed. Particularly MDG 1 (Eradicate hunger and extreme poverty) and MDG 2 (Universal Primary Education), there was a general recognition that these goals will not be achieved unless issues specific to poverty and access to education among persons with disabilities are adequately addressed. * The policies and practices reviewed often combine several approaches to frame the inclusion of disability in development cooperation. Reviewing policies demonstrated that a human rights-based approach is increasingly being used in conjunction with other approaches such as poverty reduction for the inclusion of disability into international cooperation policies and programmes. * With respect to implementation and practice, the prevailing trend is to incorporate disability-specific/ targeted and mainstreaming/ inclusion/ integration programs. Most of the surveyed agencies combine a number of approaches and instruments to include disability in development cooperation and aid. These approaches range from (a) disability specific programs targeting disabled people and their specific needs (b) disability-specific components that are added onto mainstream programs and (c) disabled people and their specific needs being addressed within mainstream programmes. * Policies and programs are dynamic and have changed over time. The review examined policies and programs aimed at including disability in development aid over the last 15 years. It is still in its infancy the changes, which have happened, have been quite rapid and reflect international developments, which have culminated in the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. * Right click on this link to download the full report or alternatively go to http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSOCIALPROTECTION/EXTDISABILITY/0,,contentMDK:21268805~menuPK:431611~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:282699,00.html and find the title of the report and click on it. (c) Conferences (i) International Conference: Perspectives on Inclusive Development: Embracing Diversity and Creating Disability-Sensitive Communities Date: 28th - 29th July 2010 Venue: Hilton Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Sponsered by: The British PMI2 Fund Speakers include: Professor Dan Goodley, Dr Rebecca Lawthom from RIHSC, MMU and RIHSC Honorary Research Fellow, Dr Tsitsi Chataika, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. More detail available as pdf below: http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/malaysiaukdisability/FSS%20Conference%20in%20July%20-%20Poster.pdf Registration: Follow the link below: http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/malaysiaukdisability/FSS%20Conference%20in%20July%20-%20Pamphlet%20aka%20Form.pdf Or visit: http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/event_news/news.php?id=86 (ii) Disability Studies Conference The 5th international disability studies conference to be held at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom is scheduled for Tuesday 7th - Thursday 9th September 2010. Online booking is still open, but early bird booking deadline passed on 30th June 2010. Do not miss this platform where there “who is who” in disability field will be gathered, sharing ideas and networking. For more information visit the booking section of the website at: www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/events/disabilityconference/. For more information regarding this conference, please contact Hannah Morgan at h.morgan@lancaster.ac.uk or Bob Sapey at b.sapey@lancaster.ac.uk . (iii) 12th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs Dates: July 14 - 16, 2010 Venue: Vienna University of Technology For more information, visit: http://www.icchp.org/ (iv) The 4th International Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Africa Network (CAN) Theme: Linking CBR, with Disability and Rehabilitation and Launching of the WHO/CBR Guidelines. Date: 26th – 29th October, 2010 Venue: NICON LUXURY HOTEL, ABUJA, NIGERIA. Details about this hotel can be located on: www.niconluxury.com. Tel: +234 (0) 9 461 9000. Fax: +234 (0) 9 234 1897. The Aims of the Conference are: 1. To promote the practice of CBR in Africa 2. To provide the opportunity for people to share information, knowledge and experience about how disability concepts, CBR and Rehabilitation programmes can link together to help improve the quality of lives of persons with disabilities and their families. Objectives: 1. To launch the CBR guidelines, a joint production of WHO, ILO, UNESCO and IDDC and to discuss its salient features and recommendations 2. To facilitate the participation of people from all stakeholder groups involved in disability sectors, CBR and Rehabilitation programmes (particularly disabled persons themselves) 3. To share knowledge and experiences-identify how different disability and CBR programmes overlap and diverge 4. To facilitate communication and understanding between different stakeholders in order to enhance multi-sectoral partnerships 5. To target maximum participation from different African nations and promote the inclusion of Franco-phone and Portuguese speaking nations 6. To generate a knowledge base on CBR and how it relates to other forms of rehabilitation and the disability rights movements. 7. To strengthen CBR Africa Network Launching of CBR Guidelines There will be official launching of CBR Guidelines with key-note presentations by dignitaries and lead authors from around the world. Timetable & Programme It is expected that the conference will commence in the afternoon of Tuesday 26 October 2010 and close in the afternoon of Friday 29 October 2010. Registration will be available concurrently with 4 different workshops. These workshops are: 1. Building & strengthening Networks 2. Linking the MDGS & CRPD using CBR strategy 3. Write Out Loud (writing workshop with a difference) 4. Disability Fair In addition to the programme, there will be: 1. Displays of assistive devices 2. Poster sessions of work from participants. This will allow participants to present their research and programmes in a poster formats. Details on how to submit a poster will be posted on the web by March 2010. Key Note Presentations will include: 1. Introduction of the CBR Guidelines 2. Ensuring Effective Implementation of CBR Guidelines in Africa 3. Developing human resource to deliver CBR in Africa 4. Linking Disability and Rehabilitation 5. What can academic discipline of ‘disability studies teach ‘rehabilitation studies’? 6. Harmonizing the roles of disability rights activists, service providers & rehabilitation professionals to achieve meaningful inclusion of PWDs 7. Bridging the Gap between CBR & Disability 8. Working Partnerships between CBR and other specialized Rehabilitation Services 9. Linking the Research programmes of Disability Studies, CBR & Rehabilitation Note: Each presentation lasts for 30 minutes, with another 30 minutes of discussions Sub-themes: 1. Link between Health & Education components of the CBR Matrix 2. Link between Livelihood & Empowerment components of the CBR Matrix 3. Link between Empowerment & Social components of the CBR Matrix 4. Link between NGOs & the community in implementation of CBR guidelines 5. Link between UN Agencies & the Govt. in implementation of CBR guidelines 6. Link between social services & CBR 7. Link between economic services & CBR 8. Link between mental health and CBR 9. Linking the roles of CBR stakeholders towards effective implementation of CBR programmes. The sub-themes will be presented by key speakers from all over Africa in subsequent parallel sessions, which will be followed by facilitated discussions addressing key questions. Each presentation on sub-themes lasts 15 minutes with another 15 minutes for discussions. There will be video sessions, which will provide opportunity for CBR programmes to share their experiences and achievements with other participants at the conference. Simultaneous translation Even though the conference will be conducted in ENGLISH LANGUAGE, there will be simultaneous translation from English to FRENCH & possibly PORTUGUESE For more hotel accommodation, travel arrangement and further information on CAN please visit http://www.afri-can.org/conferences.php (v) 5th International Forum on Disability Management Dates: September 20 - 22, 2010 Venue: Los Angeles, California For more information please visit: http://www.ifdm2010.com/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For any further contributions and information, please contact: Dr Tsitsi Chataika - Postdoctoral Research Fellow Stellenbosch University, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies; Research Associate – Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin; Honorary Research Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University, RIHSC Tel: +27 219 389 816 Fax: +27 219 146 875 Email: tchataika@sun.ac.za Website: www.a-podd.org NB: A copy of this Newsletter and previous editions are available at: http://www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk/Resources/drn End of Newsletter