Disability and inclusion - Inclusive communication for disability: strengthening South-to-South communication
Partners
The Inclusive communication for disability project was a collaboration of six partners, including Healthlink Worldwide. Each partner brought different strengths and experiences to the project in communication, advocacy and participatory techniques. These were all used for mutual capacity building and skill sharing.
The partners are:
Southern African Federation of Disabled People (SAFOD), has been working in Southern Africa for more than fifteen years. All SAFOD development programmes target the strengthening of the national assemblies of disability organisations in the ten member countries of the Southern Africa region. Healthlink Worldwide has been working with SAFOD on disability issues in the region since 1997. SAFOD is well-established, with strong links with regional and international networks of Disabled People’s Organisations. SAFOD is highly involved in the planning and implementation of the African Decade of Disabled People, 2000 to 2009, in collaboration with the Pan-African Federation of the Disabled, (PAFOD), and Disabled People’s International (DPI).
The Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable ( SARPV), in Dhaka is led by disabled people and is an effective advocate among the major development agencies such as Oxfam. It has drawn the various disability agencies together to form a common communications strategy for disability awareness. SARPV is firmly grounded in the rural area with a CBR programme near Cox’s Bazaar, which has involved all sectors of the local State service agencies and made a significant impact in the community. Signs of changing the attitudes of community leaders and employers have increased opportunities for disabled people. SARPV has close connections with an art gallery that is prominent in the region, working with Panos on training courses for photojournalists and with the UK-based agency PhotoVoice on photography training with street children. SARPV have experience of use of mass media and the drive and commitment to use it for effective advocacy campaigns to promote disability as a development issue. SARPV have expertise in electronic communications, including web-site design. They are also active in documenting their experience, in collecting information materials, printing and publishing in both English and Bangla.
Blind Peoples Association (BPA), based in Ahmedabad, India, has a distinguished record in contributing to disability awareness at national policy level; senior staff are extremely energetic and hold office in national CBR Networks. Several publications have been produced and disseminated over recent years. BPA have an excellent audio studio and staff who work on a range of material, using radio personnel to ensure good quality products. BPA is also a training institute, a school and vocational training centre and holds training courses for CSOs.
More on the Blind People's Association website
Amar Jyoti, based in India offers services that are comprehensive in terms of inclusive education, disability rehabilitation, vocational training in various skills, including IT. It is a training institute with numerous rehabilitation courses and it is very active in public events such as rallies on the International Day of Disabled Persons. Amar Jyoti has begun to use Participatory Learning Appraisal in their CBR Programme and was the first disability agency to take PLA training from the leading training organisation in the country PRIA in Lucknow. A manual was produced in 1997 and valuable experience has been gained since then. Amar Jyoti staff have written and published a range of practical booklets aiming to support parents with disabled children.
More on the Amar Jyoti website
FACAPH (Fédération d’Afrique Centrale des Associations pour les Personnes Handicapées) is an association of national organisations of disabled persons based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. It is involved in both services and awareness raising. FACAPH organises seminars, conferences and workshops on disability issues for national members to strengthen advocacy activities. Some publications work including brochures and newsletters have been published prior to work with Healthlink Worldwide. Service activities include the administration of grant aid for disabled school children, handling of donated wheelchairs and tricycles and manufacture of tricycles and crutches.