Colombia - Piedecuesta, Santander: This project will involve 4 groups of persons with disabilities - spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and Down syndrome.

The project involves a DPO from Puedecuesta called ASODISPIE and an international partner, Candian Association for Participatory Development (CAPD). Two persons who will be playing a key role in the project will be Marlene Wiens from CAPD and Henry Tabares from ASODISPIE.

Here is an introduction to Marlene and Henry:

Marlene Wiens: Hello, I am Marlene and I reside in Calgary , Canada with my husband. I am 57 years old and have worked for many years as a physical therapist. In the latter 1990s my husband and I lived in Colombia for three years. During this time I became friends with disabled children and their families in a poor neighbourhood that had few services. My Colombian colleagues and I started a charity for these children so they could have more opportunities in their community. After returning home, my husband, friends and I established a Canadian charity to assist small organizations focusing on people with disability in Colombia . One of these organizations, a Disabled People’s Organization, is our partner in this study.

Henry Tabares: This is Henry Tabares, President of ASODISPIE or Association of Disabled People from Piedecuesta. Henry and his colleagues founded ASODISPIE in 1997. All of the participants in our study are members of this association. The members are people of all disabilities and ages. The association works hard to raise awareness in their community about disability issues.

Domenican Republic: This project deals with three groups of persons - persons with spinal lesions, persons with polio and elderly women. The project involves two non-governmental organizations - CIMUDIS (Circle of women with disabilities) and  FUNDOMPROMUED (Dominican Foundation for protection of elderly women). Cristina Francisco is the facilitator for this project and she will be maintaining links with all other projects participating in this initiative.

Here is Cristina Francisco introducing herself:

Cristina: I am 48 years old, 9 years ago I had an accident and I have paraplegia. I am married with adolescent children. I have been working with organization of persons with disabilities for last 30 years. I am a founding member and the present coordinator of CIMUDIS, the association of women with disabilities. It is the first organisation in my country that brings together persons with different disabilities (motor, visual, hearing, intellectual, etc.).

Recently I worked as researcher in a project regarding human rights of persons with disabilities and I think that it will be very interesting to work with this project that deals with health issues for persons with disabilities. Enclosed is my picture from a meeting on social and occupational integration of women with disabilities.

El Salvador, San Salvador: This project involves Don Bosco university and the Salvadorean Institute of Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (ISRI). The project will work in different cities of El Salvador including San Salvador city, Soyapango, Ilopango, Ciudad Delgado, & Tecla. The project involves persons with spinal cord injury. Jorge E. Lemus is the facilitator for this project, who will maintain contacts with different international partners.

Here is Jorge E. Lemus presenting himself:

Jorge: Head of the Research Department at Universidad Don Bosco in El Salvador. Dr. Lemus holds a doctorate degree in Linguistics from the University of Arizona. He has been a professor at Penn State University and at Universidad de El Salvador. He has directed numerous research projects in education and sociolinguistics. At present, he is directing an ambitious revitalization program of the Pipil language of El Salvador, an endangered language with less than 200 speakers left; he is also involved in a project for the development and testing of the Niagara Foot, a low-cost, highly resistant and dynamic prosthetic foot. Universidad Don Bosco, the Ministry of Health of El Salvador and Queen’s University are testing the foot in El Salvador as part of a Community Based Rehabilitation Project. Dr. Lemus also has numerous publications, books, articles and translations. He is the director and editor of Científica (ISSN 1814-6309), a multidisciplinary journal published in El Salvador by Universidad Don Bosco .

Ethiopia, Addis Ababa: This project includes persons with different physical disabilities. The project involves an Ethiopian non-governmental organization called Centre for Applied Research and Development Oriented Services (CARDOS) and an international NGO called Landmines Survivors Network Ethiopia. Kassahun Yibeltal is the facilitator for this project, who will be maintaining contacts with international partners.

Here is Kassahun introducing himself:

Kassahun Yibeltal: My name is Kassahun Yibeltal, 38 years old married with four children. My first daughters are at university studying medicine and Law. I got married early while I was at high school. Why so early? I really do not know. May be we can chat at it when we meet some time in the future. But it has been a blessing in that I have grown with my children.

I have graduated in two different fields, law and sociology. I am now doing research at Addis Ababa University for my Master’s degree in law. I am very much interested in research and development.

Having been in the disability movement over the last 19 years, I have served as president of the Ethiopian National association of the Blind for two terms. I am currently deputy secretary of the Ethiopian Federation of Persons with disabilities. I also represent Ethiopian Persons with disabilities in matters concerning the United Nations Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. This gave me the opportunity to attend the fourth and fifth sessions of the Ad hoc committee in New York.

I am glad to join this project group and hope to learn much in the process.

India, Karigiri: This project includes different groups of persons with disabilities including persons affected with leprosy, persons with fits, persons with hearing disability, persons with locomotor disability, etc. The project involves Schieffelin Leprosy and Training centre (SLRTC) and its national and international partners. Prem Kumar is the facilitator and will maintain the contacts with the international partners involved in this project.

Here is Prem introducing himself:

Prem Kumar: I am Prem, Indian, male, 55 years old, married with 2 sons; one is married. Basically an Occupational Therapist, with post graduation in Health Education and PhD in Social Sciences. Since 2000 worked for 2 years in a well-known community based PHC called Jamkhed Project as a Research Consultant. During this period we studied the HIV infection in rural India, Obstetric care in rural India and Social stigma in leprosy.

From 2003 onwards went more into issues of the medical rehab and the qualitative studies. In medical rehab research, we looked into a new method of sensory evaluation, the hand dominance and a medical rehab protocol for a specific surgery. We undertook 2 qualitative evaluations in the last 3 years for certain organizations. One was on the impact of Tsunami relief work in Tamil Nadu state, India. Second, a social assessment of the functioning of the government hospitals in the Tamil Nadu state, India. 

Two of our ongoing work are (i) Social stigma among psoriasis and vitiligo patients and (ii) the usefulness of activity limitation scale among diabetes patients.

India, Mumbai: This project includes different groups of persons with disabilities including persons with paraplegia, Down's syndrome, depression and sequalae of polio. The project involves an Indian non-governmental organisation called TASH (Technology & Social Health Foundation). Usha Nayar is the facilitator of this project, and she will maintain contacts with different international partners.

Here is Usha presenting herself:

Usha Nayar: I am a social scientist with PHD in development psychology. I am deputy Director (Pro vice chancellor) and professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Honorary chairperson of TASH foundation. I am passionately involved in interventions facilitating empowerment of communities living in marginalised conditions including persons with disabilities.

I have worked as visiting professor in Norway and USA and I have worked as consultant for different UN organizations including UNICEF, WHO and ILO. I have published four books and one of my more significant works was preparing a series of reports on application of UN Standard Rules on equalization of opportunities for WHO in 2002.

 

Tanzania, Moshi: This project focuses mainly on persons with spinal cord injury. It involves a Tanzanian non-governmental organisation called KASI (Kilimanjaro Association of People with Spinal Cord Injury) Other partners are Kilimanjaro Christian Medical centre (KCMC), Tanzania Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists (TATCOT) and Leonard Cheshire International (LCI).

Henry has taken up the responsibility of being the facilitator for this project. Here is Henry presenting himself: "I am Henry Mwizegwa Nyamubi, a Tanzanian, 48 years of age and a father of 3. A Mhangaza by tribe, I come from Ngara District Kagera Region in the North Western part of Tanzania

In February 1983, I sustained a spinal cord injury and subsequent Quadriplegia in a road accident while working with the Ministry of Health. I was treated in various hospitals in Tanzania , Kenya , and the U.K.

I have done work in setting up of Disability Counselling, Community Based Rehabilitation and AIDS/HIV programmes. I am the founder of the Kilimanjaro Association of the Spinally Injured, and was also involved in establishing Occupational Therapy in Tanzania. I also worked with Disabled Peoples Organisations in Tanzania on disability and development issues and capacity building activities.

I hope that this information will give you some idea on me as an individual.

 

Palestine, Ramallah: This project also focuses on persons with spinal cord injury. The project aims to work with a group of about 30 persons in cooperation with the community-based rehabilitation programme in Palestine.

Ola is the facilitator for this project. She presents herself as, "I am Ola A. Abu Al Ghaib. I was born in Nablus , one of the major cities in Palestine . I was only twelve when I had to deal with a dramatic change in life and accept a permanent disability. I am always determined to achieve the best I can from life. I earned my degree with strong determination to continuously upgrade no matter what.  At present, I am responsible for the department of development and public relations at one of the best rehabilitation centers in Palestine where I have had more than nine years experience in preparing and managing projects related to medical and rehabilitation services. I am proficient in all areas relating to projects ranging from monitoring and evaluation to comprehensive management. I have participated in many programs working on the development of disability management on the national level. My vision is to be able to create a sustainable program that serves the needs and rights of women with disability. I am now at the final stages of forming A DPO for women with disabilities. I am married and the mother of a two-year-old child who enlightens my life and relieves my daily struggle in life. Five years from now I see myself in a position where I am capable of policy making aiming to provide a better future for people with disabilities in Palestine."  

Amman, Jordan: This project focuses on persons with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury under the national NGO called Hashemite Charitable Society and the Landmines Survivors Rehabilitation Services. Captain Mohannad Atout is the facilitator for this project. Captain Mohannad introduces himself:

Mohannad: My name is Mohannad Atout and I am 38 years old. I graduated in 1989 as a fighter pilot from the Royal Jordanian Airforce. Eleven years ago, I had lower limb paraplegia due to an accident when my aircraft crashed during routine flight service. Since then, I developed great interest in people with special needs and decided to found the Hashemite Charitable Society in 1997 to support people with special needs under the direction of His Royal Highness Prince Raed Bin Zaid. I participated in several national and international conferences, and presented various lectures to students and families of people with special needs. In 2003, I joined WHO leadership training workshop and in 2005, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law from the University of Jordan . I am currently completing my master's degree in Human rights at the University of Jordan and will hopefully graduate in 2007. I am very interested in developing national policies to ensure the human rights of people with special needs. I was a member of the national committee to amend the Jordanian law to preserve the equity and equality of people with special needs. I enjoy reading, shooting, traveling and ping pong. 

I am very excited about facilitating this project as it is a great opportunity for me to learn from experiences all over the world and be able to identify missing links between the healthcare team and people with special needs.

Reggio Emilia, Italy: This project focuses on about 50 persons with intellectual impairment. The project is based in Reggio Emilia in north of Italy and is in collaboration with the university. Dr Ciro Ruggerini is the facilitator for this group. He presents himself as:

Ciro Ruggerini:  I am Ciro and I live in Modena (Italy), with my wife and 3 children - one boy and two girls, one of whom, Mary, got married recently. I am 55 years old. I am a child Psychiatrist, though I also had training to be an Adult Psychiatrist too. I work both in hospital and   at the university in the city of Reggio Emilia. My professional grounding has several roots. My experience of working with persons with mental disabilities, forced me to pay attention to avoid confusing between the diagnosis and the person. My training in cognitive psychotherapy suggested me the notion that identity is constructed in social interaction. Each of these roots is important for my work with persons with Mental Retardation. In addition many other persons in the  community – parents, social workers, politicians and colleagues of our professional team -  are my partners, they show me how sharing  is important to reach social goals.

Technical support & supervision: Disability & Rehabilitation team of World Health Organisation (WHO/DAR) plays an active role in this initiative and is providing technical guidance to this initiative. WHO/DAR is also providing financial support to some of the participating projects.

Ms. Alana Officer, coordinator of DAR is part of this group. Here is Alana introducing herself:

"Hello my name is Alana and I am originally from New Zealand . I initially trained as a podiatrist and then did a Masters Degree in Applied Science  (research) in biomechanics at the University of Sydney . I am currently in the last phase of another Masters Degrees this time in public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I have been working in health and rehabilitation for the past 17 years. I have spent the last ten years living and working in developing and transitional countries. 

 

I joined WHO in August of 2006 to co-ordinate the development of the World report on disability and rehabilitation due for release in 2009. In May of 2007 concomitantly with my responsibilities on the World report I took over from Federico Montero as the Coordinator for the Disability and Rehabilitation Team. I now oversee WHO's work on disability and rehabilitation related to policies, medical care and rehabilitation, community based rehabilitation, assistive devices and technologies, and capacity building. The priorities of DAR are as follows:

1. Implement the WHO Plan of Action 2006–2011 on disability and rehabilitation which will provide the impetus to bring about change in those areas were we can make the greatest difference, including in strengthening community-based and medical rehabilitation (and access to it), improving data collection, and supporting policy development in accordance with the principles of the Convention.
2. Develop the World report on disability and rehabilitation in partnership and consultation with many actors and use it as a platform to increase awareness and action in many countries.
3. Strengthen our support to countries to develop and implement policy and programs in accordance with the principles of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. A first step towards that is to develop normative guidelines specifically guidelines on community based rehabilitation, wheelchair manufacture in low resource settings and Medical rehabilitation guidelines. Investing in these tools now will enable us to upscale our country support in line with the convention in a larger number of countries than we were able to support in prior years
4. Develop a taskforce within WHO to look at how disability can be addressed across the institution."

 

International Coordination & Facilitation: The international coordination of this initiative is by the Scientific Activities Unit (SAS) of AIFO/Italy, a NGO in official relation with WHO.

Dr. Sunil Deepak, head of AIFO/SAS is responsible for maintaining contacts with all projects involved in this initiative and reminding them to send regular information. In this work, AIFO will receive technical support from Disability and Rehabilitation team of WHO (WHO/DAR).

Here is a brief introduction by Sunil:

Sunil Deepak: Hello, I am Sunil, a medical doctor originally from India. I am scientific and medical advisor for AIFO, an Italian NGO. I work at the AIFO office in Bologna (Italy). In our department we are involved in producing learning materials, organising training, doing project monitoring and evaluation and conducting multi-country research projects.

I am married with a grown up son. I will try to do everything to facilitate our being together as a group, to share information and to learn from each other.