Peer Counseling Activity Report From The Philippines

3 Days IL Peer Counseling Seminar Workshop for Patients with Disabilities at Philippine Orthopedic Center in Manila, Philippines

Life Haven and SCI Foundation conducted Peer Counseling Seminar Workshop at Philippine Orthopedic Center last September 12 to 14, 2007. The seminar workshop, funded by Toyota Foundation of Japan, introduced Independent Living Philosophy and Peer Counseling to patients who are about to be discharged. 14 rehab patients participated during the first day. We were fortunate enough to have six participants finish the three-day course the others were unable to do so due to reasons beyond our control. The seminar workshop is geared towards formation of support group of peers to enable patients with disabilities to accept their new situation and face life with self-determination, thru self-choice and take self-responsibility.

We intend to continue this noteworthy project to contribute in the preparation of newly-disabled persons to live independently when they return to their families and live in the community.

IL Peer Counseling Program:
Day 1: Sep 12 Conducted by:
13:30 13:45 Reception
13:45 14:00 Opening & Orientation Abner Manlapaz
14:00 14:30 Self Introduction/Building relationship Joon Baltazar
14:30 14:45 Break
14:45 15:30 IL History Joon Baltazar/Abner Manlapaz
15:30 16:30 IL Philosophy Joon Baltazar/Abner Manlapaz

Day 2: Sep 13
13:30 15:15 What is Peer Counseling? Jun Bernandino/Abner Manlapaz
15:15 15:30 Break
15:30 16:30 Nature of Human Being Abner Manlapaz/ Jun Bernandino
16:30 17:30 Discharge of Emotion Jun Bernandino/Abner Manlapaz

Day 3: Sep 14
12:00 13:00 Hosted lunch party
13:00 14:00 What is Disability? Jun Bernandino/Abner Manlapaz
14:00 15:00 Support Group Abner Manlapaz/ Jun Bernandino
15:00 15:15 Break
15:15 16:00 IL Program Jun Bernandino/Abner Manlapaz
16:00 16:30 Appreciation Abner Manlapaz/ Jun Bernandino

Feedback from the Participants:

In the evaluation form that submitted by the six participants who were able to finish the whole workshop, the seminar topics were generally clear to them although there are some topics that the participants suggested that the leader should provide more explanation or example for better understanding.

In general, the participants commented that they gain confidence talking to other people and that the workshop help them on their self-confidence. It also helped them accept their disability and their rights as a person. One commented the value of living in the community and having good relationship in the community people. One participant commented that he value each day he joined the group because the workshop helped him value life as a human being.

When asked about their recommendations that we need to consider to improve our next conduct of seminar workshop, one suggested that we should give reading materials during lecture while one person suggest that we continue to conduct seminar workshop so that more persons will understand peer counseling.

Evaluation from the Seminar Leaders:

The philosophy of IL is fresh for the participants and most are very eager to have deeper knowledge of the concept. Resource person should also be flexible for more meaningful presentation. Since the participants are all patients of the hospital, their disability is new to them and their interest may still be about recovering their life back from their former life. The leaders should become the source of information about disability and how they can live independently in the community with dignity and contentment.

There are 14 participants during the first day and only 6 of them completed the seminar workshop. Because of several reasons, the group assessed that it may be too long for them to sit on their wheelchair developing the backache and therefore prohibits their full participation. In the final analysis, the group will take into consideration on the next seminar workshop about possibility to shorten the period of the seminar workshop and to provide a more convenient place like possibility of participants to stay in the bed during the seminar.

Philippines Activity Report for October 2007

PCIL organized an online meeting last October 13 and November 7, 2007. It was attended by HACI-Cebu, HACI-CDO, SCIF and Life Haven. The following are the activity reported by each organization.

Life Haven and SCI Foundation agreed to continue the activities in Philippine Orthopedic Center to help newly disabled persons understand disability and to help prepare them with their new situation. We are now looking for funders to continue the program. Presently, we are continuing hospital visits and identify ourselves as staffs from Independent Living Center.

The National Anti-Poverty Commission is also preparing for the fund release amounting to 125,000 pesos for Peer Counseling Seminar Workshop. Participants of this workshop will come from different parts of Luzon. Meanwhile, we are working with the Department of Health (DOH) to integrate IL peer counseling as part of the national health program of DOH. It is not sure yet whether it will only be a hospital-based program or a community-based program as well.

We are still continuing our assistance on wheelchair, particularly to hospital patients that do not have a wheelchair yet and are ready to be discharge.

HACI-CDO successfully federated different organization from their region and Mr. Ike Ampo is sitting as Vice-President. Mr. Ampo also submitted a proposal to their federation for IL Peer Counseling Seminar for their 2008 working plan. They are also negotiating with their local government for housing affordable scheme for persons with disabilities. This project is in collaboration with Lions Club, Habitat for Humanity and the local government of Cagayan de Oro. HACI-CDO is also proposing for a subsidized Social Security System (SSS) to allow more persons with disabilities to become member of SSS. Mr. Ampo also express their interest with the Toyota Foundation grant and said that they will prepare a proposal for the grant.

HACI-Cebu is busy doing home visit to persons with disabilities more especially to newly disabled persons. HACI-Cebu, requested the Redemptorist church for possibility of using their financial support for a city-wide program instead of a parish-based program because the parish only identified 1 possible beneficiaries of their project. They will also publish articles about persons with disabilities and Independent Living program. They are also preparing a pool of P.A. However, there is no new P.A. candidates yet.

SCI Foundation submitted their proposal already to the local government for establishing IL center. They are also planning to join the federation that the City Social Welfare Department is organizing.

PCIL is very interested with the news about the wheelchairs and lift van for donation in the Philippines. The group wanted to know more details on how we can get the donation. Mr. Nonoy concha provided information about how to acquire a tax-exempted donation. Mr. Concha said the organization that will import or the recipient of the donation must be a licensed welfare agency under Department of Social Welfare (DSWD.) DSWD will assist the organization on the documents required and to the extent of having the donation tax exempt from the bureau of customs

Kuala Lumpur Independent Living Centre - Activity Report for September 2007

IL Outreach Programme supported by Toyota Foundation Grant.

The Kuala Lumpur Independent Living Centre was officially established on September 15, 2007. The centre’s first client was Mr. Yap Kim Soon, 23, spinal cord injury C5/C6 since 2004. He stays at Selayang with his family. Selayang is 30km north of Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

Kim Soon and I have been communicating through Yahoo IM for a few months already. During the first visit to his home on September 15, 2007, I share with him about the concepts of IL and how it is being practiced in Japan. I also brought 2 videos on IL to show him.

On my second visit in September 23, 2007, I introduced ILP and PC to him. I also gave him a copy of the ILP Manual in Chinese. Kim Soon seems very receptive to the idea of IL and asked many questions.

Within this reporting period, I have also spoken to two other persons with spinal cord injury regarding IL. The response was not good as they do not seem very keen in knowing more on IL. At the same time, I have contacted a friend of a person who has severe disability caused by spinal cord injury. The said person is currently on a ventilator to assist his breathing. He is 58 years old, had an accident 7 years ago. We are both alumni from the same high school. No appointment has been set to meet him yet.

CIL Kathmandu Activity Report - Oct 09, 2007

From Nepal

CIL Kathmandu Activity Report
Oct 09, 2007

CIL-Kathmandu organized the Barrier Free Campaigns on 2nd October 2007: More than 150 Persons with Disabilities gathered and Appealed to the government to make the infrastructure barrier free and to implement the programs decided by the government. Campaign visited the ministry of home, ministry of finance, ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Ministry of Physical Planning and Work, Ministry of Information and Communication. Persons with Disabilities demanded the government to implement the national laws and legislations, to provide employment and social security, to make barrier free infrastructure, information, and communication, and to provide the fund to launch the activities of IL.

Ministers from the ministry of home and ministry of finance came down and addressed the campaign group. They welcome and informed that they have made slopes, ramps, and lifts in their building and will circular in every office of their ministries. They also promised to make infrastructure barrier free and to implement the works demanded by the PWDs. Similarly, Secretaries from the ministries of Women, Children, and Social Welfare, ministry of Physical Planning and Work and Ministry of Information and Communication welcome and informed the activities done by their ministries. PWDs raised several question to them to listen the voices of PWDs. Official’s advised group not to give up the campaign to get the rights. They also promised to do something good to the PWDs.

Krishna Gautam
CIL Kathmandu