Life Haven’s Activity Report (Jan to March 2010)

Upon hearing the good news from Human Care Association last year, Life Haven started looking for a place to become their new office. It has been difficult for us to find a place where the owner would allow us renovation to make it accessible for persons with disabilities. It was around mid January when we found a place for rent. After meeting the group, and assessment the place, we decided to take the place to become our new office. We consulted an architect to design the office and the estimated cost of renovation. The renovation of the office was done on the 20th of March. The staffs officially started to go to the new office on the 22nd of March. While the office was being renovated, the staffs began reporting to Benjamin “Jun” Bernandino’s house to do the office chores.

One of the activities that Life Haven got into is the fund raising event which was held last March 7, 2010. Everyone was busy when the year started to ensure the success of the fund raising event. The Bingo fund raising event successfully raised some funds. The event also raised some awareness in the community that Life Haven exist to support the independence of persons with disabilities. The funds gathered from the event were used to buy some office equipments and furniture.

Meanwhile, the group started to prepare for the continuation of the peer visit program. Amongst the list, we selected adults who require personal assistant. On our listings, we noticed that many minors with complex (physical and intellectual) disabilities are interested to be visited by us compared to adults with severe disabilities.

SCIF Report (Jan ? March 2010)

Another Independent Living and Peer Counseling Workshop was sponsored by the Local Government Office of San Juan, Batangas through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. It was held at Taramindu Garden Inn, Baragay Hugom, San Juan, Batangas last March 2 – 4. It was facilitated by Mr. Abner Manlapaz and Mr. Edwin de Villa. The workshop was attended by 14 persons with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities from different parts of the town though most of them are from within the same barangay. One of the participants, Dominador Bautista Jr, is a trainee of the previous workshop last year. He is very much interested in IL activities.

Most of the participant’s primary concerns are related to their economic survival same as the participants of the first batch. The Local Government will pursue it’s program in initiating a cooperative and utilize local materials to promote small scale business. Through Life Haven’s support we will conduct support group meetings to develop their knowledge and skills in Independent Living.

Last March 22, People With Disabilities Drivers’ Association of the Philippines was launched in the City of Tagaytay, Cavite. This started as a group of friends with common interests, which include Mr. Abner Malapaz, Mr. Edwin de Villa and Mr. Anthony Rebenque. Though most of the members of this organization have never attended any IL workshop yet but they are beginning to have a grasp of the concept through information sharing of some members. The organization intends to adopt the philosophy of IL and intends to conduct a series of workshop if and when resources will be available.

Activit Report of CILC (Capital Independent Living Centre, Islamabad)

Trainings:
- Training on Independent Living, organized in Human Care Association, Tokyo Japan by Asia Pacific Network of Independent Living (APNIL) 15th Feb ? 26th Feb, 2010
The topics covered during the training were:
– History and Philosophy of Independent Living Movements
– Philosophy and Services of IL Center
– IL Skill program
– Peer-counseling
– Philosophy and System of PA Service
– Tasks of PA Coordinator
– Support for Empowerment
– Peer-Support Group Activities
– Visit to Mainstream Association
– Accessibility Check

Peer-Support Group Activity:
- On 13th March 2010, Peer-support group was organized for the staff of Capital Independent Living Center.
- Second peer-support group activity organized on 3rd April 2010 for 8 ? 9 persons with disabilities

Peer-Counseling:
- CILC took initiative to translate peer-counseling manual prepared by Human Care Association in Urdu. First draft shared with the team for comments. Translated manual will be used by ILC only. Will not publish especially for experts, change contents of text and design of cover page.
- Peer-counseling sessions

Advocacy:
Radio program with Dr. Israr Shah
National Consultation on Social Inclusion

Activity Plan for next month:
- Peer-Counseling seminar will be held on Saturday, 8th May 2010 in National Institute of Special Education
- Translation and Printing of Peer-Counseling Manual (prepared by Human Care Association)
- Formation of First Peer-Support Group of Women with Disabilities
- Peer-Support Group Activity (two in one month)
- Ongoing peer-counseling sessions

Independent Living Center for PWDs Kathmandu, Nepal

After the Great April movement the country is now in the restructuring process through Constitution Assembly (CA). The election of CA has been completed and enters into the process of making new constitution for new republic Nepal. In the present CA seems tiring on drafting the several thematic issues. IL Center, DPOs and other several groups and communities are making regular advocacy and lobby to ensure their rights as a fundamental rights in the constitution. Persons with Disabilities and their organizations are also making advocacy to ensure their special rights in the new constitution of Nepal.
Similarly, Nepal government has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. The ratification demonstrated the government’s commitment to protect and promote the human rights and dignity of Persons with Disabilities. The rights of PWDs mentioned in the convention will be reflected in the national legal frame work as well as the new constitution of Nepal. It is believed that the ratification of this convention further supports the work of many organizations and human rights defenders engaged with the issue of disability and provides an important tool to respect and protect the human rights and inherent dignity of PWDs.
CIL-Kathmandu has been working basically in policy advocacy for increasing the participation of PWDs in the decision making process, peer counseling to the disabled persons, personal assistant services (PAS), independent living program (ILP) in terms of training on daily living skills etc.

Current activity of CIL-Kathmandu:
1. Has been running “Monthly Independent Living Discussion Program” in the collaboration of Action Aid Nepal since 30th March 2007.
Key Activities:
* Sensitization on disability and Independent Living to various stakeholders such as professionals, civil society, DPOs, NGOs, INGOs, Government authorities, Media, Parents, Politicians, etc. One day in a month

2. Has been running program on “Promotion and Development of Independent Living Concept in Nepal” in the collaboration of Mainstream Association Japan since 2006.
Key Activities
* Network Expansion of CIL
* Information Dissemination and Referral Activities
* Personal Assistant Service
* Administrative support

3. Has been running “Promotion and Protection of rights of PWDs through Advocacy and Independent Living activities” in the collaboration of Ministry of Women, Children and social Welfare since 2007.
Key Activities
* Advocacy and lobbying (meetings, delegation, interactions, group campaign etc.) with stakeholders in the current issues raised by CIL
* Peer counseling to build self confident and minimize the inferiority complex
* Practical knowledge to disabled people on daily living skill on the framework of Independent Living Program.
* Accessibility program such as study and interventions
* Implementation of Independent Living Experience Program in Kathmandu
* Trainings to PWDs on Independent Living in regional level

4. Has been running “Attendants’ Production and disability awareness programs for university students” in the collaboration of APNIL since 2009
Key Activities
* Orientation for the students at colleges and university
* Interviewed of the Potential Candidates
* Attendants Training
* Mobilization of the Attendants

5. Has been running “Equalization of PWDs through Accessibility” in the collaboration of Australian Embassy since 2010
Key Activities
* Barrier free check on the public places at Kathmandu
* Construction of slopes and ramps
* Advocacy

Some Important outputs observed as the result of CIL’s work:
There are some very good achievements which have really supported to promote the disability rights in Nepal. A regular, joint and hard effort of disabled people and their self help organizations are the key reasons behind this achievements and CIL-Kathmandu is always in decisive and important role to lead this joint movement since its establishment. In last three years we have observed some good achievements in policy and practices of government for promoting the rights of disabled people; are listed below;
* The contribution of PWDs in the great Peoples’ Movement of 2006 has been highly valued by political parties, civil society and the international communities as well. CIL-Kathmandu has played leading role to make visible PWDs in the peoples’ movement from the side of civil society.
* Nepal government has signed and ratified UNCRPD.
* Because of the regular campaign carried out by CIL-Kathmandu for barrier free environment some of the government buildings have been accommodated with wheelchair ramps. Similarly, some District Administration Offices, District Development Offices in some districts, Banks, some other public buildings, parks and other newly constructed building have also made wheel chair ramps in the main entrance of the building.
* Nepal government has made new policy on the disability identity card. There is provision of 4 grades on disability. 1. Red Disability Identity Card for Profound disability, 2) Blue Disability Identity Card for Severe Disability, 3) Yellow Disability Identity Card for Moderate Disability and 4) White Disability Identity Card for Mild Disability.
* Central Government of Nepal has allocated Disability Allowances Rs 1000 per month for Persons having Profound Disabilities and increased Rs 300 for Severe disabilities.
* Government of Nepal has announced 100% tax free for those specially accommodated scooters which are used as need of disabled people for their private mobility.
* Local Government of Nepal (district development committee) has brought the provision to be allocated 1 to 5% part of total district’s budget for the development of disabled people, of Local Self Governance Act in practice in various districts.
* There is 45% discount in the fare of public transport and 50% discount in air fare in domestic flight for PWDs.
* Central Government of Nepal has allocated Rs 109, 00,000/- to work for the rights promotion and betterment of disabled people in the budget. The amount is largest found ever allocated for disabled people in the history. National Budget of Nepal has addressed the activities of CIL- Kathamdnu and allocated Rs 10,50,000/ 13,125 US$ annually fund which would be used in following areas:
– Advocacy
– Peer counseling
– Independent living programs and
– Barrier free campaigning
* The Interim Constitution of Nepal 2006 has addressed need of inclusion of PWDs in the state mechanisms and policy making level as well.
* Because of the regular interventions of CIL-Kathmandu the Constitution Assembly Directories has ensured the provisions of sign language interpreter for deaf CA member and Personal Assistant for wheelchair user CA member representing to CA. It is also good to recall here that two persons from disabled community Mr. Raghabir Joshi (deaf person) and Ms. Indira Gurung (physically disabled) have been nominated as CA member. Similarly the directory has also ensured the provisions to participate two disabled people in the main committee to be formed for constitution drafting.
* In organizational level CIL-Kathmandu has established 9 IL Centers in different parts of Nepal. They are launching the IL activities.

Society of Independent Living Selangor
Of Beautiful Gate Foundation For The Disabled
Report & Activities 2009

A. ACTIVITIES

1. Hospital & Home Visitation & Peer Counseling

(Name) (Disabilities) (Caused) (Peer Counselor)
(A) Amputee Industrial Accident Hee Yong Wah
(B) Spinal Injury Industrial Accident Hee Yong Wah
(C) Spinal Injury Traffic Accident Hee Yong Wah
(D) Cerebral Palsy — Seow Boon Chan
(E) Spinal Injury Industrial Accident Hee Yong Wah
(F) Cerebral Palsy — Chan Meng Lai
(G) Spinal Injury Traffic Accident Hee Yong Wah
(H) Spinal Injury Traffic Accident Seow Boon Chan
(I) Spinal Injury Traffic Accident Hee Yong Wah
(J) Spinal Injury Traffic Accident Hee Yong Wah
(K) Spinal Injury Traffic Accident Thomas Yeoh

2. Attending Meetings
May 19: LIFT LAUNCHING CEREMONY in Subang Jaya KTM Commuter train station. KTM Commuter train is upgrading all of their stations to make it disabled friendly.
Nov 26: Petaling Jaya City Council Technical Working Committee Meeting
Dec 19: Malaysia Council for Rehabilitation “Disabilities Issues Workshop”

3. Volunteer training
April 19: organised Telematch with disabled for volunteers
May 1-3: organised Be Angel Campaign : Volunteer Training Camp

4. Received Visitors
Feb 25: Visitation from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) senior representative in Malaysia, Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto.
Aug 21: Visitation from students of Help University College
Aug 24: Students from Department of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan

5. IL Seminars, Workshops, Advocacy event
Feb 28: giving talk on IL for staffs from CBR centre of Social Welfare Department.
March 30: organised IL seminar for PWDs in Kuching, Sarawak = 22persons
April 4: organized IL seminar for PWDs in Sibu, Sarawak = 31 persons
September 17: Conduct Access Audit for building of Menara Sunway
October 29: organized “One Malaysia” Convoy by Disabled Press Conference & soft launch, officiated by YB Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of Woman, Family and Social Development.
December 6: organized event “One Malaysia–Convoy by Disabled from Times Square to KLCC”, to highlight the needs of friendly environment and transport. A total of 380 disabled people and volunteers took part. The event flag off by Director General of Welfare Department Dato” Meme Rashid, and closing ceremony officiated by YB Heng Seai Kie, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Arts.
(Reported in Malay Mail

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/21005-enabled-disabled)

6. Outdoor Activities
Purpose: to build up self confidence of trainees.
27/6/2009 Visit to KL Tower & KLCC Skybridge
26/7/2009 Visit to KL Birds Park
29/8/2009 Visit KLCC Aquaria
21/9/2009 A day trip to Seremban
26/9/2009 KL LANTERN FESTIVAL 2009
24/10/2009 Mini sport for OKU 2009, sponsored by Ministry of Youth & Sport

7. Fund Raising Activities
August 3-15: organised Project Ryders Cycling For Charity from KL to Langkawi, jointly organized with students from Help University, raised RM 4120
it was highlighted in http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/6/education/4649877&sec=education

B. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
Received Funding of RM 14,000 from Welfare Department to run IL Program.
Details of Trainers:
(No) (Name) (Gender) (Disabilities)
1 Hee Yong Wah Male Quadriplegic
2 Seow Boon Chan Male Quadriplegic
3 Yeoh Kee Soon Male Muscular Dystrophy
4 Chan Ming Lai Male Cerebral Palsy

Result of trainees group I:
Class: Every Wednesday, 2pm-4pm
Topic:
1. Identity Establishment
2. Goal Setting
3. Family Relationship & relationship in working place
4. Cooking & Marketing

Result of trainees group II :
Class: Every Thursday, 10am-12pm
Topic:
1. Identity Establishment
2. Family Relationship & relationship in working place
3. Cooking & Marketing
4. Social Integration & Information

Activity Report of Life Haven
APNIL Meeting (January 7, 2010)

Life Haven was very busy last year on conducting seminars and workshops. PAVIC, an organization of parents of visually impaired children invited Life Haven last September, 2009 to talk about IL in their Advocacy & Leadership Training Workshop. For the first time, the parents listened to the philosophy of IL and how it can empower persons with disabilities and its benefit to the family of persons with disabilities.

Mr. Hisao Chiba of Nippon Foundation visited Life Haven last October, 2009 to learn more on each othersf programs and services. We talked about the mission of Nippon Foundation in the Asian region and the support they can extend to Asian DPOs. During this month, we also conducted a short peer counseling workshop for persons with disabilities in Valenzuela.

Last November 2009, we conducted an IL Orientation Seminar for National Council on Disability Affairs to enlighten the agency about the IL movement. The participants exhibited interest on the subject presented and enthusiasm during the discussion. During the seminar, we noted two points of interest. First, the IL philosophy was not fully understood at the beginning. However, questions raised during the presentation clarified the misunderstanding. Secondly, Personal Assistant was discussed profoundly from hiring, training and the roles and responsibilities of user and the personal assistant. Life Haven assisted Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) project of JICA & NCDA. In collaboration with JICA, NCDA and ADPI, we introduced Peer Counseling to persons with disabilities in New Lucena, Iloilo. Thanks to Ms. Siew Chin of Beautiful Gate Foundation, she help convince the NHE team to utilize people from IL movement to empower persons with disabilities in their project area. Resource Persons of this workshop were Mr. Mark Espesor and other ADPI team and Mr. Abner Manlapaz. At first, we observed that most of the participants were diffident and abashed. As the organizers continue to observe the participants, we noted the changes that happened to them. Participants are more participative and smiling very often as compared on the first day that we met them.

On the last month of 2009, two more workshops were conducted. Both workshops are in the southern part of Philippines, in Mindanao. One workshop which is also under the NHE project of JICA and NCDA was held in Cagayan De Oro for persons with disabilities of Opol. Resource persons of this workshop were Dr. Ike Ampo and the HACI CDO IL team and Mr. Abner Manlapaz. The participants shown enthusiasm and were very lively during the workshop. Thanks to the team of resource speakers from HACI CDO IL team who are all so lively and interesting as the workshop is conducted in the local dialect. Another Peer Counseling Workshop, which was funded and organized by the Department of Social Welfare Office (DSWD) of Region XII thru Ms. Grace Balaro (the focal person of PWDs in Region XII) was held in Polomolok, South Cotabato. The Representative of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC?PWD Sector) Mr. Ricardo Castillon submitted the proposal to the focal person of Region XII to conduct peer counseling in their region. Ms. Balaro (the focal person), was inspired by the proposal and worked hard to get the budget to conduct peer counseling in their region. This is the first peer counseling workshop initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The resource persons are Mr. Abner Manlapaz and Dr. Jun Bernandino. There are 14 participants from different places in Region XII, most of whom are group leaders. Towards the end of the three-day workshop there are encouraging feedbacks from the IL newbies. Ms. Grace Balaro, visitors from the area and from the local Government unit, and the participants themselves expressed their interest to have another workshop to learn more and improve their skills in conducting peer counseling. They are already even thinking of having a Trainor’s Training Seminar to make it possible for the Independent Living Movement to establish a foothold in Mindanao.

On another matter, we still continuously advocate to the City Engineering Office of Valenzuela to ensure implementation of accessibility in the built environment. Hopefully, the government will seriously implement the accessibility law.

Life Haven also received great news from Human Care Association that funds support to rent office for the center was approved. The funds which came from Toyota Foundation includes support for the salaries of staffs and personal assistant for selected persons with severe disabilities who wish to live independently.

Activity Report by Mr. Edwin De Villa

Our proposed ordinance to establish the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office was approved last November 16, 2009 by the Sangguniang Bayan of San Juan, Batangas. Through this office I can now guarantee at least 1 Intensive Independent Living Workshop annually in our jurisdiction.

Last December 6, 2009, as part of the celebration of the province wide Ala-Eh festival and in relation to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, The Provincial Social Welfare of Batangas conducted a forum on the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We were briefly able to present the history and philosophy of Independent Living and the PSWD office and other Social Welfare Development officers from the towns of neighboring provinces expressed their interest in conducting an IL workshop for the members of the Provincial Federation of Persons With Disabilities.

Friends and colleagues initiated a support group for Persons with Disabilities driving their own vehicles. It is currently based in Cavite. They aim to assist anyone interested in driving to secure their license, registration and possible conversion. Members are encouraged to practice self choice, self determination and self responsibility. Some of them have heard of IL though never attended any workshop yet. With enough time and resources we are planning to hold a workshop in IL for this group as they plan to adopt the philosophy of IL in their own lives.

I believe that these events will strengthen the presence of the IL movement in region 4A especially in the provinces of Quezon, Batangas and Cavite.

Promoting Independent Living Amongst Persons with Disabilities (*.doc file)

Activity Report of Capital Independent living Center (CILC)
January-May 2009,

Crisis Situation in Pakistan:
There are many aspects to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Malakand
division in NWFP. The emergency response remains focused on bigger issues
benefiting vast majority of Persons. While the part of the basic and most
of the specific needs of vulnerable persons, persons with disabilities,
older persons, persons with Injuries and children with disability remain
unaddressed.

The focus of Capital Independent Living Center (CILC)’s future activities
now shifted to IDP’s and I urge all the Disabled Persons Organizations,
Independent Living Centers and other stakeholders to once again join
hands together to take the necessary measures to ensure full inclusion of
persons with disabilities in the mainstream services and to develop
suitable specific actions in order to respond and make their lives
Independent, either they are living in NWFP or shelters provided by Bailt
-ul- Mal and Ministry of Social Welfare.

Creating ways for IL Leaders to Act
On December, 13th in 2008, a team of CILC:
* Two Peer-Counselors,
* One Project Assistant-CILC,
* Personal Assistant
Done the first assessment of district Suhawa, and according to the need
of that area, they have started discussion with local community leaders,
families of persons with disabilities and their (Girga) representatives,
Focused point of the discussion was:
* overcome discrimination, including multiple discrimination, and
increasing integration of people with disabilities through Independent
Living * increasing their labor market participation * tackling
disadvantages in education, training and lifelong learning and poverty
throughout the equal access to education and support and enhancing
Personal Assistance to severely disabled persons * Ensuring decent housing
and improving access to quality services that are accessible and
affordable (health and care services, transport, lifelong learning, etc.)

“The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what
direction we are going.”

Another assessment of Village Sawabi has been done by:
* Three representatives of Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP)
* Two Peer-Counselors with Project Assistant Capital Independent Living
Centre (CILC)

Which lies between the river Indus and river Kabul, in the North West
frontier (NWFP) of Pakistan, It is divided into two Tehsils, forty union
councils and 200 villages. The total area of Swabi is 1543 square
kilometers, out of which 78 percent is hilly and 21 percent is plain
land.

The district Swabi consists of about 1.2milion people comprising 82
percent rural area and 18 percent in urban. Among these 3.6 percent
people are disabled in which 49 percent are females and 51 percent are
males. The disabilities in the district are classified as visually,
physical, intellectual and hearing impairments.

In January, 2009, CILC have taken the initiative of establishment of
Independent Living Centre Suhawa, by formal selection of IL Leaders and
their training on introducing the concept of IL and philosophy of ILP.

CREATING LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE IL MOVEMENT
IL center commits to active advocacy for PWDs to realize society where
severely disabled persons can live comfortably based upon the belief that
such society is also comfortable to any person.

We want to introduce a movement of IL not just as a project, had long
discussions with Persons with Disabilities about the challenges they are
facing, and one of the representative of village Suhawa, raised the need
of self-advocacy, and said “We receive so many messages from the
non-disabled world that we are not wanted, that we are considered less
than human. The very physical environment tells us we do not belong. It
tells us that we are not wanted in the places that non-disabled people
spend their lives.”

On 21st February 2009, team visited Bagyal, Alipur Farassh, The third
intervention area for the establishment Independent Living Centre. Rizwan
and his sister have attended training on Independent Living in March 2008
and have conducted PC sessions and invited our team to their village to
start IL Center

APCD Mission in Pakistan,
Trainings
Sessions on Independent Living, from Jan 2009 till date CILC have
conducted several sessions: On 9th April 2009, STEP has organized
training of 60 executive members of Telenor, corporate sector, cellular
company in two slots on Disability Awareness.
* In which Abia Akram, Project Manager – CILC, conducted a session on
History and Role of Independent Living in Disability Movement, * Session
on Independent Living Program was conducted by Mr. Abdul Manan on 16th
February in Pakistan’s First Media Sensitization workshop, * One day IL
Skill training was organized for 7 persons with disabilities with keeping
in mind the concept of training is must be enabling so that people are not
just being trained to react and solve their problems but to gain insight
to their situation, anticipate and cope with difficulties, choose the best
action, and better manage their resources.

Peer-Counseling
Had organized 4 PC sessions:
The best way to protect the IL movement the team of CILC worked so hard
to create is to encourage and maintain the active participation of young
leaders with disabilities. Because currently we are not succeeded in
starting Personal Assistant Services but main contribution is Young
people from our community offer unique perspectives on the contemporary
disability experience and life in general. They can and should have a
vocal presence as consumers, volunteers, staff, and board members.
One-to-one peer counseling allows you the opportunity to work
individually with a peer counselor on your unique independent living
goals. Beyond providing concrete help, a peer counselor can assist you in
addressing personal growth needs by working with you individually on:
* Identifying your strengths
* Acknowledging limitations
* Discovering your abilities
* Adapting to new circumstances and expectations that result from a
disability; and * Gaining awareness of how societal attitudes and
stereotypes about disability affect our own self-image. * Enhance your
ability as a self-advocate.

Coordination Meeting
In most situations, local DPOs are not as visible as the large
international NGOs or UN organizations focusing on disability. To avoid
this, local organizations need to make them more visible through making
their internal coordination:
* Coordination meeting of women with disabilities on 16th April, 2009,
chaired by Ms. Abia Akram, Women Coordinator DPI Pakistan (NFWWD) *
Coordination meeting with Disabled Persons Organizations representatives,
with Directorate General of Social Welfare and Special Education on 9th
April, 2009 * Meeting with the representative of JICA on 19th March, 2009

Livelihoods
Card making training

Abia Akram,
92-321-5278021

Life Haven’s Activity Report
APNIL Meeting
June 17, 2009

Last April, Life Haven assisted Mr. Edwin De Villa in organizing the
first Independent Living and Peer Counseling Seminar Workshop at San
Juan, province of Batangas. The workshop is the first major activity in
the municipality to organize and mobilize persons with disabilities. The
seminar workshop provides a venue for the participants to talk about
their own life experience and to learn from their fellows as well. For
the first time, persons with disabilities in San Juan assembled together
for the purpose of organizing them into a self-help group. On the same
month, Mr. Abner Manlapaz flew to Norway to study the personal assistant
system in ULOBA. The study trip is both informative and fun as I travel
with my personal assistant to visit the peer counselors of ULOBA at
their home office. The IL center model in Norway is very much different
compared to the Japanese model. In Norway, there is only one center
(ULOBA) who provides the personal assistant services throughout the
country. ULOBA’s services, which is based on the philosophy of IL is
limited in providing assistance services to persons with disabilities.
Their cooperative cannot provide the full range of services of an IL
center because their by-laws prohibit them to do more than what is
written in the by-laws. More information will be provided after Mr.
Manlapaz finished his report. In collaboration with APCD and SCIF, we
translated the DVD video about Nakhonpathom IL Center into Tagalog
version so that Filipinos can understand the video more easily. Last May
30, 2009 Life Haven and the Association of People with Disabilities of
Santa Rosa organized the fund raising concert dubbed “Live Free” with
collaboration of the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled in
Malaysia. The Beautiful Gate Performance Art Troupe is the main
performer of the event. The concert itself was great. Unfortunately, we
fall short of the target funds to be raised. Nonetheless, the media
mileage is great by itself. Aside from promotion and plugging of the
concert by different TV and radio stations, Life Haven’s activities and
services was highlighted by a major talk show program (Mel & Joey.) The
project “Empowering Persons with Disabilities thru Community Organizing”
has started. The funds for the project came from APNIL. Life Haven
printed its brochures. We started the survey to identify persons with
disabilities in four barangays. We have identified 158 persons with
different types of disabilities. Most of the persons with disabilities
we have identified are interested to be visited by our organization. The
next step now is to visit them to formally introduce Life Haven.

Edwin De Villa’s Report
Spinal Cord Injury Foundation and Life Haven, Inc. conducted a 3 day
Independent Living and Peer Counseling Workshop at Village Plaza Hotel,
Barangay Maraykit, Municipality of San Juan, a first class municipality
located in the Province of Batangas last April 2-4, 2009 for the United
Disabled Citizens of San Juan, an organization of people with
disability. This was approved and supported by Mayor Danilo S. Mindanao
through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. It was
attended by 17 participants. Most of the participants are not severely
disabled but they are having their own struggles. After seeing severely
disabled people leading such an activity, most of them realized their
potentials, increased hope for a better life and learned the possibility
of severely disabled people to live in the community. The United
Disabled Citizens of San Juan intends to share the Philosophy of
Independent Living to the other people with disability in the
municipality and expand their membership.
Community Based Rehabilitation has been present in San Juan, Batangas
since 2007. Volunteer doctors and therapists from the University of the
Philippines regularly conduct activities in the area. They learned
about our activities in the area and they had a representative attend
the First day of the previous IL workshop. They have expressed their
interest in collaborating with the NGOs and the Municipal Social
Welfare and Development Office to improve the quality of life in San
Juan, Batangas.
I will be working for the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office of
San Juan, Batangas soon. Some of my objectives will be research and
proposal of programs and services for People with Disabilities. Through
the cooperation of local people with disabilities and the existing
organization, it will be an advantage to promote IL and provide the
services, though the economic status of the town may still set issues.
The Association of People with Disabilities ? Santa Rosa, An associate
organization of SCIF and Life Haven, Inc. in collaboration with
Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled from Malaysia held a fund
raising and an IL awareness concert titled “Live Free” on May 30. Main
performers were from Beautiful Gate Performance Art Troupe. The
performers were great though we did not reach our expectations in terms
of audience and income. It triggered the interest of the people present
during the concert, and earned positive comments from friends and
relatives.

Report & Activities Jan-May 2009
Society of Independent Living Selangor
Of Beautiful Gate Foundation For The Disabled

A. Activities
1. Hospital Visitation & Peer Counseling

Date Name Disabilities Caused
25/03/09 L Amputee Industrial Accident
15/04/09 S Spinal Injury Industrial Accident
13/05/09 M Spinal Injury Traffic Accident

2. Attending Meetings & Activities
19/5/09 KTM train LIFT LAUNCHING in Subang station

3. Volunteer training
April 19th telematch with disabled
May 1-3 VOLUNTEER TRAINING

4. Receive Visitor
25/2/2009 JICA

5. Organised IL Seminars and Workshops
Feb 28 invited by Welfare Department to talk on IL for staffs from CBR
centre March 30, organised IL seminar for PWDs in kuching = 22persons
April 4th, organized IL seminar for PWDs in sibu = 31 persons
August10-13th, will organised Peer Counseling workshop in Beautiful Gate
Seremban Centre, still looking for funding

B. Weekly Independent Living Program
Received Funding of RM 14,000 (382,363.06 JPY) from Welfare Department to
run IL Program. Details of Trainers: No Name Gender
Disabilities 1 Hee Yong Wah Male Quadriplegic 2 Seow
Boon Chan Male Quadriplegic 3 Yeoh Kee Soon Male
Muscular Dystrophy 4 Chan Ming Lai Male Cerebral Palsy

Details of trainees group I : Every Tuesday, 2pm-4pm
No Name Gender Disabilities
1 T.Y Male Quadriplegic
2 A.P Male Cerebral Palsy
3 L.E Female Unknown
4 L.H Female Polio
5 N.K Female Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Details of trainees group II : Every Wednesday, 10am-12pm
No Name Gender Disabilities
1 O.S Male Spinal
2 L.S Female Spinocerebellar Atrophy
3 B.P Male Spinal
4 N.K Female Spinal Muscular Atrophy
5 T.L Female Cerebral Palsy
6 P.Y Female Cerebral Palsy
7 T.N Male Cerebral Palsy

Dear Leaders of disability movement

I would like to share you a horrible situation faced by the disabled persons Pakistan. It is worse then the earth quack in Pakistan 2005. More then 3 million people from the war areas transfer to other cities of Pakistan most of them hosted by the public and there relatives. And a huge number of people are living in the camps. In the camps we found only 256 physically impaired, 13 visually impaired, 11 hearing impaired and 3 intellectual disabled persons. 3 disabled persons who had spinal cord injury died due to the lake of infections. No toilet is accessible, no priority camps set up for disabled persons.

Why?
Because of discriminations
Because no many assistive devices disabled persons have.
Because transportation is not accessible
Because disable persons are poorest of the poor
Because disabled persons are not empowered enough to love their lives and they believe that they are burden on their families.
These are the reasons we found after the survey of 283 disabled persons. We asked national and international agencies to consider disabled persons as human.

Today is the second day of our biggest achievement of Milestone history. We got opportunity to get a building of a school disabled person which was not in use. We cleaned it and make it the camp residence of Dip’s (Internally displace persons) PWDs.

Now we have 197 disabled persons and there their families. Their food is arranging by Pakistan Bait ul mall, Ministry of welfare and special education. We are going to start the counseling sessions with disabled persons and their families so when the will be back in their homes they will be strong agent of change of society. This one of the unique projects my life as well.

What we need?
We need the support from you in the shape of advices. Also we need your support to full fill this project as we no money for these activities. We are using resources from our families and friends. Also if you can put some influence to the international support agencies please ask them to consider disabled persons as well in rescue or recover process.

Thanks a lot .

For any inquiry contact me
Shafiq Ur Rehman
President
MILESTONE
479-omer block Allama Iqbal Town Lahore, Pakistan
MILESTONE H8/4 street NO 7 Next to Pakistan Bait ul Mall, Islamabad
Pakistan mirzasahab@hotmail.com