2. Current Situation of Persons with Disabilities

2.1 Definition and Classification

Neither current Samoan law, nor a national policy provides for a specific definition of disabilities. However, the Adult Disability Identification Census of 2002 conducted by the Nuanua o le Alofa mafutaga Inc. (NOLA) in conjunction with Inclusion International used 12 broad categories of disability with descriptive questions regarding an individual's abilities and functioning. These categories with the inclusion of another for multiple disabilities could be used as an initial platform upon which definitions could be further refined for the gathering of statistical information. The 12 main categories, with no description of the category were listed as follows:

• 1. Autistic
• 2. Behavioral / Emotional Problems
• 3. Blind
• 4. Deaf
• 5. Epileptic
• 6. Hearing Impaired
• 7. Intellectually Impaired
• 8. Mental Illness
• 9. Physically Disabled
• 10. Speech/ Language Impaired
• 11. Specific Learning Disability
• 12. Visually Impaired

2.2 Government Policy and National Plan towards Persons with Disabilities

Samoa is a signatory to the Proclamation on the Full Participation of People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region since 1998. However, the Government of Samoa has not currently implemented any national plan or enacted any government policies specifically towards PWDs.

A policy paper has been drafted by the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (DPA), which will be presented before the Development Committee of Officials in 2004. As part of the policy paper on disability, the Prime Minister is currently considering incorporating a disability desk within the Office of the Prime Minister to assist with logistics, coordination and strategic direction to better address PWD's in Vanuatu.

2.3 Government System

Most initiatives aimed at assisting or improving the lives of PWD's are begun by the private sector, NGOs, and regional or international organizations. The government ministries provide assistance during specific projects or endeavors, however are not specifically structured to handle matters toward PWDs exclusively.

Ministry of Education

Since 2002, the Department of Education has been involved in trying to set up appropriate plans and activities to meet the needs of children with disabilities within the education system. One of the activities involved the training of teachers in Special Needs Education at the National University of Samoa and in institutions overseas.

Special Education have been in existence in Samoa for over 20 years. However, the responsibility of caring and educating the disabled primarily was in the hands of the family. NGO's provided services in the form of "special schools" and vocational training. These services were all located in Apia, the capital city and typically unavailable to the majority of PWDs living in rural areas.

A number of International organizations have also been participating in the improvement of the lives of disabled persons in Samoa. In 2000, the UNDP, UNESCO, AusAID, and other donor agencies assisted the Department of Education in executing the project Augmenting Institutions for General Attainment (AIGA) which ended December 2002. One objective of the project was to strengthen Special Needs Education curricula and facilities through policy support and human resource development. Under the project, the Department of Education carried out the nation-wide survey in 2000 to identify the needs of all children with disabilities from 0 - 14 years of age. This survey identified 1188 children with disabilities and established the first nation-wide database for children 0-14 years with disabilities in Samoa.

The SNE component of the AIGA project is one of the most successful of the UNDP project activities thanks to the Government's commitment, devoted NGOs, and close links and co-operation among all stakeholders. Currently there is strong momentum to improve and extend SNE services to families and communities. The AIGA project has brought about in-service training on SNE for all mainstream teachers. It has established pilot Special Needs Units in six public primary schools throughout the country.

Another major milestone was the contribution of Inclusion International Asia Pacific Region in 2002. As mentioned earlier, this organization, which advocates special needs issues in Asia and the Pacific region, initiated the second survey for persons 15 years and over. The "Nuanua o le Alofa (NOLA)", a local self-advocacy group for people with disabilities was consulted by Inclusion International to act as the Host agency for this nation-wide survey in Samoa. Through this survey, they tried to answer the following questions: 1.) what are the needs of disabled people 2.) How can these needs be effectively surveyed and accommodated for in educational planning and Community based inclusion in Samoa? For more information on this survey, please refer to Section 2.Statistical Data on Disability.

The Department of Statistics was consulted to develop the data entry program, enter the data and carry out the data analysis. While the fieldwork was on - going, the program was successfully developed and tested.

The DOE is currently implementing an Institutional Strengthening Program (ISP 2002 - 2005) funded by AUSAID which aims to promote the capacity of the DOE through various components such as stakeholder relations, Planning and Management, Assuring Education Quality which addresses special teacher education and Processes and Systems.

The DOE through an ADB project and as part of the ISP is establishing four Primary Schools as Special Education Needs Centres in Upolu with Special Needs facilities built and provided for youth with disabilities and one Special Needs Centre in Savaii.

The Marist Center for Special Learning and the Women in Business Foundation, a two partner NGO's, in collaboration with UNV is conducting a project for the "Empowerment of Rural People with Disabilities". The program intends to improve the quality of life of disabled youth and adults living in the rural areas and is divided into 3 areas of work:

Community-based development to complement and support the work of the DOE, MIA, DOH, Women's Committees and churches in the rural areas

Strengthening the work of the Special Education Unit in Savaii to fund a resource centre for service delivery

Providing sustainable livelihood options and practical support for rural disabled people

There is a close working relationship between the Department of Education, Mission Schools and Parents and Teachers Associations through their various development programs which include parental education.

Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development

The new Ministry for Women, Community and Social Development serves to reaffirm the Samoan government's commitment to global movement for the advancement of women and the national implementation of global initiatives for gender equality. The Ministry implements comprehensive programs for legislative, financial, economic and public sector reforms for the benefit of women. This Ministry was created as a realignment of the Ministries of Women Affairs, Internal Affairs and Youth Affairs and is mainly focused on enhancing the role of women in the development of their families and communities. It has multi-sectoral partnerships with CEDAW comprising of other government ministries and NGO's to achieve gender mainstreaming issues including that of women with disabilities.

In 2004, Cabinet has endorsed the establishment of village elected government women representatives to oversee women development initiatives and programs especially those in the rural areas.

Louisa Apelu from the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development Samoa attended The Commonwealth Foundation at the Commission on the Status of Women in New York in March 2004 and outlined a recent initiative between the Samoa government and NGOs to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This partnership had been extremely successful and she attributed this to the level of communication between the partners, made easier, she said, by the small size of the Pacific Island state. She highlighted the importance of allocating time to the initial phase of a partnership process, in order for each stakeholder to gain an understanding of the approach and capacities of the others. International donor agencies commonly push for partnership approaches but it was recognized that partnership has to be undertaken on the terms of the stakeholders themselves.

Ministry of Youth Sports and Cultural Affairs

The National Youth Policy for Samoa 2001 - 2010 outlines a framework in line with Government's overall Development Plan - Strategy for the Development of Samoa to prioritize and assist youth development activities in Samoa. It is anticipated to be the basis and framework for assistances on Youth development programs which was launched in 2003. The National Youth Policy Advisory Committee is currently refining the Action Plan for the National Youth Policy through further consultation with Stakeholders.

In relation to this, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with Treasury Department and key Government stakeholders such as the Department of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs, Statistics Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Meteorology and the Department of Health are currently implementing a pilot project funded by the ADB titled "Integrating Youth Issues into Government Public Expenditure Management in Samoa".

This project seeks to build on the work that has been undertaken to develop Samoa's National Youth Policy. In particular, the project is designed to assist the government and community stakeholders to develop strategies to integrate the Samoan National Youth Policy into the government budget. The project's primary goal is to improve the status of young people in Samoa by fostering budgetary and policy practices which encompasses a youth perspective.

2.4 Regional Cooperation

Disabled Peoples International (DPI) Oceania

DPI Oceania was formed in March 2000, based in Suva, Fiji. It has played an increasingly active and significant leadership role in disability issues throughout the region at many levels since it was formed. DPI Oceania has provided expertise and support to disability developments and projects in Samoa and the other Pacific Islands.

It has developed a Regional Capacity Building Framework with Pacific regional NGOs. As a direct result of the establishment of DPI Oceania Sub-region Office in Suva, persons with disabilities in four Forum countries, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu were assisted to form their own Disabled People's Organizations and were accepted as full member national assemblies of DPI during the World Assembly held in Sapporo, Japan, in October 2002. DPI Oceania produces a regional Newsletter, has managed the e-Network of the Pacific Disability Development Network, founded in 2001 and transformed into the PDF e-Network in 2002. The Network is funded by Inclusion International with training provided by Vision Pacific Trust DPI Oceania has been engaged in consultation and possible project development with many agencies, including regional outreach from the Australian Council on Rehabilitation on Disability and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the area of vocational training, and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability.

DPI Oceania created the Pacific Disability Forum in December 2002, to take over some of the roles that have been assumed by it in the absence of an independent regional mechanism and focal point for individuals and organizations involved in the disability sector within the region.

Pacific Disability Forum (PDF)

The Pacific Disability Forum was formed at a meeting organized by DPI Oceania, in December 2002, attended by individuals and representatives of many organizations involved in disability work in the region. It was formed to serve as the regional mechanism and focal point for individuals and organizations from within the region actively engaged in the disability sector. In December 2003 a planning meeting for PDF was held in Suva, Fiji, to determine the structure, Constitution, and goals of the organization and to discuss draft plans and programs.

In August 2003, UNESCAP held a Workshop in Bangkok to promote the full participation of women with disabilities in the process of the elaboration on an international Convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. This was attended by several disabled women from Pacific countries, and was followed by the first regional conference of women with disabilities in the Pacific region. The Women with Disabilities Pasifika Forum was held in Suva, Fiji in December 2003. This conference was organized by DPI Oceania, sponsored by the Global Funds for Women, and with support from PWD Australia, the Vision Pacific Charitable Trust. The Forum was attended by women from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The broad goal of the Forum was to build the capacity of Women with Disabilities in the Pacific and to promote their equal treatment and full participation in the development and implementation of national, regional and international initiatives pertaining to women and disability.

Women with Disabilities Pasifika Forum

This organization held its inaugural meeting in Suva in December 2003. The goal of the Forum is to build the capacity of women with disabilities in the Pacific and to promote their equal treatment and full participation in the development and implementation of national, regional and international initiatives concerning women with disabilities. The Forum has active members from Samoa, as well as other pacific islands such as Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It has the objective of extending membership to all Forum countries. It has a constitutionally guaranteed role in the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), and membership of the wider Asian and Pacific Women with Disabilities Network.

2.5 Statistics Data

Special Needs Education Survey 2000

In 2000, the Samoa Department of Education in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) developed the Special Needs Education Survey (the "SNE Survey"). The primary goal of the SNE Survey was to identify all children from the ages of 0-14 with a disability. Using a conservative estimate relating to the number of people with disability in a population, it was determined that there were approximately 1,200 children with disabilities.

The Adult Disability Identification Census 2002

According to a social policy paper by the UNESCAP, the Special Needs Education survey results led to the development of special projects by the Ministry of Education. In response, Special Education Units at selected schools were established and a Special Education Coordinator within the Curriculum development unit at the Department of Education was elected. Pre-service teachers at the National University of Samoa were also required to have a Compulsory Special Education Paper as part of the training effort for educators. The Database of Children with disabilities was also regularly updated since the survey and in support, a network of government and non-government providers were established. In addition to these achievements, it was seen that more research was necessary to include all other persons with disabilities not covered by the prior survey. In the beginning of 2002, the Inclusion International Asia Pacific Region: an organization advocating special needs issues in Asia and the Pacific region initiated the second survey for persons 15 years and over. The "Nuanua o le Alofa (NOLA)", a local self-advocacy group for people with disabilities was consulted by Inclusion International to act as the host agency for this nation-wide survey in Samoa. NOLA formed an Advisory committee comprising representatives from Government departments and Non-governmental agencies (as listed below) to assist with preparation of data collection.

Scope and coverage

The data collection covered all the 330 villages in Samoa, consisting of 23,079 private households. The target population was all persons 15 years and over, with one or more disabilities. The target population was divided into three main groups:

1. School students - covering special needs schools and regular secondary schools, both governmental and non-governmental.
2. Community population - covering all young persons not attending school as well as persons living in their own private homes.
3. Institutions and NGOs - all persons living in institutions or affiliated with NGOs.

School inspectors interviewed all students attending government schools while others covered missions, private and special needs schools. Persons in private households and living in institutions were interviewed by selected fieldworkers from the Ministry of Women, Health officials, special needs teachers and some members of the NOLA organization. Community health nurses played a major role by assisting the fieldworkers in locating persons with disabilities in the different villages.

Methodology

A pre-coded questionnaire was developed based on the objectives as listed. The questionnaire was the same for all persons 15 years and over at schools, institutions and those living in their own homes. It was put into pilot testing to test the validity of the questions, expected pre-code answers and the accuracy of the Samoan translation before it was finalized and printed.

Full training was conducted in the last week of June 2002 for School inspectors and in the first week of July 2002 for Community fieldworkers. The training covered definitions and concepts used for selected disabilities, how to ask questions, how to fill the answers, how to deal with proxy respondents and how to read the statistical maps and identify households on the field. The Department of Statistics provided maps and lists of 23,079 households in all the 330 villages both in the rural and urban areas in the larger island of Savaii, and in the islands of Manono and Apolima. TV Samoa publicized the data collection in order to help increase awareness of the necessity and importance of the survey.

Results of Adult Disability Identification Census 2002

The Adult Disability Identification Census conducted on people above 15 years and above indicated that 3% of the total Samoan population lived with disabilities. A total of 2,874 persons were enumerated of which 47% were males (1,358) and 53% (1,516) were females. While only 17% (476) of PWDs lived in the Apia urban area the vast majority of more than 80% (2,398) lived in rural areas.

Age Distribution

Figure 3 indicates that more than half of PWDs are over 50 years old while approximately one-third are less than 30 years old.

Educational Attainment

Results indicated that approximately half of PWDs in Samoa received a primary level education while one-third attained a secondary education at both government and private schools. A very small number reached tertiary or university levels. Approximately 7% of males versus 8% of females never attained any level of education.

Labor Force Participation

According to the Adult Disability Identification Census, only 2.4% of PWDs engaged in some form of employment or income generating activity. While almost half of PWDs indicated that they assist in family work activities, it is unclear whether their activities are compensated monetarily. However, it should be noted that over 37% of PWDs do not participate in any work activities at all.

The non-working population is primarily comprised of people over 50 years old. 80% of the non-working group is composed of people 50 years and older. There are more women in this age group that are not working (84%) compared to men (75%).

Types of Disabilities

The Adult Disability Identification Census attempted to identify the degree and types of disabilities affecting the Samoan population. Respondents were asked which types of disabilities they had. The Census indicated that 53% of PWDs had a single disability while the remaining participants reported more than one disability.

Physical, visual and hearing impairments had the highest incidences at 33%, 21% and 13%, respectively, collectively comprising over 67% of the total responses.

Disability Assessment Level

A full assessment of one's level of disability is needed to ensure proper treatment and care. It was included in the survey to also identify the severe cases in the community. The survey reported that more than half of the disabled population did not receive appropriate assessment for their problems. This was the situation for all sexes both in the urban and rural areas. It was indicated in the survey that 83.4% of all disabled persons in Samoa were from rural areas, as opposed to 16.6% from urban areas.

Major Causes of Disabilities

The Adult Disability Identification Census also revealed that almost half the disabilities experienced by men and women were caused by Illnesses followed by Aging. Nineteen percent of male and 10% of female disabilities was due to combined accounting of Accidents.

Extent of Self Care Skills

The Census revealed that approximately 75% of males and females reported being Independent in the way they looked after themselves. At this level, these persons did not require any assistance when it came to dressing, bathing and eating. Those who needed aid in such daily activities were in the 50 and over age group.

The Extent of Communication Skills

Communication skills refer to the ability of the person with disabilities to make other people around them understand what they want or don't want to do. The survey showed that 61% of males and 65% of females were independent with their communication skills. When compared to the self-care skills, more people with disabilities need some assistance (34% and 29% for males and females respectively) with communication rather than with self-care skills. It was also indicated that 15 people in urban areas and 142 in the rural areas required full assistance with communication techniques.

The Degree of Mobility

Any person with a disability who can move around and outside the home without assistance is referred to as Independent. The Census indicated that 53% of males and 45% of females were reported as independent. When compared to self-care skills and communication skills, it appeared that mobility is the most complicated situation that people with disabilities deal with. The phrase "needs some assistance" means they can move around using a wheelchair, walking frame, crutches, white cane or other similar means. Most of the elderly aged 50 and above reported needing some assistance. People needing full assistance refer to those who cannot move around unless helped by someone else. The Census indicated that 82% of all people needing full assistance were aged 50 and over and 90% of them lived in rural areas.

Health Care Needed

People with Disabilities were also asked to report the types of health care they required for their specific disabilities. Medical advice was indicated as the most needed health care need in both urban and rural areas, especially for persons aged 50 years and over. Medication and Physiotherapy needs were also highly required.

Specialized Communication techniques

Only a few people with communication problems opted for specialized communication techniques compared to other general assistance. One reason could be the difficulty in getting access to these techniques. The other could be that most people with disabilities were not aware of these techniques especially the elderly. Sign language is the highest reported technique, particularly for persons less than 30 years old.

Family and Community Support

Finally, PWDs were asked what type of family and community support they expected from their community, government, service providers, and all other persons assisting with their needs. As the table indicates, financial support was the top support requested. This indicates the lack of financial opportunities available to disabled persons due to lack of education and limited employment opportunities.

2.6 Disability Specific Legislation

Samoa became independent in 1962, and its Constitution dates from that year. The Constitution declares Samoa to be a free and sovereign independent state. Section 15 provides:

"(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law."

There can be no laws to subject disability or restriction on anyone, but a disability as such is not a ground of discrimination. (S 15(2)).

(3) Nothing shall: - (b) Prevent the making of any provision for the protection or advancement of women or children or of any socially or educationally retarded class of persons.

However, there is no express legislation or act of law in Samoa which addresses the rights or protection of people with disabilities. The only act of legislation which shows government commitment to the care of PWD's is the Education Amendment Act of 1991-1992 which recognized the Government's responsibility for Special EducationDevelopment.

Samoa enacted a Komesina o Sulufaiga (Ombudsman) Act 1988. Actions or inaction of governmental bodies are subject to review at discretion of Ombudsman who may make recommendations for corrective action. Jurisdiction includes review of improperly discriminatory conduct; however, the Ombudsman has no enforcement power.

Most of the current laws reflect systems of the UK/New Zealand that were adopted around the time of independence. However, there is very little legislation on the status of persons with disabilities under Samoan law. There is currently still evidence of inappropriate terms and definitions of people with disabilities in particular the confusion between intellectual disability and mental illness. This is particularly so in the case of offenses against "women with disabilities", and defenses of justification under criminal law on the grounds of insanity.

However the attorney general has implemented a process of review and actions to date which include:

• Ministry of Women's Affairs Act
• Recent alteration of immigration laws to eliminate discrimination against obtaining visa.
• Adoption of the Biwako Framework.
• Adoption of Basic Education Action Plan at South Pacific Forum in Suva, Fiji, 2002
• Revision of the Education Ordinance to include Early childhood (including early intervention) and Second Chance Learning in the National Education for All Plan.
• Compulsory Education Act (established in 1992).
• Compulsory Building Codes (though no monitoring of these is currently practiced)
• The review of the Mental Health Act (November 2003) where a Disability Action Task force was to be formed to lobby for separate disability legislation

The Immigration Act 1966 previously specified classes of prohibited immigrants, not subject to discretionary entry, but the prohibition against entry for Persons with a disability has been repealed.

2.7 Social Services

There are four main sources of health care financing in Samoa -the Government, external donors, NGO's and the users themselves. Public finances are generated from taxation (68-83%), external grants from donors (14-27%), and user co-payments and fees (3-5%).

Samoa does not have a National Health Accounts system or provides any formal social service system as provided by the government. Tradition has dictated that families care for PWDs, and this custom is still currently widely practiced.

2.8 Medical Services, Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices

Medical Services

The Department of Health through 5 hospitals, 12 health centers and 15 sub-centers is the major provider and financier of health services. The private sector, NGO's, women's committees and traditional healers each have a small role in health care. The private sector in Samoa consists of a 21-bed hospital, five medical clinics, two dental clinics and two pharmacies, all in the capital city of Apia. Private clinics have no laboratory or surgical facilities and patients are referred to the private hospital, Government facilities, or overseas hospitals for further treatment. Complicated public and private tertiary care patients are usually referred to New Zealand.

Assistive Devices

Based on the Adult Disability Identification Census of 2002, the highest unmet need for PWDs are wheelchairs both in the urban (18.9%) and the rural areas (19.7%), followed by Ramps and Glasses/spectacles. Crutches and Hearing aids are also in great need in both locations. However, there is no information on how these aids are acquired, and there is no reference as to whether they have been provided by the government, or by private sources.

2.9 Community Based Rehabilitation

Fiailoa Atili

Fiailoa Atili is a community group that has been formed by the people with disabilities, their family members and the supporters in Lotofaga. With assistance from the United Nations Volunteer project "Empowerment of Rural People with Disabilities", the members of Fiailoa Atili focus on various ways to integrate PWDs into everyday life. Their activities such as handicraft and mat weaving have been initiated by PWDs in the group.

"Empowerment of Rural People with Disabilities" is the first project to formalize special needs services and support systems to youths and adults with disabilities in the rural areas of Samoa. The two-year, US$300,000 project has been funded by the Government of Japan through the "Japanese Trust Fund" of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Head Quarters in Germany. The project consists of two International UNV Specialists and six Samoan National UNV Field Workers. 3 UNVs are based at the Marist Center for Special Learning (MCSL), Special Education Unit in Savaii (SEUS), 3 UNVs are based in Lotofaga, Upolu and Sataua, Savaii and 3 UNVs are based in the Women in Business Development Inc in Apia. Their activities include:

1. Model a community based special needs support/service system managed by the community people themselves in the rural area in Samoa
2. Develop special needs services through the Marist Center for Special Learning and Special Needs Education Unit in Savaii
3. Introduce/promote income generation activities to the people with disabilities such as organic farming and fine-mat weavings in cooperation with Women in Business Development Inc.

The Special Education Unit in Savaii (SEUS) and The Marist Centre for Special Learning (MCSL)

SEUS began pre-school education activities in July 2000. It is the only institution which provides services for children with special needs in Savaii. As of 2002, it had two locally trained teachers and a community support committee. SEUS has been providing services for 15 children with disabilities living near the Palauli Village which in the 2000 SNE Survey had 80 children with disabilities. The SEUS is located on the campus of the former Ulimasao College, which has re-opened as the MCSL in January 2002. MSCL specializes in SNE (including SEUS) and second chance learning for people to study English, mathematics and other subjects which are necessary for their daily life and income.

2.10 Independent Living Movement

There are currently no organizations that formally promote or practice Independent Living in Samoa. Although CBR is carried out in certain villages such as The Loto Taumafai Early Intervention Program, no other major empowerment programs have been implemented.

2.11 Public Awareness

To date, initiatives on improving public awareness have primarily come from the private sector, or specific NGO's in cooperation with other private organizations. There are no specific government led incentives to improve public awareness on PWD's

As previously mentioned, Inclusion International initiated an Adult Disability Identification Census for persons 15 years and over in conjunction with Nuanua o le Alofa (NOLA). The Census helped to improve awareness on the needs of PWDs and how to better address them. The data collection process was publicized on TV Samoa in order to make people aware of the necessity and use of this data collection.

2.12 Sports

Samoa sends local participants to attend the Para-Olympic Games and has gained active support from the public and the government. In line with this, sports and recreation have recently been promoted by the local communities.

Results from the Adult Disability Identification Census indicate that approximately 25% of PWDs are involved in sports and recreational activities. Approximately 70% of those involved are between 15 to 30 years old, a third of which are males.

In October 2002, the first "Savaii Special Sports Day" for people with disabilities was held at Marist Center for Special Learning. 80 competitors (aged from 3 to 57 years) and 56 "supporters" assembled on the island of Savaii. The event was organized as part of the activities of the on-going United nations Volunteers (UNV) Project, Empowerment of Rural People with Disabilities. The two-year, US$300,000 project has been funded by the Government of Japan through the "Japanese Trust Fund " of the UNV Head Quartered in Germany. The young students and US Peace Corp Volunteers at Marist Center for Special Learning forming the organizing committee prepared Aden facilitated the day.

The event was organized with the goal that all PWDs lining in Savaii could participate to facilitate this, personal visits were made to identify families with disabled persons, Schools with special needs classes were advised of the event, and transportation was provided in order to give PWDs better access to the event.

Biwako Millennium Framework Seven Priority Areas:

2.13 Self-help Organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parents associations

Non-Government Organizations play a key role in supporting persons with disabilities. There is no specific organization that focus mainly on self-help and independent living but NGO's like the Aoga Fiamalamalama include in their educational program activities of daily living and self care especially to intellectually disabled persons. The Loto Taumafai Education Center for the disabled fosters education and support for the hearing impaired and even has a business wing for carvers as an avenue for income. Projects by Women in Business Foundation together with UN Volunteers also integrate self help activities with their community based rehabilitation programs.

2.14 Women with Disabilities

Women in Business Foundation

The Women in Business Foundation (the "WIBF") was established in 1990 with the following mission:

"For women and youth in Samoa to be able to contribute fully to the development of themselves, their families and their country through income generation, job creation and participation in the village economy".

The WIBF currently has nine staff members and has implemented five projects: Coconut oil production, production and marketing of honey, fine mat production and sales, micro-finance for rural dwellers and organic agriculture. Projects are aimed at alleviating poverty in the rural villages through creation of a local village economy. WIBF offers opportunities to the rural villagers for income generation and provides small business training in management and savings and loan schemes. These projects attempt to teach rural women about credit discipline. This in turn means the women are less reliant on remittances, and learn how to properly manage the cash that they earn.

Currently the WIBF has three disabled women working on fine mat production and coconut oil. With organic produce doubling prices of honey and coconut oil, WIBF established and houses the Organic Farmers Association. The WIBF is active in helping disabled youth and adults to start their own small businesses.

The Women's Committee of Lotofaga, Upolu

The village of Lotofaga is located on the southern coast of Upolu. The SNE Survey in 2000 revealed a high incidence of children in the Lepa/Lotofaga and Aleipata Education Districts with disabilities. Through this Survey a growing awareness among the villagers of the importance of giving support to PWDs and training to caregivers was given. The Lotofaga Medical Centre has been renovated in order to provide better health and welfare services. The Centre is operated under the general authority of the Council of Chiefs and Orators of Lotofaga and managed by the Women's Committee of Lotofaga and the two sub-villages of Matatufu and Vavau.

A NGO Shadow Report was prepared by the Women for Peace, Understanding and Advancement, Inclusion International (Disability and Human rights), the National Council of Women (NCW) and members of Civil Society in December 2004 in order to highlight the needs of the Samoan Government, through the working relationship with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development to address issues affecting women and women with disabilities:

"Women with disability in Samoa do not have the opportunities to participate fully in Samoan society. The establishment of a self advocacy body for people with disability, Nuanua o le Alofa has realized the completion of a national census on disability and a report that disaggregates the data by gender (The Status of Women with DisAbilities in Samoa, 2004). Samoa is now in a position to utilize this information to form inclusive policy and practice".

"We strongly urge government to establish under its auspice a "Disability Action Task Force". This task would consist of government and non-government representation specifically including representation from women with disability. The main function of the task force world is to establish a national disability strategy that incorporates broad stakeholder consultation. This plan should explicitly target the needs and issues of WWD".

2.15 Early Detection, Intervention and Education

The Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID)

AUSAID has been implementing Youth Ambassador Assignment programs, wherein volunteers assist as Occupational Therapists, and Early Intervention Advisors. Each volunteer usually works for 12 months.

Host Organization: The Loto Taumafai Early Intervention Program (LTEIP) is a community-based rehabilitation, therapy and family support service for children with disabilities and their families. It currently services approximately one quarter of Samoa and it is planned to expand each year until it services the whole of Samoa. The LTEIP falls under the Loto Taumafai National Society (established 1981) which also runs Loto Taumafai Education Centre for the Disabled - a special school and vocational program. The school has approximately 70 students, approximately half of whom are deaf and half of whom have a physical disability.

Program goals:

• Provide education and training to Early Intervention workers about disability issues and therapeutic intervention strategies
• Work in conjunction with Early Intervention staff to increase awareness of disability and access issues in village communities
• Assist Early Intervention Program staff with the management and expansion of the Loto Taumafai Early Intervention Program
• Assist Early Intervention Program workers to develop suitable community based therapy programs for children (0-7 years)
• Assist Early Intervention Program workers to train other staff and community members in early intervention
• Provide training and support to Early Intervention Workers and families in the use and creation of appropriate equipment and technology aides.

United Nations Volunteers Project (UNV)

Based in Germany, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is the UN organization supporting peace and development initiatives in nearly 140 countries. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and administered by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNV works through UNDP country offices to promote volunteerism and mobilize volunteers. 500 UNVs from 160 countries are currently serving around the world and two thirds of them are from developing countries.

Samoa has made significant progress in making education available to children with disabilities, and has conducted surveys of all children with disabilities. The Ministries of Education and Finance in collaboration with the UNDP have been quite successful in identifying children with disabilities throughout the country, with a view of providing support and early intervention to their families. Efforts are currently being made to provide education in Special Needs Units with trained teachers in village schools. Samoa also has incorporated mandatory extra courses for teachers that are specific to special needs training.

Furthermore, the Education Ministers from the Pacific Island Countries including Samoa have recommended a review of teacher training and curriculum with a view to strengthening regional teacher training quality. And they have recommended that donor assistance must be found to develop a regional program of inclusive education for children with disabilities.

2.16 Training and Employment

In Pacific Island Countries in general, youth with disabilities have limited access to training and employment. Discrimination is still widespread in the employment area, sometimes at surprisingly high levels of government, even in the face of a high level of qualifications of job applicants with disabilities. Job opportunities are hard to find for non-disabled youth, so youth with disabilities are extremely disadvantaged. In Samoa the United Nations Volunteers Program is integrating youth with disabilities into mainstream vocational training programs. Samoa also provides scholarships for youth with disabilities to study at tertiary level, and is considering setting targets for placement of persons with disabilities.

2.17 Access to Built Environment and Public Transportation

The inability to have access to buildings and to move about by public and/or private transport represents one of the major barriers which prevent persons with disabilities from actively participating in social and economic activities. It is acknowledged that the situation is more difficult in small Pacific Island Countries, with many villages in remote locations, and less developed infrastructure.

Most governments have acknowledged that progress has been very limited in this area and Samoa is not an exception. Policy may have been developed in Samoa but there are reports as cited in the Samoan Observer website on November 2004, where implementation may be an ongoing issue. The NOLA and the Loto Taumafai criticized the government for failing to impose requirements for accessibility features on new structures being built by developers. They also continue to push the government to decide swiftly on the implementation of the Disability Task Force.

2.18 Access to Information and Communication

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2.19 Poverty Alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programs

Although there is no social security system established in Samoa, there have been some notable sustainable livelihood programs. As mentioned earlier, the WIBF has been offering opportunities to the rural villagers for income generation. The women's group provides small business training in management and savings and loan schemes. These projects attempt to teach rural women about credit discipline. This in turn means the women are less reliant on remittances, and learn how to properly manage the cash that they earn. Currently WIBF has three disabled women working on fine mat production and coconut oil and has established the Organic Farmers Association. The WIBF is active in helping disabled youths and adults to start their own small businesses.

It is important to note that these Samoan initiatives with regards to these seven priority areas for action usually come from the private sector or NGO's, and the government takes a supporting role in these activities. It is important that the government take a more active role in planning and organizing projects and activities to help alleviate these conditions and give PWD's better opportunities to take care of them.