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] The International Labour Organization´s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ILO) organized the above meeting in collaboration with the Government of Japan in Bangkok, Thailand, from 14 to 16 January 2003.More than 50 representatives of Governmental Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations attended and exchanged their ideas concerning vocational training and employment of people with disabilities.
The consultation was to examine the current status of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the region in regards to the training and employment of PWDs within the context of the ILO Convention No. 159 concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, 1983 and the Biwako Framework for Action; to share examples of good practice within the region and other parts of the world that are succeeding in promoting training and employment of disabled persons and to develop recommendations for stakeholders in general as well as participating countries in particular, and to implement the intent of the ILO Convention and Biwako Millennium Framework.
Discussion focused on regional trends affecting the employment and training of PWDs and barriers faced by them. Data from 14 country studies were also reviewed.
Participants worked in country groups and developed plans of action on how to address specific issues of most concern in their countries in regards to the training and employment of PWDs.
Participants, inspired by the discussions, made commitments to address these issues by arranging national dialogues involving Government, employer´s groups, trade unions, disabled people´s organizations and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in their own countries.
For further information, please refer to http://www.ilo.org/abilityasia
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) hosted this seminar in collaboration with the Government of the Philippines. This forum supported the Millennium Development Goals and Rights-based Approaches to Development according to the UN General Assembly Resolution 56/168 and aimed to further equalize opportunities in the social life and development of PWDs. Targeted were interested Governments of least developed and low income countries as well as countries with economies in transition. It provided an opportunity for exchange of knowledge and experience in promoting awareness, planning and developing accessible ICT solutions in the context of sustainable and equitable development for present and future generations.
This workshop included participants from ten countries, discussing ways of making ICT more accessible to PWDs, especially through the Global Internet Accessibility Website. In addition, it explored opportunities for growth and human development despite the difficulties imposed on PWDs.
In closing, participants formulated a Strategic Framework on Building Capacities for Accessible ICT for all and came up with a strategic paper containing their objectives and strategies for action.
The Manila Declaration on Accessible Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and the Manila Accessible ICT Design Recommendations were presented and will be forwarded to an United Nations Ad Hoc Meeting. It may serve as a policy paper/advocacy document to advocate accessible ICT for all with special attention to PWDs in each country. For further information, please refer to http://www.worldenable.net/manila2003
A computer program has been developed in Thai to help blind persons read books.
The D-reader, a Digital Talking Book Reader Program, devised by Thai University students, makes and plays recordings of volunteers reading books and can be activated on demand. With the D-reader, blind readers can go back and forth in their reading just as one can flick through the pages of a book.
The software is a bilingual program. The Thai language can be substituted with another language. The program can be downloaded free of charge or the CD-ROMs containing the speaking books can be obtained at Ratchasuda Foundation, Thailand.
One hundred locally made Thai wheelchairs were donated to victims of war in Afghanistan through the collaboration of public and private organizations in Japan, Thailand and Afghanistan.It was a project of the Wheelchairs and Friendship Center of Asia (WAFCA) and Minsai Center, Japan.
The donation was to provide assistance to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Afghanistan, particularly children with disabilities since many children have been maimed by landmines during and after the war. The Thai wheelchair industry is pleased that international organizations have acknowledged the quality of Thai made wheelchairs. The factory can produce wheelchairs much cheaper than those manufactured in Europe and Japan approximately 1,000 wheelchairs per year with 14 staff 10 of whom are PWDs.
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