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Regional Workshop for Networking and Collaboration on Intellectual Disabilities (ID)

APCD organized the Regional Workshop for Networking and Collaboration on Intellectual Disabilities (ID) from 22-25 January 2008, at APCD, Bangkok, Thailand.

This workshop was the highlight of APCD in 2008 with 26 participants. They included persons with ID (self-advocates), parents of persons with ID as well as supporters from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The objectives of this workshop were to strengthen networking and collaboration regarding persons with ID among APCD and relevant groups/organizations in the target countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand).

The 3 main strategies used were as follows:

• Empowering persons with ID to be aware of his/her situation, set a vision,and learn about self-help and self-advocacy;
• Equipping key family members of persons with ID with practical knowledge/ skills to develop their self-help groups/ associations; and
• Enhancing the supporters' knowledge and attitudes to effectively assist persons with ID and their families.

A learner-center approach was applied in which everyone participated in same sessions in the same room we are conducted concurrently; one room for self-advocates and another room for family and supporters' groups.

The field visits conducted on the second day included visits to the cookie-making project at the Thai Autism Vocational Center andmeeting with a gentleman with an ID at a private company who works there as an administrative officer.

The last day was most interesting as well as important since the family group presented an action plan while the self-advocates shared their dreams and future plans.

The closing ceremony followed discussion on "How to Initiate Networking Among All Participants" in which the participants agreed to communicate by email and expect focal point organizations which are government organizations to make sure all participants can connect with each other even if they are unable to utilize internet or email.

This workshop was organized successfully believing and respecting the potential of Persons with ID, implementing the program based and focused on the learners through a learner-center approach, and lastly by being confident that strong networking and collaboration would bring positive changes on the quality of life of persons with ID.

APCD invited 5 self-advocates to be resource persons. This was epoch-making in that this was the first time that JICA dispatched a self advocate from Japan as a short term JICA expert.

Follow up and support for Networking and Collaboration on ID will be implemented and strengthened continually in the respected countries by APCD and relevant groups/ organizations.