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] [ ] Partnership and Cooperation among the Government, NGOs, and Other Stakeholders on Disability
Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP)
Contact address: 8, G-7-2/4, Islamabad, PakistanSocio-economic data on persons with disabilities in Pakistan is scarce. Where it exists, it is conservative. According to the 1998 Census1, approximately 2.4 percent of the population has some form of disability. This is significantly lower than the WHO estimate of approximately 10 percent, which is likely due to a different definition of disability. It is estimated that 66 percent of persons with disabilities live in rural areas; only 28 percent of persons with disabilities are literate; only 14 percent of persons with disabilities are in work and; 70 percent are reliant on family members for financial support. Further, a 1984-85 survey on disability revealed that over 49 percent of disabilities resulted from disease - more than birth (35 percent) and accidents (just under 14 percent) combined.
Disabled people face a multitude of barriers that limit their access to education, employment, housing transportation, health care, rehabilitation and recreation. Lack of information about the opportunities and services available for persons with disabilities within the country and in rest of the world has forced them to be confined in their houses. On the other hand due to inadequate awareness in the society person with disabilities are not being accepted as useful human resources in the economic development. There is a dire need of an organization administered by persons with disabilities themselves, as they are the best advocates of their issues.
Launched in 1997, STEP is an organization of disabled people campaigning to promote the empowerment, independence and inclusion of all disabled people across Pakistan.
STEP has a membership of over 300 individuals and works in partnership with a range of national and international public, private and voluntary organizations.
STEP has all along been putting in strenuous efforts to achieve the cherished goal but owing to serious financial constraints the gigantic task as envisaged in the written document has partially been accomplished. Despite constraints, STEP has, since its inception, been organizing seminars, trainings ad other such activities for the uplifting of persons with disabilities.
STEP has also succeeded in getting admission of persons with disabilities in universities and professional institutions besides generating opportunities for them in the private business concerns.
A good number of persons with disabilities has also received training from Japan through Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).
STEP participates in TV and Radio Programs and brings out a Monthly Newsletter by the name "Leaders". STEP is committed to play an active role in the implementation of National Policy for Disabled 2002.
Since 2004 persons with disabilities from STEP are participating in different trainings conducted as participants as well as resource persons:
Training programs conducted by APCD has increased the capacity of organizations of persons with disabilities and given wide horizon to work in the field of disability and development. Individuals are executing a number of dynamic projects with the limited resources of their organizations returning form these training programs and workshops. Being focal organization STEP has got a number of opportunities to work in close collaboration with APCD. Some of the major activities as a result of implementation of trainings are worth mentioning:
The two day seminar on major disability issues was attended by more than 300 persons with disabilities from all over the country, NGO and INGO representatives and Government functionaries. Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education at that time Ms. Nilofer Bakhtiar and Secretary for Special Education Mr. Aleem Mehmood graced two day sessions as chief guests. It was considerably large scale activity carried out with the collaboration of DPOs, APCD and Government of Pakistan and JICA Pakistan.
One of the ex-trainee of APCD from STEP Mr. Zeeshan Khan is the pioneer to develop First Accessible Website for Visually Impaired Persons in Pakistan. This website keeps update all stakeholders around the globe about the activities carried out by different projects of STEP and accomplishments of its dynamic team. This website is hosted and registered by World Online Pakistan with their generous cooperation since two years.
After attending the Training for Managerial Persons for Independent Living Centers in 2005 in Thailand, Mr. Imran introduced the concept of IL center in Islamabad. More than 50 severely disabled persons and their family members attended this session organized by STEP. A team lead by Ms. Masako Okuhira from Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons also attended the meeting. A large number of persons with disabilities were motivated and joined the IL movement as a result.
CBSHOD can be considered as the largest activity of Persons with Disabilities in Collaboration with Government of Pakistan, which is a tremendous contribution of APCD. This historic move was supported by JICA Pakistan and World Bank Pakistan besides APCD. The seminar was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz and closing session was presided by the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Mr. Mian Muhammad Somro. Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Ms. Zubaida Jalal and all higher officers of the Ministry participated in preparation process with the organizing committee.
Disability movement has gained momentum in the preceding decade and it has been accelerated in this decade through the empowerment of persons with disabilities at grassroots level after sharing experiences and learning from their counterparts in the region. It is anticipated that this regional cooperation brings a radical change in lives of disabled community and society for all be realized.
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