ADDC :: Australian Disability & Development Consortium

The Development Bulletin: ‘Disability, Disadvantage and Development in the Pacific and Asia’ presents an interdisciplinary perspective on disability, disadvantage, poverty and development from people with disability. This is the first publication in the region and possibly the world that provides a solid body of information on the relationship between disability, disadvantage and opportunities for social and economic development. The papers include the perspectives of people with disabilities – in particular those from developing countries – academics, disabled people’s organisations, aid donors, government and non government organisations and international development agencies. While these papers show the close link between disability, gender and poverty they also provide overwhelming evidence of the abilities of people with disability.

This journal is produced as a direct result of the 2008 ADDC International Conference and the Development Studies Network at ANU, supported with funding from AusAID. The culmination of all the effort to produce this journal was with the official launch which was held in Canberra at the Australian National University on 11th June 2009.

Paul Deany, CBM Australia’s Advocacy Officer and member of ADDC Executive Committee, was the MC for the evening. As usual, Paul was able to provide guests with all the information in an informative and entertaining manner, while keeping the formalities running smoothly.

Professor Mandy Thomas, Pro-Vice Chancellor of ANU officially welcomed the guests on behalf of the university and then introduced the Honourable

Mr Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance.

Mr. McMullan had delivered the opening address at the 2008 Conference and has been significantly instrumental in having disability included in the Australian Governments Aid policy. He was obviously the perfect person to officially launch the Development Bulletin.

Maryanne Diamond, President of the World Blind Union and member of the ADDC Policy Advisory Sub Committee, was the guest speaker. Maryanne gave an informative speech that focussed on issues relating to accessibility issues and disability as well as reference to her presentation at the 2008 Conference.

Mr. McMullan then introduced Mr. John Langmore. John was the Director, Division for Social Policy and Development at ANU and presently is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

The formalities were drawn to a close by Paul, who thanked the Editors of the journal, Pam Thomas and Michele Legge and on behalf of the partnership thanked and acknowledged the efforts of Pam Thomas who ensured the Development Bulletin was created from an idea to the informative journal it is today.

Download A free copy of the Development Bulletin No 73, April 2009, is available on the ADDC, ANU Development Studies Network and ACFID websites.

Download report of the launch with pictures.