Welcome to the August 2011 Edition of the Australian Disability and Development Consortium’s (ADDC) Newsletter.  The intent of the Newsletter is to update Members on ADDC activities and is only published 2 to 3 times a year, whereas the ADDC Bulletin is information from around the world relating to disability in development and distributed at least twice a month. 

This edition will provide updates on ADDC activity throughout 2011 in relation to our main objectives, as well as providing information about activities our Members have been involved in.

Download here: ADDC Newsletter August 2011

 Development Bulletin No.74

Implementing disability-inclusive development in the Pacific and Asia

To critically review the experience and progress with implementing disability-inclusive development in Pacific and Asian countries and to provide an informal evaluation of activities over the last two years, a second international conference was held in Darwin in September 2010. The conference, ‘Implementing disability-inclusive development in the Pacific and Asia: reviewing progress, planning the future’, was a partnership between the Australian National University, the Australian Council for International Development, National Disability Services  and ADDC. It was largely funded by AusAID. The conference, followed by two one-day workshops, provided the opportunity to share the achievements of the previous two years, to discuss disability-inclusive strategies and their implementation, to debate the plans that had worked well in practice and what had not, and to consider implementation for the future. It reviewed practical actions being undertaken in the Pacific and Asia at community, local, national, regional and international levels and included the experience and viewpoint of people from small community-based disability groups, local government leaders, people with disability, legislators, researchers, volunteers, occupational therapists, government and non government development workers from a total of 30 different Asian and Pacific countries. Overall, it provided the opportunity for wide ranging and in-depth discussion on emerging global political, economic and social change and their likely impact on those with disability. Most importantly, it provided a voice for people with disability and an opportunity to network and participate in in-depth discussion. The following papers include their perspectives and recommendations on progress towards disability-inclusive development.

 Reading between the lines, the papers in this issue show the importance of small, national or local community-based or non government organisations — especially those that are faith based — in implementing small but important practical, often innovative, activities and services that provide people with dignity, access and inclusion. The papers also show the importance of equal partnerships, long-term involvement, networking and understanding the specific needs, perspectives and values of those from different cultures. 

While some case studies include first-hand experience of discrimination, exclusion, vulnerability and the vicious circle between poverty and disability, the focus of the journal is on progress and positive action.

(Excerpts from the Introduction- by Dr Pam Thomas- Managing Editor of the Development Bulletin No 74).

To download the PDF version:DevBull74-final PDF

To download the Word Doc version:  Development Bulletin No 74 Pt 1 Word doc

Remaining sections of the Development Bulletin will be loaded as they are formatted into Word  doc. PLease contact ADDC if required immediately

The World Report on Disability is a major publication from the World Health Organization and World Bank, to be launched on 9 June 2011 in New York. The Report explores current evidence about disability, identifies needs, and highlights what works to improve the lives of people with disabilities in areas including health, rehabilitation, support, environments, education and employment. This Playlist will include the four World Report promotional films on the theme of “What’s disability to me?”, together with other films which share the human rights emphasis of our disability work. Video submissions from people with disabilities are welcome.

Epilepsy – “The Little Dying” in Swahili – the challenge to make a ‘boring’ subject interesting.

English – October 12, 2009

Published by: Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD) – Jeanet de Jong

Karijn Aussems, 32, is director of the NGO Youth on the Move, an organisation in Kenya that works with people with epilepsy. She left The Netherlands and moved to Kenya in 2008 and in the process she has learned that epilepsy is often seen as a boring subject; both for potential sponsors, and for people in the streets.

Karijn Aussems, 32, is director of the NGO Youth on the Move

“We are making it more interesting and we educate people. We start by listening to the personal stories, experience, behaviour and ideas and we use this in education.”

I met Karijn during the summer of 2006. She just received her Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development and was very much focused on moving to Kenya and start activities for Youth on the Move in Nairobi. The framework of the organisation and its aims were put in place, but the challenge of getting sponsorship remained. “Somehow epilepsy seems to be a boring subject, it doesn’t have the ‘sexy’ image like AIDS or empowerment of women. These subjects are given lots of attention and money. People in the Western world talk about these issues. When it comes to epilepsy this is not the case”.

When we met Karijn came across as if she was in a hurry. “I am trying to catch up time”, she says. Karijn knows what it feels like to have epilepsy; she lived with it for 22 years. It restricted her life in many ways. After a successful operation some years ago, she now lives a life without limitations due to epilepsy and is more self confident than ever before. However she clearly remembers the way she was bullied in primary school, the way she was not able to rely on her body and the uncertainty about being ‘different’. It was her personal history that motivated Karijn to start Youth on the Move. The choice to work in Kenya was made when, working as an intern, she found out that in Kenya there is hardly any information available that helps to understand what epilepsy is, what it means and how you can live with it.

Read Full Article on DCDD Website >