IDPWD theme for 2011: “Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development” 

 A better world for all: recognising individuality and diversity 

Persons with disabilities make up an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population. Almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of persons living with disabilities, or between 110-190 million, encounters significant difficulties. Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers or family members.

The global focus on poverty highlighted by the MDGs  is of particular concern to persons with disabilities, particularly in developing countries. A growing body of research now shows that the most pressing issue faced by millions of persons with disabilities worldwide is not their disability but rather poverty[1]. Much of this poverty is the direct and indirect result of exclusion and marginalization of persons with disabilities due to stigma and prejudice about disability.

 This stigma and prejudice, in turn, is often the result of a lack of knowledge of and awareness about people with disability which exists at all levels – from the family to the community, to decision makers at the highest levels – those who simply have not understood that persons with disabilities need the same opportunities and rights available to all other members of society.

Such stigma and prejudice leads to social marginalisation, lack of equal access to education, employment and social support mechanisms that result in profound poverty for millions of persons with disabilities. Disability can be both a cause and a consequence of poverty.”[2]

As part of the celebrations to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Australian Disability and Development Consortium (ADDC) is holding an art exhibition, titled:

A better world for all: recognising individuality and diversity.
Link to poster:ADDC-Poster

This is being held on different days at 2 venues in Victoria:
 
1.        CBM -Box Hill (December 5^th & 6th) and
2.        World Vision -Burwood East( December 7^th& 8^th)

Through this art exhibition, we hope that you will take time to consider the individual travels of the people with disability who have so generously and honestly been willing to share their talents and journey with us.

We are exhibiting the work of artists who live in Australia and have a disability as a way of promoting their ‘abilities and the hurdles and opportunities they faced. These have been exhibited with corresponding case studies that reflect the different opportunities of people with disabilities who live in developing countries.

 Please make time to read these case studies:
 
The organisations providing the case studies of people in developing countries are :

CBM:  with Joy Joanne.  Link: Exhibition-John&Joy.v5

End the Cycle with Francis Kennedy. Link: Exhibition-Jenny&Frances.v4

Motivation Australia with Marcia Soares Tilman. Link: Exhibition-Huy&Marcia.v3

World Vision with Shankar’s story. Link: Exhibition-Brad&Shankar.V4

 We are featuring 4 Australian artists:

 Jenny Nicholls is exhibiting her  ‘Free to Be Me’  collection of work.

Brad Newbound: exhibiting a favourite piece- ‘Katherine Gorge’

John Button:  exhibiting works that express his indigenous heritage

Huy Nguyen:  exhibiting his pencil and charcol collection   ( and featured in our video clip)

The exhibiting artist will also have their biography and story showcased as seen in the casestudy collection. . We also are sharing the story  of  Wei Ziying from China who has been recognised as an accomplished artist in her country. Link:Exhibition-Wei ZiYing.v2
 
To ensure the concept of this exhibition is promoted globally, ADDC plans to promote the exhibition and planning processes to get the exhibition together, via photographic display of art work in catalogue form, case studies and artists biographies on the ADDC website, along with organisational/task checklist etc to assist other, particularly in developing countries, to replicate.  ( to be posted by Decmber 15th)

Catalougue of art work: CATALOGUE for Web with graphics

For further information on how International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being celbrated around the world, please refer to the following link: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1561#aroundtheworld

[2] DIDF 2000

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.

______________________________________________

United Nations, January 2009

Behind closed doors of psychiatric institutions in many impoverished countries, too many children and adults with mental disabilities live their lives in suffering and isolation.

In Paraguay, autistic young men like Jorge and Julio have suffered at the hands of a system that has failed to understand and protect them.

Download Transcript >

To mark the International Day for Disabled Persons, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin joined the International Labour Organization to call for decent work for disabled persons. “Let’s make decent work a reality for all,” she signs.

A charming short film celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, produced by ChildFund Australia and VIAfilm.

For more info, visit www.childfund.org.au