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COVID-19, Amplifying Voices: Our Lives, Our Say: Learning from COVID-19 through the experiences of blind and partially sighted persons across the world

ZAYED, Yana
et al
August 2020

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The World Blind Union (WBU) conducted a study to examine the extent to which COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some deep structural inequalities in society. Data gathered from the study is evidencing that persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds are among those hardest hit by the pandemic. While this report puts a spotlight on the voices of blind and partially sighted persons, many of the experiences shared strongly resonate with numerous other studies that are also highlighting how marginalised groups have been affected by this crisis. Through this report, WBU hopes to raise awareness on the specifics of what those challenges have meant in reality for its constituents, as well as shed light on what have been effective resilience strategies for them. The study was made possible with the support of CBM Global

To understand the situation of our constituents, the World Blind Union (WBU) conducted a global survey in collaboration with key stakeholders. In April 2020, the WBU launched an open online survey for seven weeks in Spanish, French and English, seeking information from blind and partially sighted persons on how COVID-19 was impacting their day to day life. 853 people participated in the survey. The respondents expressed in their own words how their lives had been and continue to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. This report is a compilation of those voices. It depicts the ways in which COVID-19 response measures taken by state and non-state actors have created additional barriers and challenges for blind and partially sighted people. It also includes powerful testimonies on how people have shown resilience in the face of adversity.

 

 

Towards independent living: Collecting examples from Europe

ANGELOVA-MLADENOVA, Lilia
March 2019

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This Collection is a joint initiative of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and the European Disability Forum (EDF). It features examples from different EU Member States, which to a different extent facilitate the right to live independently in the community.

The examples are divided into four areas, presented in different chapters:

  • Legislation and funding: State Funded Peer-Counselling – Estonia; Direct Payments – Ireland.
  • Community-based support: Peer-Counselling for women with disabilities – Austria; Supported living for adults with intellectual disabilities – Croatia; Supported Decision-Making – The Czech Republic; Mobile Mental Health Units – Greece; Personal Assistance for People with Complex Disabilities – Sweden .
  • Involvement of disabled people: Co-Production in Social Care – United Kingdom; Participation of Organisations of People with Disabilities – Italy
  • Self-advocacy: Self-Advocacy of Disabled People – Romania

 

Improving mental health and related service environments and promoting community inclusion WHO QualityRights training to act, unite and empower for mental health (Pilot version)

FUNK, Michelle
DREW, Natalie
2017

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This document provides training and guidance on the key standards related to the physical and social environment within mental health and related services that need to be met to promote good outcomes, independent living and community inclusion. Service assessment and improvement tools are provided. Training tools (core and advanced) and guidance tools are introduced. Guidance is given for facilitators and learning objectives, resources and outcomes are provided for three topics: What makes a good environment?; The right to an adequate standard of living in mental health and related services; and Living independently and being included in your community.

The psychosocial impact on standing devices

NORDSTRÖM, Birgitta
NYBERG, Lars
EKENBERG, Lilly
NÄSLUND, Annika
2013

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Purpose:

The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of standing devices as experienced by users. 

 

Method:

This is the second part of a comprehensive survey in five counties in Sweden where all the subjects with standing devices were invited to participate. The impact of standing devices on functional independence, quality of life and wellbeing was assessed using a questionnaire, Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS).

 

Results:

The psychosocial impact of the standing devices was perceived as positive. The highest PIADS scores in relation to age were found in the oldest group, aged 65 years and older. The ability to walk and independence in ambulation resulted in higher scores than the use of a wheelchair and/or dependence on others. Those who stood often awarded higher scores in the PIADS questionnaire compared to those who used the device less frequently. When standing was integrated in various activities, its psychosocial impact received high scores. 

 

Conclusion:

The psychosocial impact of standing devices was generally experienced positively. The main results indicated that standing in a standing device had a value and we as professionals should ask the users about the intended purpose of their standing in order to prescribe the optimal device.

Community not confinement

ZAJA, Tomislav
KLEIN, Judith
March 2013

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This short video by film-maker Tomislav Zaja chronicles the stories of persons with disabilities in Croatia and Romania and their testimonies about institutional care and independent living in the community. The supporting article by Judith Klein, Director of the Mental Health Initiative at the Open Society Foundations, gives further background to the fight for the right to independent living in the community for and by persons with disabilities, and refers to a petition submitted to the European Union by  the  Open Society Mental Health Initiative. This video will be useful to anyone working particularly on social inclusion issues in eastern Europe

A community for all : implementing article 19|A guide for monitoring progress on the implementation of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

PARKER, Camilla
2011

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"This Guide aims to show how the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) can be used to promote the right of people with disabilities to live and participate in the community as equal citizens. Its primary focus is Article 19 of the CRPD (Living independently and being included in the community), which provides that people with disabilities have the right to live in the community, with the same choices as others"

The quality of life, mental health, and perceived stigma of leprosy patients in Bangladesh

TSUTSUMI, Atsuro
et al
March 2007

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"The present study aims to determine the quality of life (QOL) and general mental health of leprosy patients compared with the general population, and evaluate contributing factors such as socio-economic characteristics and perceived stigma. A total of 189 patients (160 outpatients, 29 inpatients) and 200 controls without leprosy or other chronic diseases were selected from Dhaka district, Bangladesh, using stratified random sampling"
Social Science Medicine Journal, Vol 64, Issue 12

Laugh, run, and move to develop together : games with a psychosocial aim

MEUWLY, Michèle
HEINIGER, Jean-Pierre
2007

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This manual was created following a project initiated by Terre des Hommes called "Movement, Games and Sport for children’s psychosocial development". The manual, a compilation of twenty games, provides a play tool which integrates the psychosocial approach and uses the phases of learning by experience

ILEP learning guide four : how to prevent disability in leprosy

CROSS, Hugh
MAHATO, Margaret
2006

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"This book is for all health workers who may have to help people who have nerve damage to their eyes, hands and feet. It will help them to encourage patients to develop a lifetime habit of caring for nerve-damaged parts. The content of this book complements the recommendations in the Operational Guidelines of the World Health Organization"
Note: This resource is available to download in three parts

Resilience and success of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia

TEFERRA, Tirussew
2005

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"This is an empirical cross-disability study among successful persons with hearing, visual and motor impairments. It tries to explore the threads of resilience which may be attributed to personal as well as environmental factors within the Ethiopian context. As it is the first attempt in the country, it is presumed to bring a fresh insight in the field and serve as a basis future intervention and research endeavour"
Chapter 5 from the book "Disability in Ethiopia: Issues, Insights and Implications" by Tirussew Teferra

Stories of love, pain and courage : AIDS orphans and memory boxes

DENIS, Philippe
MAKIWANE, Nokhaya
2003

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This article reports on a project by the Sinomlando Centre for Oral History, in which memory boxes were used with young children in South Africa who had recently lost a parent due to AIDS. The act of making memory boxes and talking about the memories to be stored within it creates a space for families and communities to talk about life, death and plans for the future. This communication creates a psychosocial support network for young children with the aim of promoting resiliency so that they may be better able to cope with their loss. The article includes a short methodology of how the results of the project were gathered and three detailed case studies

Memory box programme : training manual

DENIS, Philippe
MAFU, Sibongile
MAKIWANE, Nokhaya
2003

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This manual aims to give community workers and volunteers a basic understanding of the psycho-social needs of children in need and the basic skills in memory-box methodology

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