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Shifting the paradigm in social service provision : making quality services accessible for people with disabilities in south east Europe

CHIRIACESCU, Diana
December 2008

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This report examines the ways in which policies and practices evolve in the social services sector in South East Europe, as well as the impact of this change process on the lives of people with disabilities. It aims to identify the main stakes, priorities and steps forward that should be undertaken in order to modernise this sector in an effective and sustainable way

How to build an accessible environment in developing countries : manual #1 - introduction & accessibility standards

DAVID, Vincent
December 2008

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This useful manual provides an introduction to the three-manual series about accessibility standards. General background information is highlighted about the concept of accessibility. An overview of Handicap International's approach is outlined, as well as infomation about the standardised vs individualised approaches. Throughout the three manuals, illustrations are provided for technical drawings, construction methods and construction materials from Handicap International's project in Cambodia This manual series is useful for people interested in learning about accessibility standards in developing countries

How to build an accessible environment in developing countries : manual #2 - access to water and sanitation facilities : part 1 - toilets and closed showers

DAVID, Vincent
December 2008

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This practical manual provides a detailed overview about how to build accessible water and sanitation facilities, specifically accessible toilets and closed showers. Information is highlighted about internal construction of toilets, external construction of toilets and the construction of accessible closed showers for both a water basin and water jar. Different construction methods and materials with technical drawings are provided This is manual two, part one of a three-manual series and is useful for people interested in learning about accessible toilets and closed shower in developing countries

How to build an accessible environment in developing countries : manual #2 - access to water and sanitation facilities : part 2 - open washing areas and water points

DAVID, Vincent
December 2008

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This practical manual provides a detailed overview about how to build accessible water and sanitation facilities, specifically accessible open washing areas and water points at lakes and rivers. Information is highlighted about washing areas with pumps and/or wells, open washing areas with jars or water tanks, and docks for access to rivers, lakes and water pools. Details are given for various construction methods and materials in technical drawings This is manual two, part two of a three manual series and is useful for people interested in learning about the construction of accessible open washing areas and water points in developing countries

The role of partnerships in health equity

TUTU, Desmond
November 2008

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This commentary sees working in partnership as key to tackling the disparity in access to health care throughout the world. It cites the Medical Knowledge Institute's programmes for addressing HIV in Africa as an example of successful partnerships.

Promoting access to the built environment

WILM, Susanne
NOE, Christiane
November 2008

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“"These guidelines on 'Promoting Access to the Built Environment' reflect international standards and recommendations about accessibility in the built environment, and have been developed to assist CBM, its partners and other interested agencies in creating a more fully accessible environment"

Human rights and disability : equal rights for all

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
October 2008

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This paper outlines the international human rights framework for persons with disabilities. It includes a brief description of the situation highlighting key issues for persons with disabilities, which include: the fight against discrimination; the move from institutional care to community living; and the right to take decisions about one’s personal affairs

Design for all : implications for bank operations

SNIDER, Harold
TAKEDA, Nazumi
October 2008

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This report proposes universal design (UD), a US term for inclusive design, to be adopted by the World Bank in its infrastructure projects. The benefits and applications of UD are presented, including in water and sanitation, and reasons for its adoption are provided. Case studies illustrate UD applied to developing country contexts. This report is useful for people interested in universal design in developing countries

A guide of understanding victim assistance in the context of AP Mine Ban Convention

THE IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT OF THE ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE BAN CONVENTION
October 2008

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This guide highlights the strategic approach on victim assistance adopted by the States Parties and assists relevant States Parties in applying it. It provides information about a broader view of victim assistance and guidance for each state party to develop a national strategic approach by offering relevant help for landmine victims through emergency first-aid care, rehabilitation services, psychological assistance and economic reintegration. It recommends that each State to complete a situation analysis to take specific, measurable, achievable, relevant steps in a set time frame to raise efficiency and promote sustainability of services
Note: this guide is a companion to "Victim Assistance in the Context of the AP Mine Ban Convention: Checklist"

Victim assistance in the context of the AP Mine Ban Treaty : checklist

THE IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT OF THE ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE BAN CONVENTION
October 2008

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This checklist is a tool to be used by States Parties in developing a comprehensive victim assistance response in the context of broader efforts concerning healthcare, rehabilitation, reintegration and human rights and achieving the aims of the Nairobi Action Plan in the six thematic areas of victim assistance
Note: This is a companion piece to "A Guide to Understanding Victim Assistance in the Context of the AP Mine Ban Convention"

Ensuring the enfranchisement of people with disabilities

WARD, Andrew
BAKER, Paul M A
MOON, Nathan W
October 2008

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"In a representational democracy, the process of selecting people to represent the electorate is critical. To accomplish this goal, it is crucial that elections be fair and accurate reflections of the decisions of the voters. However, a significant and relatively unacknowledged constituency, people with disabilities, faces a variety of barriers to full participation in the U.S. electoral democracy. Recent research has provided evidence that how people with disabilities vote is just as important as the physical barriers they face when casting their votes. This article presents an overview of the literature addressing issues that affect how people with disabilities vote, with an especial focus on the role of election officials as both facilitators and inhibitors of voting by people with disabilities"
Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Vol 20, No 2

Building capacity in six disadvantaged communities vulnerable to natural disasters

BERKE, Philip
et al
September 2008

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This paper aims "to describe and analyze an Emergency Preparedness Demonstration (EPD) project aimed at reducing the risk to life and property in six disadvantaged communities in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. EPD involves a community-based participatory planning process aimed at building the capacity of disadvantaged communities threatened by disasters. To understand the successes and limitations of the EDP approach we used multiple sources of evidence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 key informants, field notes were taken during attendance of community planning meetings, and documentary materials prepared by local planning teams (memoranda, vulnerability assessments, household surveys) were content analyzed"

An ADA guide for local governments making community emergency preparedness and response programs accessible to people with disabilities

US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Civil Rights Division
2008

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This guide provides guidance for how to make local government emergency preparedness and response program accessible for persons with disabilities. It helps to identify needs and evaluate effective, accessible and inclusive emergency management practices. The following issues are explored: planning, notification, evacuation, sheltering, returning home and contracting for emergency services

Fifth quinquennial review and appraisal of the world programme of action concerning disabled persons

GROCE, Nora
July 2008

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This report aims to reinforce the disability perspective in reviews of progress and challenges encountered in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and updates progress on the World Programme of Action, offering examples of and guidelines for mainstreaming disability in monitoring and evaluation of the MDGs. It also reviews the rapid adoption and bringing into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional protocol

Disabilities among refugees and conflict-affected populations

WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR REFUGEE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
June 2008

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"This report is the culmination of a six-month project...to address the rights and needs of displaced persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on women (including older women), children and youth. Based on field research in five refugee situations, as well as global desk research, the Women’s Commission sought to map existing services for displaced persons with disabilities, identify gaps and good practices and make recommendations on how to improve services, protection and participation for displaced persons with disabilities"

Creating user-friendly water and sanitation services for the disabled : the experience of WaterAid Nepal and its partners

WATERAID NEPAL
March 2008

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'This paper reviews the social, technical, financial and policy barriers to meeting the water and sanitation needs of disabled people in Nepal', and provides solutions to overcome them. Case studies are highlighted, and recommendations given about improving coordination and collaboration in the sector to improve delivery of water and sanitation services to disabled people. This paper is useful for people interested in inclusive water and sanitation services

Evidence for the effectiveness of rehabilitation-in-the-community programmes

VELEMA, Johan P
EBENSO, Bassey
FUZIKAWA, Priscila L
March 2008

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"The present literature review identified 29 reports from 22 countries in Asia, Africa and Central America reporting on the outcomes of rehabilitation-in-the-community programmes in low and middle income countries published between 1987 and 2007. Interventions included home visits by trained community workers who taught disabled persons skills to carry out activities of daily living, encouraged disabled children to go to school, helped find employment or an income generating activity, often involving vocational training and/or micro-credit. Many programmes had a component of influencing community attitudes towards disabled persons. The information collected shows that such programmes were effective in that they increased independence, mobility and communication skills of disabled persons, helped parents of disabled children to cope better and increased the number of disabled children attending schools. Economic interventions effectively increased the income of disabled persons although they rarely made them financially independent. CBR activities result in social processes that change the way community members view persons with disabilities, increase their level of acceptance and social inclusion and mobilise resources to meet their needs"
Leprosy Review, Vol 79, Issue 1

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