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Disability News India (DNI)

Disability News India (DNI), is a disability News service dedicated to providing a quality up-to-date information to the Indian Disability. DNI's news section is updated two times a week, though we also add breaking stories as and when they occur.



Disability News India – August 2010 Issue



No entry for disabled people in parks

CHANDIGARH, August 09: Known for having spacious environs and pedestrian–friendly roads, City Beautiful could also be strikingly inattentive to the basic need of disabled people persons who daily find it hard to visit public parks due to improper infrastructure. The revolving gates installed at most city parks as well as other spaces in the green belt keep disabled people at bay. Even at places where there is a provision for entry of wheelchairs, gates are kept locked at all times of the day.

The issue was raised during a protest organized by city–based NGO Hum Log at Leisure Valley on Sunday as part of its August Kranti campaign.

"Fate made it impossible for my child to run and play. Difficult entrances deny him the right to even visit parks," said Gurbir Singh Kochar, father of a disabled people teenager who was among a dozen others who were part of the movement under the aegis of Free Will, Free Wheels.

"All parks greet us with boards saying no entry for cycles and dogs. However, the irony is that while these can still manage to make their way into the park, wheelchair–users are denied entry by making unfriendly gates," he rued."It takes two assistants to carry a person on wheelchair. However, it is not possible for disabled people to climb stairs and cross revolving gates," said Harman Sidhu, founder, Arrive Safe. These entrances convert the leisurely open spaces into fortresses, which aim to keep vehicles, animals and wheelchairs out, Kochar added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Assistive technology comes to aid disabled people

August 09: Tailor–made technology helps disabled people to reconnect with the digital world. Life changed dramatically for quadropedic cerebral palsy patient Avinash Sonnad a few years ago when he began using a speech recognition software to control a computer mouse with his voice. Today, the 22–year–old Sonnad is pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Computer Application with a contagious enthusiasm and zeal about life.

It was Bangalore–based software engineer Senthil Kumaran who had combined Cambridge University's research software 'Dasher' with an E–speaking software to help Sonnad. Since Sonnad could not use a mouse or speak very clearly, the combined software allowed him to communicate through letters on the screen. "The letters are chosen through basic words like 'left', 'right', 'up' and 'down'," explains Kumaran, who is also associated with the Spastic Society of Karnataka. "But this particular combination might not work for another disabled people child, as each has a unique disability." 'Assistive Technology': "Speech recognition software is just a small slice of a segment of technology called Assistive Technology (AT). This helps improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities," says Ajit Narayanan, co–founder and CTO of Invention Labs, a start–up in Chennai. AT, believe experts, can provide a life–changing experience.

In the very least, AT can help augment a deficient area of functioning. For example, a speech generating device can be used for a child who suffers from a speech disorder attributable to cerebral palsy, while the parents might be able to understand the natural speech of the child with ease. In particular, this technology allows people who are less familiar with the child to communicate with him, furthering his or her development, and may be even facilitating regular schooling.

Globally, the assistive technology market is well–developed and there is a wealth of products available for children, like Braille note takers, voice recognition software and other technologies (including those that allow one to control computers simply by moving a cursor on the computer screen with something as basic as eye–movement).

"However, the extent of inclusion (of disabled individuals) in India is very low compared to Europe and the US," laments Invention Labs' Narayanan, who has done his B–Tech and M–Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Chennai.

Arun Mehta, president of the Delhi–based Bidirectional Access Promotion Society, puts the reason down to a lack of awareness about AT and its availability: "Now, with some funding from the government, institutions like the IITs are developing ATs. However, due to a paucity of funds, these technologies are available only as prototypes as they are unable to breach the chasm to commercialisation."

Enter the entrepreneurs: Still, given the huge opportunity in the Indian market, several domestic entrepreneurs are picking up the baton.

Narayanan, together with his colleagues from IIT–Chennai, launched early this year Avaz ? a device with a graphical interface, processor, software and a non–contact switch that can be used by children with cerebral palsy or poor motor skills to select alphabets and construct sentences.

The device converts muscle movement into speech and works on the principle of scanning. When the alphabet is highlighted, children move their head, hand or any other part of their body and it gets selected. Avaz costs Rs 30,000 and some 50 pieces have been distributed across eight schools in India.

Narayanan is currently working on a more advanced version that is scheduled to be unveiled next month. "The updated version can be used by children with disabilities other than cerebral pals," informs Narayanan.

Another entrepreneur working towards this cause is Arathi Abraham, principal designer, 99 and 1 Design, Chennai. She has developed Slate, a multi–lingual software that will enable teachers to create audio–visual communication aids for children with learning disabilities, autism and low vision. Currently, prototypes of Slate are being used in special schools in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

But Abraham plans a formal launch at the end of the year. "Slate will be priced at less than Rs 10,000," she says.

Mindtree Foundation has also developed two AT products ? Aditi and Kavi. Aditi, or Analog Digital Theremin

Interface, is a device that allows children with muscular skeletal disorders to connect with computers. "The device is attached to the computer instead of a mouse. A child can activate a choice on the screen by a slight movement of the head, hands or legs near the gadget," explains Raja Shanmugam, CEO of Mindtree Foundation. The device ? which allows children to type out words, form sentences and communicate ? is priced at Rs 520.

Aditi was initially developed at the IIT Chennai laboratory, and Mindtree took the responsibility to manufacture the device and commercialise it. Kavi, the second AT product, is still in the prototype stage. Clearly, there is no dearth of people helping those who are disabled people to reconnect with the digital world.

Source: http://www.business–standard.com

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Haryana gives free travel facility to people with 100 percent disability

CHANDIGARH, 08: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has given another facility to the hundred per cent disabled people persons as now they would be able to travel free in State Roadways buses also to Delhi and Chandigarh for treatment at hospitals.

The person accompanying such disabled people persons would also be entitled to travel free in the State Roadways buses.

While stating this today, Finance Minister, Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav said that a decision to this effect had been taken keeping in view the request made by disabled people persons that they be given this facility for treatment at Delhi and Chandigarh. He said that earlier the facility of free travel was available to hundred per cent disabled people persons and an assistant only in the jurisdiction of Haryana State.

He said that now the hundred per cent disabled people persons could avail this facility for treatment at prominent hospitals like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi or Post–graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. This facility would be admissible in ordinary buses of the State Roadways.

Yadav said that Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda had already provided a number of facilities to the handicapped persons including raising of their pension and reservation in government jobs. He said that this decision of the Chief Minister would facilitate the handicapped persons as their demand had been considered the State Government.

Source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com

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Job fair for disabled people in Chennai

CHENNAI, August 09: A job fair for disabled people saw 53 private companies interviewing 2,070 candidates and shortlisting 479 of them on Sunday, lending them a ray of hope after having knocked in vain at the doors of the government for long.

Activists have generally said that the government had been apathetic to the demands of the various organisations. They say the lone exception has been an incident on May 29 when Chief Minister M Karunanidhi offered job to a disabled pregnant woman who was qualified to be a special teacher and fell ill during a fast by the fellow–category people demanding government employment.

While this act of the CM grabbed headlines, the activists lament that there had been no positive response to the over 50 protests by around 200 organisations of disabled people in the past four months demanding various categories of jobs in government.

There has been no positive result to such requests despite Karunanidhi, who holds the portfolio for the welfare of the differently abled, himself having said at a felicitation meeting held by disabled people people that his office was open for them any time.

On Sunday, S Kani (25), an orthopaedically disabled person, who was waiting for his turn at the job fair, organised by the Ability Foundation in the city, said the private sector was doing a great job by giving them jobs. "But how many people will they hire? What about the government? They are, after all, the biggest employers."

Just before the Classical Tamil Conference around mid–June, the differently abled had staged a four–day fast demanding jobs in Category C and D. They ended it following assurance that the CM would meet them after his Coimbatore trip.

P Simmachandran, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Disabled Association, said the Disability Act gave 3 per cent reservation to disabled people people. "Most of the people are qualified and have been registered in the Employment exchange for over 7 to 15 years," he added. Categories A and B alone have 8,000 vacancies even as the government had no data about the vacancies in categories C and D jobs, he pointed out.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Boman Irani to endorse NGO for disabled people

August 07: Versatile actor Boman Irani, who has been named the brand ambassador of NGO Ahead which works for the welfare of disabled people people, will raise funds through a theatre performance Sunday.

The play called The Melody of Love will be held at Manik Sabhagriha, Bandra in Mumbai, said a press statement.

It will feature actors like Tom Alter, Lillette Dubey, popular radio jockey Mantra and actor–director Divya Arora, who is wheelchair–bound due to cerebral palsy since birth and is directing the play.

On being asked about her choice of Boman as the brand ambassador, Arora said: "Boman is very human. He is not only multi–talented but also multi–faceted. Most importantly he is self–made. Boman Irani also has the power to influence change. He is a very approachable person with a warm heart."

Boman, who has enthralled the audience with his performance in films like Munnabhai MBBS and 3 Idiots, says he completely supports the idea of theatre for a cause.

"Today the audience has become very progressive, they enjoy theatre equally as compared to cinema. In fact, theatre is not only entertaining but also educative. People feel that my voice is inspiring and reaches the audience. That gives me the boost to come forward for such good deeds," said the actor, who has prior

Source: http://movies.ndtv.com

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HC orders admission of disabled boy to MBBS

MUMBAI, August 05: The Bombay high court on Wednesday came to the rescue of a 19–year–old disabled student aspiring to be a doctor. Rapping the state government for its casual approach towards the plight of disabled students, a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S C Dharmadhikari directed the state to provide provisional admission to Kurla resident Tarique Khan in the MBBS course.

"I am happy beyond words,'' Tarique told TOI outside the court room. "I come from a very poor family and will be the first in my family to study medicine,'' said Tarique, who suffers from Transverse Myletis–a neurological disorder caused by the inflammation of the spinal cord–which has affected both his lower limbs.

Tarique was ranked second in the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH–CET) in the physically handicapped category in Mumbai. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), however, showed him the door saying the disability in his lower limbs was more than 75 % and was therefore "unfit for health science courses''.

Tarique's lawyers, Nusrat Shah and A K Gupta, furnished a certificate from the All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mahalaxmi, which certified that the extent of his disability was only 50 %.

Three per cent of the seats are reserved for disabled candidates. As per guidelines issued by the Medical Council of India, disabled people candidates with locomotory disability of lower limbs to the extent of 70 % are eligible for health science courses. Tarique passed his SSC exams in 2008 with 80% marks and cleared his HSC examination in 2010. He appeared for the MHCET examinations and stood seventh in the state and second in Mumbai in disabled people category. Tarique applied for admission to Grant Medical College, but was, on July 16, 2010, informed that he was not eligible. He then approached the high court saying that the state's decision was discriminatory.

Assistant government pleader G W Mattos told the court that the medical board had said that Tarique's disability was to the extent of 75 %. The court pointed out that there was no mention in the report whether Tarique was fit or unfit to pursue the course. Mattos said that Tarique's case could be referred back to the special medical board for reconsideration. The judges did not agree and asked the DMER to provide Tarqiue provisional admission.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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PCI asks disabled swimmers to arrange funds for World Championships

New Delhi, Aug 7: Highlighting the discrimination faced by disabled athletes, an NGO has alleged that country's top handicapped swimmers have been asked by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) to find individual sponsors to participate in this month's World Championship in Holland. The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has shot off a letter to Sports Minister M S Gill, informing him about the continued disparity faced by disabled athletes at the hands of corrupt sporting bodies like PCI. In the letter, NCPEDP director Javed Abidi has asked the Sports Minister to sack coach V K Dabas and C V Raghunath, an administrator of PCI who is proposed as team leader, with immediate effect before the start of the event from August 15 in Eindhoven, Holland. Four disabled swimmers, Prasanta Karmakar, Sharath M Gayakwad, Raghvendra Anavekar and Vinodh Kmar Singh, had qualified for this year's International Paralympics Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championship.

This was the first time ever that a contingent of four Indian paralympic swimmers has made it to the world event. "The team is supposed to go on August 12 in order for them to reach Netherlands on August 13 August. With less than a week remaining, till today the players have not been told if they'll be able to go or not. Neither have their funds been sanctioned nor their visas arranged," the NCPEDP wrote. "Paralympics Committee of India once again has washed its hands off the matter. When asked, they say that they have submitted the proposal to the Sports Ministry and have not heard from them.

They are also now saying that if the swimmers want to participate in the World Championships, they will have to fund the tour themselves," it read. "It is but obvious that none of these four players are training with, or for that matter would want to train with, Dr V K Dabas. Then why is Dabas's name being proposed by PCI as coach for this prestigious championship? "C V Raghunath, who is the administrator of PCI has been proposed as the team leader. Raghunath is neither disabled, nor a swimmer, nor does he have anything to do with swimming.Then on what basis was he appointed as the 'Team Leader'?" the letter questioned. The World Championships is one of the most important international sporting event for disabled swimmers and performances in the tournament will affect the world rankings of the athletes. The performance at the World Championships will also have a bearing on the Indian swimmers qualification for 2012 London Paralympics.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/

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Talking Library for Blind people in Haryana

CHANDIGARH, August 04: A modern "Talking Library" will be set up at Helen Keller Visually Handicapped School in Sirsa by the National Institute of Visually Handicapped, Dehradun.

While stating this here Tuesday, an official spokesman said that the Talking Library would be equipped with all the modern equipments and the children would be narrated the literary stories of the lives of the great personalities through these equipments.

He said that the new session of the school was inaugurated today by the Deputy Commissioner, Sirsa, Mr C. J. Rajnikathan. The file making and plate making works of the school were also inaugurated today. The articles made in the school would be supplied to the local market and also to other schools for generating revenue for the school so as to provide better facilities to the children.

He said that in the first session of the school, 20 children have been enrolled. Out of them, 11 children have been provided with the facility of lodging in the school hostel. The local children who were living in nearby areas would be provided with the pick–up and dropping facility in an air–conditioned vehicle. The children would also be provided free meals in the school.

He said that the donations from philanthropists and grants from the government would be availed to run the institute. Permanent members would be appointed for the school and the local members would help in collection of donations and a minimum amount of monthly donations would be fixed. However, any higher amount of donations could be given to the school. The interested persons could contact the school on telephone number 01666–234595 at any time to give donations.

Source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com

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HC lets blind girl take up physiotherapy

MUMBAI, August 03: Visually impaired Kritika Purohit (17) created a history of sorts on Monday, when the Bombay high court granted her provisional admission to the physiotherapy course at G S Medical College. Purohit is probably the first visually student in the state to have got through a physiotherapy course.

Even as it granted her the permission, the HC division bench, of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S C Dharmadhikar, chastised the government, saying when disabled people were trying to make a difference, the state should change their mindset and give them a chance.

Purohit moved the high court when she was barred from appearing for the MH–CET exams. The HC, however, allowed her to take the exams and after clearing it, Purohit sought admission to the physiotherapy course at G S Medical College. However, the institute denied her admission; the state said Purohit was not being granted admission on the grounds that "the course required handling of certain electrical devices that might pose a problem for the student''. Purohit's lawyer Kanchan Pamnani, also visually impaired, said it would be difficult for her to study but not impossible.

Ordering the authorities to grant her provisional admission and the chance to attend classes, the court said, "This mindset has to change. You must feel from within...many families have disabled people. That doesn't mean you don't accept them.'' "Nothing is going to work out unless you make a beginning somewhere sometime,'' said Chief Justice Shah.

Purohit's parents Shekar and Shaswati could hardly hold back tears. "Kritika lost her sight when she was nine years old. But even at that age, she was interested in science and wanted to do physiotherapy. We are very proud of her,'' said her mother.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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SSA scheme reaches out to disabled children

TIRUPATTUR, August 03:: The Inclusive Education for disabled people (IED) Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has been gaining momentum in Tirupattur and five other blocks over the years.

The scheme has been extending support in terms of not only mainstreaming children into regular schools but also providing occupational therapy and play–way learning.

Day Care Centres (DCC) run by SSA under the scheme at Alangayam, Jolarpet, Kandhili, Madhanur, Natrampalli and Tirupattur have been catering for a number of differently abled children in the categories of visual impairment, total blindness, hearing impairment, orthopaedic impairment, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism and muscular dystrophy, SSA officials said.

"Learning is through play way method at the DCCs. These centres have plenty of play materials. More and more children with special needs are coming out owing to increased awareness among parents. Many children are being enrolled at the centres, creating an environment for inclusive education. Exercises are also being taught at the centres," Assistant Programme Officer (SSA) R. Sundaravadivelu said.

There are nine disabled children at the DCC at Alangayam, 11 at Jolarpet, 14 at Kandhili, 10 at Madhanur, 13 at Natrampalli and 15 at Tirupattur. These centres function from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

"Last year, we mainstreamed nine children who were attending the DCCs ? two each from Alangayam, .Jolarpet and Kandhili and one each from Madhanur, Natrampalli and Tirupattur. They were admitted to regular schools after being trained," he said.

In the 0–5 age group, SSA has identified 15 children with disabilities at Alangayam block, eight at Jolarpet, one at Kandhili, eight at Madhanur, 36 at Natrampalli and 20 at Tirupattur. In the 6–14 age group, which are school–going children, there were 175 differently abled children at Alangayam, 160 at Jolarpet, 142 at Kandhili, 131 at Madhanur, 152 at Natrampalli and 212 at Tirupattur, an official said.

Besides this, home–based care was also given to a number of children, mostly those with mental problems, total blindness and muscular dystrophy. Such care was being provided to 56 children at Alangayam, 124 at Jolarpet, 72 at Madhanur, 73 at Natrampalli and 72 at Tirupattur.

"In home–based care, physiotherapists visit the children once in a week. They are trained for day–to–day activities such as brushing, putting on dress buttons, eating, and signalling for taking them to toilet," the official said.

At present, there are two special teachers per block and SSA plans to appoint three more members for each block soon and also take up category –wise training. From this year, the children would be given nutritious food at the DCCs and escort/travel allowance for parents.

With more children being enrolled at DCCs, officials noted that parents who could not afford to spend for their differently abled children towards occupational therapy and other play–way learning, were benefited under the scheme.

Source: http://www.hindu.com

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Rajasthan policy for disabled women soon

JAIPUR, July 30: Women with disability will find a special place in the new state policy. As a first step a workshop of stakeholders is being held here.

"Women with disability are doubly disadvantaged. Their problems need to be addressed separately. In fact, even in this stakeholders meet we have kept a special session for them so that one can understand their problems and hopefully address them," said Samir Ghosh, an independent consultant associated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for helping the state formulate policy and a member of the state's social security mission.

Also finding focus in the policy would be those suffering multiple disability and those afflicted with mental illness. Rajasthan is the third state to come out with such a policy after Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Ghosh has helped both states to formulate policy.

The state policy on disability was conceived at a national workshop on livelihood that had special focus for disabled people. Then chief minister Ashok Gehlot decided to have a separate policy.

"The framing of the policy would involve primary and secondary methods. In the primary method while we would be holding work–shops with stakeholders, the secondary method would involve browsing documents, government policies etc," added Ghosh.

The workshop,that begun on Monday, had its forest session devoted to the hearing impaired. On Tuesday, the visually challenged, hearing impaired girls and those with orthopaedic disability were addressed. The last two days would see visually challenged girls coming up with their problems while the final day will be for those with multiple disability.

"After the workshop I will be visiting all the seven divisions to meet government officials to find out what are the hurdles they face in implementing some of the measures that is already there. This way we will try to do away with policy bottlenecks," he added.

The policy will contain 10 major sections, including those on situation analysis, basic premise, sectorwise inclusion, sector wise targeted intervention, implementation frame work and monitoring and evaluation. "The intent of the policy is to facilitate the inclusion of disability rights, values and practices into government development strategies, planning and programme.

The concept of evolving people with disabilities will be the central theme throughout the policy document and would carry three key implications ? to promote their rights, to respect their rights and to protect their rights," Ghosh added.

Apart from helping disabled persons from accessing goods and services, the policy would help them get community–based rehabilitation, education, housing, healthcare and economic empowerment.

"Hopefully, the policy would be made public on the World Disabled Day i.e. on December 3," Ghosh said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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