Vision
People with disabilities in the Cluster's catchment area equally participate in and benefit from Cluster programs, contributing to the fulfilment of their God given potential, and enabling them to play their important role in helping making our Communities complete and more loving places
Background
Disability is a significant health issue in India. According to the census there are 1,94,769 persons are living with disability in Uttarakhand. This is thought to be a significant underestimate. 10 per cent of the world's population lives with a disability, which makes them the world's largest minority. This number is increasing because of population growth, medical advances and the ageing process (WHO). It is estimated that 20 per cent of the world's poorest people have a disability (World Bank). The Uttarakhand Cluster decided to take on disability as a key area for the cluster. In March 2009, the cluster decided to work more in disability and to produce some materials to help promote awareness about disability. This included the widely used awareness raising DVD on disability. The Nossal Inclusive Development unit at the University of Melbourne also produced a disability situational analysis.
A summary case study of the cluster work in disability was recently published by AusAID.
The Cluster disability activities are coordinated by the Disability Advisory Committee (CDAC).
The CDAC meets twice yearly.
The CDAC member are: Madhu Singh, Mr PM Samuel, Ms Pratima Rane, Mr JP Singh, Mr Robert Kumar
Promoting Disability Inclusive Health Programs
In 2011 the Uttarakhand Cluster has embarked on a program to promote disability inclusive development amongst all the Cluster partner programs. This proposal was developed through an AusAID program whereby 3 cluster members (Pratima, Jubin and Robert) were sent to Australia under Australian leadership Award for 10 weeks from September to October 2011.
They were facilitated by the CBM-Nossal partnership to develop a proposal to:
To bring about inclusive development in Uttarakhand.
Developing practice manual for disability in cluster
Developing DPO guideline
Cluster Partnership in Disability:
The Cluster has also linked with a number of programs in order to maximise the disability program and have the greatest impact.
DDF: CHGN UKC become member of DDF which open door for many network and resource in Dehradun and increase visibility of cluster disability work.
IAG: Cluster is also member of interagency group mainly from for disaster management. The cluster presence in the IAG brought their focus for inclusive disaster management plan. The cluster presence in IAG is a voice for vulnerable Partnership with Australia India Council (AIC). A small grant was awarded by the council to promote disability work in CHGN UKC.
Rotary Australiaand Rotary club Vikas Nagar: Rotary has kindly provided a fund to support members to provide aids and appliances to those with disability in their communities
Australia India Institute A small grant was received toassist the development of the Cluster disability program work.
The cluster is discussing potential partnerships with BMZ German and CBM India
CLUSTER DISABILITY INITIATIVES IN 2012
The program has been lead by the fulltime disability coordinator (Mr Robert Kumar). Under this proposal the activities planned and undertaken so far include to build capacity for disability inclusion in community health program in North India. Activities undertaken in 2011-12 include:
Cluster Disability resource directory
Cluster develop resource directory for Uttarakhand. All the services for person with disability available in Uttarakhand is mentioned in the directory. It is user friendly and need updates regularly. The resource document hard copy was given to all the leaders during inclusive development workshop for larders. Its was circulated to all the cluster programs by mail. This directory was also introduced in the Dehradun Disability forum (DDF).
Cluster disability Accessibility Fund– Rotary Australia
All of the cluster members are working for poor and marginalized communities, and people with disabilities are often the most vulnerable among marginalized communities. There is a need to create an inclusive environment for people with disabilities, and accessibility is often a barrier. Most of the cluster programs want to make their programs inclusive but accessibility is a significant need to be addressed. Consequently, the cluster has created an accessibility fund, with the support of Rotary International, to support people with disability to obtain mobility aids, undertake modifications, redesign public places and create inclusive WASH facilities.
Facilitating new disability projects
KHW become a member of CHGN in 2011 and during one of the L2L meeting a partnership was started between KHW and HOPE project and other one is KHW and Landor community hospital. Both the projects are named SAMVEDNA meaning empathy. The HOPE SAMVEDNA is more about providing educational and daily leaving support to the children with disability and their parents and LCH SAMVEDNA is a CBR program to facilitate people with disability to be able to function maximally in their communities.
World Disability Day activities
were undertaken across the 40 cluster programs in 2010-2012 in order to raise the profile of disability in the community.
Disability inclusive development workshop for cluster program leaders
43 participants from 35 partner organizations attended a workshop for leaders who are part of the community health global network Uttarakhand cluster on Disability and Inclusive Development. The entire day looked at perspectives on disability and the link between disability and poverty. The devotions looked at the passage from 1 Corinthians 12 with small group discussions on the passage. They thought about the barriers that prevent the PWDs from doing so.
The first session for the day looked at disability and difference between disability and impairment. An activity called the ‘Game of life’ was done wherein it was observed how PWDs lag from the so-called ‘normal’ people not because of their lack of abilities but because of the lack of opportunities. The prevalence of disability as reported in the World disability report was looked at, followed by the relationship between disability and poverty.
The final section of this session looked at responding to disability in development by introducing the twin-track approach. Questions were raised about the effectiveness of mainstreaming, especially in the education sector. Instances were shared about difficulties for a regular school to have children with disabilities in it. They were perfect examples for the need for the twin track approach in inclusion.
The next session focused on plans for CHGN and the steps ahead. As a group it was decided that the best way to respond was to select one point person per organization who can be trained as trainer for disability within the organization.
Appointment and training of the Cluster Disability Co-ordinators (30th July – 3rd August, 2012): A five-day workshop was conducted for 21 participants from various programs in the CHGN Uttarakhand Health Cluster. The participants came from various programs involved in health and development, including health and nutrition awareness amongst adolescent girls, sewing/livelihood projects, slum projects, mental health, HIV, literacy, education and working with senior citizens and children at risk.
The program included theory and practical group work sessions around inclusive disability in development as well as visits from people with disability and organisations working with people with disability. Theory covered the global and local statistics in disability, poverty and disability, models of disability, empowerment and human rights approach, twin-track approach, Community Based Rehabilitation, inclusive primary health care, and how to set up DPOs. Practical sessions involved teaching and group work in applying Inclusive PRA, twin-track approach, policies, resources, organisational assessment, government entitlements, and planning tools.
The evaluation was very positive, with participants enjoying the practical training and teaching, and requesting more training on PRA methods and more visits from organisations to link to sessions. All improved their knowledge (as evidenced in a pre- and post-test) and went back to their projects with new ideas and more understanding of disability and the barriers that people with disability face, as well as a resource CD with much extra information. It was encouraging to hear the networking happening over break times and meals, and we look forward to hearing the stories of projects including people with disability over the next few months and beyond.
Organisational Assessment of Disability Inclusiveness
the disability coordinator for each cluster program member is carrying out an assessment of inclusive activities for their program. This is an ongoing process.
Training on disability Inclusive Water and Sanitation and Hygiene
Please follow link to the report on the Disability Inclusive WASH meeting.