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Sun Sep 16 23:10:09 MDT 2018

PDF Weekly Update ¨C 17 September, 2018

Accessibility auditing to also involve Persons with disabilities
Greetings from the PDF!
Accessibility auditing is an important element of the design process.

The purpose of an Accessibility Audit is to establish how well a particular environment performs in terms of access and ease of use by a wide range of potential users, including persons with disabilities and also to recommend improvements, where necessary. The elements covered in an access audit depend on the type and nature of the environment and services under consideration. Buildings and sites vary considerably and, although there will be common elements between particular types, no two will be exactly the same.

In the Pacific, for a long time, persons with disabilities have not had their voices heard or sought. They have had things done for them or to them, or done in their best interests. Rather than being asked what they think, or being allowed the opportunity to contribute, they have been disempowered. Exclusion, isolation, poverty and lack of opportunity are very real factors in the lives of many persons with disabilities.

Pacific Disability Forum firmly believes that these debilitating factors do not come as part of a medical diagnosis or ¡®condition¡¯; they are a consequence of poor design and lack of insight rather than a consequence of having an impairment. Involving persons with disabilities in a consultative or participatory process demonstrates a commitment to and valuing of, the visitor/customer/user. The more that this process becomes ¡®the norm¡¯, the more accessible and inclusive our society will become. It is a first step in a cultural shift towards equality.

In the news this week; People with Disabilities Solomon Islands conduct an access audit; Cook Islands National Disability Council has a new email Platform; NOLA ¨C Samoa Conducts Awareness programmes in Districts; Training focuses on handling patients with disabilities; People living with disabilities urged to register for placement of jobs and New voting procedures for persons with disabilities.

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People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) conducted an Access Audit
[10 youths with disability volunteers, a sign interpreter and a Port Security officer standing inside a ship.]10 youths with disability volunteers, a sign interpreter and a Port Security officer standing inside a ship. Photo: SUPPLIED

People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) conducted an Access Audit exercise on the 31st of August 2018, on the Marine Transport Service that is including the Marine Vessels, specifically the passenger boats and also the port infrastructures such as the wharf and its surrounding environments within the port area.
This exercise was conducted by staff of PWDSI, youths with disability volunteers (deaf, blind, Physical impairments and wheelchair user) and was assisted by designated Officers from Solomon Islands Maritime Safety and Administration (SIMSA) and Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA).

Accessibility is a prerequisite for inclusion; without access to buildings, transportation, social services and information, participation and full inclusion of persons with disabilities cannot be ensured in such services. Furthermore accessibility should not be seen as an option, but rather as an essential human right as spelt out in Articles 3 and 9 of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

PWDSI would like to thank the Management of the SI Ports Authority and SIMSA for their support in making this exercise a successful one. Most of all, the members and volunteers who are able to take part in this exercise.

PWDSI is an organization that support and promote the equalization of opportunities for people with disabilities by strengthening advocacy programs through its members and collaborating with relevant stakeholders towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights based society and thus committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the country, mainly through advocating for inclusive development practices.

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Cooks Islands National Disability Council (CINDC) has a new email Platform

CINDC have just recently had to set up new email contact details. With their new mail exchange platform, they had to move away from GMAIL and OYSTER which were not compatible;
EMAIL ADDRESS
1. cookisland.disability at outlook.com
2. cookislands.disability at outlook.com
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NOLA ¨C Samoa Conducts Awareness programmes in Districts

[cid:image016.jpg at 01D44EA9.48E19590]A job well done by our Subgroups today during our awareness programme for the district of Samatau. Acknowledging with appreciation, the Civil Society Support Programme, (CSSP) for the financial assistance which enabled us to conduct this particular [cid:image017.jpg at 01D44EA9.48E19590] awareness.

Thanks also to the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development for your support through the linkage with Sui Tama¨ªta¨ª and Sui o le Nu¨². Special thanks to the Rev. Elder, Tautiaga, and the Congregation Christian Church at Matautu Falelatai, for making available your hall to host us.

Hats off to NOLA Office Manager, Afioga Mata'af¨¡ Fa'atino Utumapu, NOLA President, Tapusoa Sarasopa Siliato & Team for a fantastic presentation. It is all about being included in every aspect of life.

#nothing<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nothing?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBWc9ZLloujeWNaonUrED_VlJSlrx2zRW3iIDMIHACT88XYhkSaIXCK50wL47SaF-6N7ZMyfgDmzkFzuW6R92iY5GbIuL49phGTHVbTrDhwcqVvcH7IYZZEhZOjyYvvqQcarkov5mMWe9lVVf9FH26sUcTPIh2-wHig7SBFQpBy2g8lGiAJHQ&__tn__=%2ANK-R>withoutus. #NOLA<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nola?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBWc9ZLloujeWNaonUrED_VlJSlrx2zRW3iIDMIHACT88XYhkSaIXCK50wL47SaF-6N7ZMyfgDmzkFzuW6R92iY5GbIuL49phGTHVbTrDhwcqVvcH7IYZZEhZOjyYvvqQcarkov5mMWe9lVVf9FH26sUcTPIh2-wHig7SBFQpBy2g8lGiAJHQ&__tn__=%2ANK-R>sub-groups, #DAS<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/das?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBWc9ZLloujeWNaonUrED_VlJSlrx2zRW3iIDMIHACT88XYhkSaIXCK50wL47SaF-6N7ZMyfgDmzkFzuW6R92iY5GbIuL49phGTHVbTrDhwcqVvcH7IYZZEhZOjyYvvqQcarkov5mMWe9lVVf9FH26sUcTPIh2-wHig7SBFQpBy2g8lGiAJHQ&__tn__=%2ANK-R> #SBPA<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sbpa?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBWc9ZLloujeWNaonUrED_VlJSlrx2zRW3iIDMIHACT88XYhkSaIXCK50wL47SaF-6N7ZMyfgDmzkFzuW6R92iY5GbIuL49phGTHVbTrDhwcqVvcH7IYZZEhZOjyYvvqQcarkov5mMWe9lVVf9FH26sUcTPIh2-wHig7SBFQpBy2g8lGiAJHQ&__tn__=%2ANK-R> #Physical<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/physical?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBWc9ZLloujeWNaonUrED_VlJSlrx2zRW3iIDMIHACT88XYhkSaIXCK50wL47SaF-6N7ZMyfgDmzkFzuW6R92iY5GbIuL49phGTHVbTrDhwcqVvcH7IYZZEhZOjyYvvqQcarkov5mMWe9lVVf9FH26sUcTPIh2-wHig7SBFQpBy2g8lGiAJHQ&__tn__=%2ANK-R>AssociationSamoa(PAS)

Thank you for the hospitality and support... Fa'afetai, fa'afetai tele lava.

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Training focuses on handling patients with disabilities
JESSICA SAVIKE (Fiji Times Newspaper) - 6 September, 2018, 11:05 pm

[Title: SIA with FNU Students - Description: Fiji National University (FNU) Bachelor of Physiotherapy students with members of the Spinal Injury Association.]Fiji National University (FNU) Bachelor of Physiotherapy students with members of the Spinal Injury Association. Picture: SUPPLIED

TWENTY-ONE wheelchairs were given to members of the Spinal Injury Association as part of a week-long training on handling disability patients.

The wheelchairs cost about $2800 each and were donated by a non-government organisation (NGO) called Motivation Australia.

The week-long training, in conjunction with the Spinal Injury Association, was undertaken by a group of students from the Fiji National University.

The students are studying Bachelor in Physiotherapy program at FNU¡¯s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
Lecturer in Physiotherapy Shofeen Begum highlighted that 21 Spinal Injury Association members took part in the training whereby the students assessed them and demonstrated to them, how to use the wheelchairs.

Final year student Marylene Kumar said that they will soon be going to hospitals to do community based rehabilitation and this training has been a good opportunity.
Meanwhile 58-year-old Pauliasi Mateboto who has a spinal cord injury said he was grateful to the students for their hard work.

He added that he had been waiting for a wheelchair ever since he was discharged from the hospital more than a year ago and is thankful that the long wait is now over.

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People living with disabilities urged to register for placement of jobs
JESSICA SAVIKE - Fiji Times Newspapers - 6 September, 2018, 5:03 am

[http://www.fijitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Joeli-Koroitokonirewa-asked-the-question-on-people-with-disabilities-finding-employment.jpg]Joeli Koroitokonirewa asks the question on people with disabilities finding employment during a public consultation. Picture: SUPPLIED

PEOPLE living with disabilities who are looking for work have been encouraged to visit and register at the nearest National Employment Centre for placement of jobs.

This was stressed by the Minister for Employment Jone Usamate during the public consultations in Navua and Sigatoka.
In doing this, Mr Usamate has also urged all employers to employ people living with disabilities and adds that once persons with disability register they will then take it to the employers who may want to employ them.

He said under the new Fiji National Employment Policy 2018 which was launched last month, Priority Eight focuses on how to make it easier for disabled persons and elderly to earn an income.

Mr Usamate also highlighted that employers would get a tax rebate of 300 per cent for three consecutive years for employing persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, concerns were raised by the public to Mr Usamate if it was still possible for a person with disabilities to return to work if the employer is willing to employ them.
Mr Usamate assured the public that the Act states that an employer who employs 50 or more workers may employ physically disabled persons on a ratio of at least two per cent of the total number of workers.

The consultations continue in Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki.

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New voting procedures for persons with disabilities
FILIPE NAIGULEVU; The Fiji Times Newspapers - 7 August, 2018, 6:59 pm

[http://www.fijitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Saneem.jpg]THE Fijian Elections Office (FEO) has modified the procedures for voting by persons living with disabilities in the 2018 General Election.
The new procedures, which seek to enable effective disability participation in the upcoming general election, will be followed by FEO when it comes to voting by persons with disabilities.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said they had sought legal opinion for these new procedures after Parliament passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities earlier this year.
Under the new procedures, persons living with disabilities have the opportunity to appoint a person of their choice to assist them in marking the ballot papers.

The appointee has to be a registered voter and will assist the person living with disability to mark their ballot paper inside the polling station on Election Day or during pre-poll.

A presiding officer appointed by the FEO will also be overseeing the process of assistance being provided by this person selected by the voter.

¡°The presiding officer will record the details of the voter as well as the person assisting the voter in the presiding officers¡¯ record book to ensure that information regarding this assistance being provided is available for reference purposes,¡± Mr Saneem said.

However, in order to protect voters as well as the integrity of the elections, Mr Saneem said the FEO had imposed the requirement that a person may only assist up to two persons with disabilities.

¡°This change in the procedure is to align the FEO in accordance with the requirement of the Rights of Person with Disabilities Act as well as the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,¡± Mr Saneem said.

¡°So, on Election Day or during Pre-Poll, persons living with disabilities now have the opportunity to elect a person of their choice ¨C who has to be a registered voter ¨C to assist them in marking the ballot papers.¡±

Mr Saneem also clarified that the FEO had consulted Disabled Persons Organisations in relation to this procedure prior to the approval process.

Blessed Week PDF!

Thanks,

Solo

Soloveni Vitoso
Public Relations & Communication Officer

Pacific Disability Forum
Ground Floor | Kadavu House
Victoria Parade | Suva
Fiji

Phone: (+679) 3312008  |  (+679) 3307530
Mobile: (+679) 8912656
Fax: (+679) 3310469
Skype: Soloveni.vitoso
Email: infor at pacificdisability.org<mailto:infor at pacificdisability.org>
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