Negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities arise from a lack of understanding of disability and what it’s like to live in a world with individuals who do not share that experience. Therefore, disability accessibility initiatives greatly support to bring a change to create an inclusive approach.
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability #Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. This project is part of an initiative supported under the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU).
The team from EFC led by #Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did an disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Library in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in December 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Library access for all and provided audio and e-books in May 2022 to make the Library Accessible for vision impaired persons.
CDLG is a four-year project (2020-2023) targeting the Eastern, Northern, North-Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka.
Two Advocacy Group discussions were held at the Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha with persons with disabilities belonging to Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists.
It is part of the European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable, and improve service delivery.
Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on Disability accessibility audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the local government structure.
The EFC, with an overall vision statement to promote social harmony through productive employment, is implementing several proactive measures to encourage its members to hire people with disabilities.
The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues.
MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Web: www.employers.lk
