Tag Archives: #DisabilityAccessibility

DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF TECHNICAL OFFICERS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN BADULLA DISTRICT

The Disability Accessibility Training programmes include persons with diverse disabilities, ways in which their physical and emotional well-being are fulfilled and legal aspects of accessibility to the built environment. 

The objective of the initiative is to develop the capacity of local #authorities and raise awareness among technical officers, officials in the decision-making process, Engineers, Architects, and Officials in the Planning Divisions. It is expected that this intervention will ensure that people with disabilities can access all public buildings and make use of the facilities inside those buildings as Regulations are intended to be accomplished.

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities conducted the Badulla 1 training workshop at the Bandarawela Rest House in Badulla district,  in Uva Province in October 2022.

The project is a 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 is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 680 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first organization to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the #ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. 

The “Disability Accessibility”  project implemented by The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre is a 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). 

Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.

The importance of this workshop was that all resource persons were persons with disabilities. Manique Gunaratne conducted the session on “Technical specifications on accessibility” and Anil Seneviratne conducted the session on “law and access”. People with physical disabilities, hearing impaired persons and vision impaired persons spoke on the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and possible solutions.

Participants with non-disabilities got the opportunity to experience using a wheelchair, walking with a white cane, walking blind folded, wearing socks and shoes without using hands and communicating in sign language. 

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) have designed a series of awareness programmes to conduct in selected 12 districts to make the technical, senior staff and members of the Local Government Authorities to sensitize on accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.

Unlike most state government institutions, Local Governments are multi-functional, with extensive responsibilities and activities across property, community, and human service areas and, in addition, have the capacity to make policy level decisions at the local level.

Group Photograph
Group Photograph
Training Team
Training Team
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session
Activity session

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Country Representative – World Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals’ Association (WDRPA)

ACCESS FOR ALL AT KAHATAGASDIGIRIYA PRADESHIYA SABHA

People with Disabilities are more likely than the general population to suffer anxiety, discomfort, and animosity. To a significant measure, such attitudes 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. As a result, in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), the Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. The team from EFC led by #Manique Gunaratne, which included persons with diverse disabilities, did disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Kahatagasdigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura District,  in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Kahatagasdigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Kahatagasdigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on having an inclusive approach when providing services which already exist.

Accessibility checking at the reception
Accessibility checking at the reception
Accessibility checking along the ramp
Accessibility checking along the ramp
Group photograph
Group photograph
Recommending parking slot
Recommending parking slot
Group photograph
Group photograph
Checking Library accessibility
Checking Library accessibility
Recommending parking area
Recommending parking area
Small Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Wheelchair user checking accessibility of the ramp
Wheelchair user checking the accessibility of the ramp
Accessibility checking along the ramp
Accessibility checking along the ramp
Pradeshiya Sabha Building
Pradeshiya Sabha Building
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Wheelchair user checking accessibility of the ramp
Wheelchair user checking the accessibility of the ramp
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion
Small-Group Advocacy Discussion

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Manager – Specialise Training and Disability Resource Centre of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon

ACCESS FOR ALL AT RAMBAWA PRADESHIYA SABHA

People with disabilities are more likely than the general population to suffer anxiety, discomfort, and animosity. To a significant measure, such attitudes 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. As a result, in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), the Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka.

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Rambawa Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura district,  in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Rambawa Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Rambawa Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services that already exist.

Nameboard
Nameboard
Recommending accessibility at the entrance
Recommending accessibility at the entrance
Recommending accessibility in the office area
Recommending accessibility in the office area
 Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate
Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate
Accessibility checking
Accessibility checking
Recommending accessibility at the Library
Recommending accessibility at the Library
Advocacy Group Discussion
Recommending accessibility at the entrance

Recommending accessibility at the entrance
Group Photograph
Group Photograph
 Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
 Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Accessibility checking in the pathway
Accessibility checking in the pathway
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate
Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate
Recommending Library Accessibility
Recommending Library Accessibility
Recommending accessibility in the office area
Recommending accessibility in the office area
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
 Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate
Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate
Recommending accessibility in office area
Recommending accessibility in the office area
Accessibility checking in the pathway
Accessibility checking in the pathway
Recommending Library Accessibility
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Accessibility checking in the pathway
Accessibility checking in the pathway
Recommending library accessibility
Recommending library accessibility

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Vice-Chair Person – South Asian Disability Forum