Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre organized a programme on Mobilizing Women Leaders with #Disabilities for Inclusive Responses to Gender-Based Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northwestern Province in January 2021. The programme was organized with the support of the District Disability Forum in Puttalam and was held at the District Secretariat Office in Puttalam. This project is conducted at the provincial level and the national level. A support network was built with 82 organizations to support during an emergency or in a similar type of pandemic situation in the future.

51 women with disabilities and 10 men with disabilities were introduced among 30 women with non-disabilities and 10 men with non-disabilities under the “Best budding” concept (companion) to ensure the safety and well-being of persons with disabilities against gender-based violence.
Women with disabilities received the opportunity to join and get eligibility for the ‘Be-Safe’ mobile app via the Android operating system.
280 hygiene kits which consist of sanitary essentials such as masks, sanitisers, sanitary pads, washing powder, soap etc. were distributed with the sponsorship of UNFPA and Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka.

**Donating a White Cane to a Visually Impaired Person**

**Donating White Canes to Organisations to be Distributed Among Members**

**Introduction to Gender-based Violence Session**

#Manique Gunaratne
Country Representative – World Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals’ Association (WDRPA)

Employment for Persons with Disabilities

JOB INTERVIEWS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

June 23, 2021 Manique

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre train persons with diverse #disabilities in employability skills and place them in gainful employment. Coats Thread Exports PLC conducted job interviews for hearing impaired persons in March 2021 to employ persons with disabilities.

#Manique Gunaratne
Executive Committee Member – Asia Pacific Women with Disability United

Specialised Training

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES

June 19, 2021 Manique

Do you want to be a leader in your field and make a difference in Sri Lanka? Australia Awards Scholarships are your opportunity to gain a world-class education and become an emerging leader for development with strong links to Australia. EFC Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre opened the doors to graduates with disabilities to develop their career with a Master’s degree in Australia. The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre, and the Australia Awards team conducted training on applying for the scholarship in March 2021. An Australia Awards Scholarship provides the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification from an Australian university. The career of persons with disabilities will benefit from new knowledge, leadership skills, and the links they create in Australia and the global alumni network. On their return home, they can make a vital contribution to the economic and social development of Sri Lanka. This will support creating an environment with dignity and justice for all persons with disabilities.

(Honoured, Deshabandu) H.K. #Manique Gunaratne

Employment for Persons with Disabilities

THE EMPLOYERS’ SYMPOSIUM 2017, “SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISES – CREATING VALUE” INCLUDES DISABILITY

June 16, 2021 Manique Leave a comment

Watch the video at:
https://youtu.be/X69VqWfYKkw

Manique Gunaratne
Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon

Specialised Training, Women with Disabilities

SUPPORTING WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL ON GBV

June 10, 2021 Manique

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre organized a programme on Mobilizing Women Leaders with #Disabilities for Inclusive Responses to Gender-Based Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Province in January 2021. The programme was held at the Equality Based Community Support & Training (ECSAT) in Galle. Exceptional accomplishments of these programmes are; 51 women with disabilities, 30 women with non-disabilities, 10 men with disabilities and 10 men with non-disabilities (total of 101) ToTs were trained in the physical environment on mobilizing women leaders with disabilities to for inclusive responses to Gender-based Violence during the COVID pandemic. It was conducted in all 09 provinces of Sri Lanka and 01 national-level programmes to reach precise grass root levels within communities of Sri Lanka.

27 women with disabilities, 13 women with non-disabilities, 05 men with disabilities & 04 men with non-disabilities were trained virtually on the same topic as well.

Manique Gunaratne
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBhDQ516xwVr86zKLM1HUw

Specialised Training, Vision Impaired Persons

FILMS AND VIDEOS WITH AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS FOR VISION IMPAIRED PERSONS

June 10, 2021 Manique

EFC Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre together with Mr Joel Snyder, President of the Audio Descriptions Associates USA conducted the Audio Descriptions training in September 2019 at The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. Arts providers (performing arts producers/presenters, visual art professionals), educators, writers, artists and vision impaired persons were trained on how to do #AudioDescriptions for videos and films.

At the conclusion of the session, participants experienced:

Who are “the blind”?
The history of Audio Description
Active Seeing / Visual Literacy
How to develop skills in concentration and observation
The art of “editing” what you see
Using language to conjure images
How to use the spoken word to make meaning

Mr Udara Chathura, an EFC trainee who was trained in “audio descriptions” did a short film with audio descriptions which is the first audio-described film in Sri Lanka. The movie was shown to vision-impaired persons at the EFC Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre in April 2021. Mr Udara Chathura also did research with the vision-impaired EFC trainees on “the importance of Audio described films in Sri Lanka”.

**Vision-impaired Persons Watching the Audio Described Short Film**

**Introduction of the Movie by Manique Gunaratne**

**Udara Chathura Explaining About the Film**

**Mr Joel Snyder’s Training Session in Audio Descriptions**

**Mr Joel Snyder and Ms Manique Gunaratne**

Manique Gunaratne
WhatsApp: 0094779571918