Tag Archives: #PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Library Conference – VICLIS 2021

June 26, 2022 Manique

Sri Lanka Technological Campus hosted its first-ever virtual international conference on Library and Information Science (VICLIS2021) in collaboration with the department of library and information science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, National Science Library, and Resource Centre of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, and the Department of Library and Information Science University of Kerala, India. The conference was held in August 2021, under the theme of ‘Challenges of Library and Information Science Profession in New Normal Context.

The VICLIS2021 aimed to bring together the Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals, researchers, and LIS students to exchange and share their experiences and research findings on all aspects of Library Science. This FREE conference also provided a premier interdisciplinary platform for 104 research presenters from over 10 countries to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Library Science.

The chief guest of the event was Mrs. Christine Mackenzie, the President of the International Federation of Library Association and Institution, IFLA. Keynote speeches were delivered by Prof.Anne Goulding, Professor of Library and Information Management, School of Information Management, Victoria University, New Zealand and Dr. Raymond Pun, President of the Asia Pacific American Librarians Association, APALA.

Ms. Manique Gunaratne Conducted the session “Library Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities”.

The Founder President and the CEO of the SLTC stated in his welcome address that the VICLIS2021 is a landmark event hosted by SLTC as this is the very first conference on Library and Information Science organized by a Non-State Higher Educational institution in Sri Lanka.

There were nine (9) technical sessions conducted under nine (9) timely sub-themes at the conference. Over 350 participants from 17 countries have participated in the conference.

**Conducting the session on Library access for persons with disabilities**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Committee Member – SPRINT Committee of Family Planning Association

Media Campaign

SRI LANKA BROADCASTING CORPORATION GIVES PUBLICITY TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

June 5, 2022 Manique

Ms. Manique Gunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre and Ms. Janani Rathnayake spoke on “Mobilising women leaders with #disabilities on inclusive responses to gender-based violence during Covid-19 pandemic” for a half an hour radio programme titled “Anduren Eliyata” at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in October 2021.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Executive Committee Member – Asia Pacific Women with Disability United

Employment for Persons with Disabilities

EMPLOYMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

May 21, 2022 Manique

Established in 1929, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) is the national employers’ organisation in Sri Lanka. Over the years, we have committed ourselves to adapting to the requirements of a dynamic membership to promote productive employment and social harmony.
The Employers Network on Disability was formed by the EFC with the objective of facilitating employment and training opportunities for persons with disabilities in the private sector. Officially launched in 1999, the initiative was supported by the International Labour Organisation. Since then the network is actively serving its purpose by strengthening the link between organisations dealing with disability-related issues, the business community and persons with disabilities.

The Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre was established in 2009 with the objective of training persons with diverse disabilities and developing their employability skills. We play a key role in advocacy and lobbying for the rights of persons with diverse disabilities and our aim is to promote inclusive economic development in all parts of the country thus creating long term sustainable employment and livelihoods for persons with disabilities.

Coats Thread Exports PLC, a member company of EFC provides employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Ms. Pramokshi Fernando with a physical disability was recruited making Coats Thread Exports PLC an inclusive workplace in 2021.

**Discussion on employment opportunity**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT KAHATAGASDIGIRIYA PRADESHIYA SABHA

May 15, 2022 Manique

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 along the ramp**

Small Group Advocacy Discussion — **Small-Group Advocacy Discussion**

Wheelchair user checking accessibility of the ramp — **Wheelchair user checking the accessibility of the ramp**

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

Specialised Training

MAKE YOUR ORGANIZATION A FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

April 1, 2022 Manique

Watch the Video at:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cgAUu93LzoY&feature=share

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
385 J3, Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT NUWARAGAM PALATHA CENTRAL PRADESHIYA SABHA

March 1, 2022 Manique

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, collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), 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 Nuwaragam Palatha Central Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Nuwaragam Palatha Central Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group Discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Nuwaragam Palatha Central 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.

**Sign language interpretation at the Advocacy Group Discussion**

**Advocacy Group Discussion with Sign Language interpretation**

**Recommending accessibility for hearing impaired persons in the library**

**Recommending accessibility for hearing impaired persons in the pathway**

**Recommending wheelchair and vision-impaired accessibility at the entrance**

**Recommending accessibility for vision impaired persons in the library**

**Recommending pathway accessibility for vision impaired persons**

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

Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities

ASSISTIVE DEVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

February 22, 2022 Manique

Manique Gunaratne supported Ms Leoni Fernando with a wheelchair to support her daily living activities. The wheelchair was sponsored by Mr Madura Dissanayake. These wheelchairs are manufactured by Rehab Lanka. Rehab Lanka is an organisation manufacturing assistive devices for persons with disabilities. All employees manufacturing these assistive devices are with disabilities.