Promoting Inclusive Services: Disability Accessibility Audit and Advocacy at Thirukkovil Pradeshiya Sabha

The efforts on disability accessibility are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

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.

A team led by Manique Gunaratne did a disability accessibility audit and an advocacy group discussion with persons with disabilities belonging to Thirukkovil  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 at the Thirukkovil Pradeshiya Sabha in Ampara district in Eastern Province in October 2022.

UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities.

Local Governments play a vital role in the lives of people with disabilities because of their broad mandate.

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.

All these functions and decisions directly or indirectly impact upon the quality of life of the people with disabilities who live, work, and socialize in their local communities.

Therefore, CDLG through this initiative seeks to enhance the internal capacity of local authorities to adhere to disability accessibility regulations in Sri Lanka and raise the awareness on the importance of disability inclusive accessibility to local level services.

This initiative seeks to conduct accessibility audits in selected local government authority office premises amongst other activities.

We are confident that this initiative promoted by the UNDP will improve the accessibility of people with disabilities to local governance.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) selected The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon as the implementing partner for the project.

Established in 1929, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) is the national employers’ organization in Sri Lanka.

 

Manique Gunaratne

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