Labels

Books in accessible formats at the Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Library

 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.

2 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.

 

A group of eight adults standing in a line indoors. The setting appears to be an office or meeting room, with desks, chairs, a wall-mounted TV, and windows with bars and orange curtains in the background. Several women are dressed in saris, two people are wearing face masks, and others wear casual clothing such as T-shirts and jeans. The overall mood is neutral, and some people have their hands by their sides or lightly clasped in front.

A woman sitting at a wooden desk, using a desktop computer. She is focused on the screen and typing on the keyboard. She has dark, long hair and is wearing a light green top with ruffled sleeves. There is a black speaker on the desk next to the monitor. Behind her, there is a glass partition with another office area visible, containing more computers, furniture, and a calendar on the wall. The environment appears to be an office or an administrative setting.

A group of people sitting in a small room, apparently having a discussion or meeting. Most of the people are wearing face masks, suggesting awareness of health protocols. They are seated in a semi-circle around a table covered with a blue and white checkered cloth. On the table, there are stacks of books or notebooks. In the background, there is a television mounted high on the wall, and a door is open, revealing a view of the outside. Two signs on the wall near the door feature red circles with diagonal slashes, indicating prohibitions (though the exact details are unclear). The atmosphere appears to be professional or educational.

A group of people in an office setting, seated and wearing face masks. The room has computers on desks near the windows, orange and white vertical blinds, and a blue-and-white checkered tablecloth on the table. Documents and a sanitizing spray are on the table. One woman is standing and speaking while others are listening or engaged in conversation. Sunlight is coming through the barred windows, and there are trees visible outside. The scene has a collaborative, meeting-like atmosphere.


#Manique Gunaratne

Web: www.employers.lk 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment