About Disability Awareness in Action
1. What We Are
Disability Awareness in Action (DAA) is an international public education
campaign to promote, support and coordinate national action to further the
objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992)
and the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons (WPA).
The Decade has shown the urgent need to turn policies on disability into
action and, in particular, to concentrate on equal opportunities for disabled
people. Much has already been done. International non-governmental disability
organisations (INGOs) have been working together for some time to set a
framework of action, building on the aims of the Decade and the WPA.
This groundwork is embodied in a Reaffirmation, to be signed by heads of
government, showing commitment to the World Programme of Action. 1992 is
the last year of the Decade. We need to make sure that the Reaffirmation
is signed, and that it is supported in each country by a supplementary action
plan.
However, national action by disabled people can only work if they and their
organisations are able to use the channels and contacts needed to influence
governments and to raise public awareness of disability issues. DAA is working
towards these objectives through participation, partnership and publicity:
Participation
DAA is working with disabled people and their organisations to stimulate
nation action on disability issues. In some countries, disabled people's
organisations have gained the skills of lobbying authorities and have set
up channels of influence. This experience can be shared with other organisations,
particularly in developing countries, where national policy on disability
is almost non-existent. In particular, DAA is targeting developing countries,
disabled women and other underrepresented groups of disabled people.
Partnership
Traditionally, disabled people and their organisations have not had access
to information that could empower them - on development, organisation-building
and strategies for social change. DAA provides a resource base of advice
and information to support the partnership between governments, policy-makers,
non-governmental organisations, industry, the media and disabled people.
Publicity
Inappropriate images of disability have been a major barrier to the understanding
of disability issues by the general public and policy-makers. The media
information in this publications is intended to help disability organisations
ensure greater awareness of disability issues in the media and, by extension,
among people everywhere.
2. Who We Are
Organisations Involved
Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) is about people helping themselves.
Its philosophy is that disabled people should achieve full participation
and equality in all societies. The DPI network has over 90 national affiliates,
over half of which are in developing countries. National affiliates aim
to be cross-disability, grassroots organisations. Consultative status with
ECOSOC, UNESCO, ILO, UNOV.
IMPACT is an international initiative against avoidable disability launched
by the UN Development Programme, WHO and UNICEF. The international office
in Geneva co-ordinates national IMPACT foundations in a number of developing
and developed countries. Joining forces with governments, institutions and
the mass media, the foundations help initiate low-cost measures to combat
disability.
International League of Societies of Persons with Mental Handicap. (ILSMH)
is the only organisation which speaks for the world's 40 million persons
with mental impairments, their families and those who work for them. The
League now includes 100 societies from 67 countries. It exists to help its
members fulfil their own objectives in response to local need. ILSMH has
consultative status with the UN.
Rehabilitation International (RI) is a federation of 145 organisations in
82 countries conducting programmes to assist people with disabilities and
all who work for prevention, rehabilitation and integration.
World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is an international organisation of national
associations of the deaf. The WFD was established in 1951 and is working
towards full participation and equal rights for deaf people. Consultative
status with the UN.
DAA Executive Committee
- Chairperson: Henry Enns (DPI)
- Vice-Chairperson: Murray Holmes (WFD)
- Vice-Chairperson: John Chillag (ILSMH)
- Secretary: Anneli Joneken (DPI)
- Treasurer: Senator Eita Yashiro (DPI)
- Information: Mary Holland (RI)
- Project Director: Rachel Hurst
- Project Assistant: Kate Gane
- Administrative Assistant: Neil Harvey
- Information Officer: Agnes Fletcher
Disability
Awareness in Action
11 Belgrave Road, Room 109
London SW1V 1RB
United Kingdom
Tel 44-71-834 04 77
Fax 44-71-821 95 39
DAA_ORG@compuserve.com
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