Access to Services for Persons with Disabilities in Challenging Environments

Dear Participants,

Our seminar « Access to services » is based on exchanges, encounters and discussions. In order to identify each other

more easily, we ask you to fill in the small document (“introductionform”). Then, all introduction forms will be collected and

shared between participants. You can write them in French, English or Arabic, according to your working language.

Thank you for returning them to Marion by 30th November 2009. You can choose your pictures; Please keep the same colours

suggested in the example.

Good organisation and see you soon!

© Handicap International

Access to Services for Persons with Disabilities in Challenging Environments

International Seminar Amman, Jordan 7 – 11 december 2009

© Handicap International

Christine SMERDONChristine SMERDONProgramme Disability CoordinatorProgramme Disability Coordinator

HI NepalHI Nepal

I am attending the seminar because in Nepalwe have a constant challenge to increase

access to rehab services in the face of poverty,difficult geography, lack of awareness of the benefits,

and, until 2006, armed conflict.

Access to Services for Persons with Disabilities in Challenging Environments

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1. Nepal: establishing centres in major transportationhubs and reaching out from those using a variety

of strategies.

2. Afghanistan: trying to expand services geographically in order to improve access but being

limited by human resources and insecurity.

Access to Services for Persons with Disabilities in Challenging Environments

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According to your experiences, what are the biggest obstacles to the access to servicesfor persons with disabilities ?

- Poverty - Lack of awareness of benefits (at various levels of the society and government) Lack of awareness of availability (at various levels of the society and government)- Trained human resources- Geography - Limitations placed on some people with disabilities due to gender or stigma.

Access to Services for Persons with Disabilities in Challenging Environments

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According to your experiences, what can facilitate the access to services for persons with disabilities ?

-Careful consideration of location and partner of centralised services -Socioeconomic support (for travel, accommodation, actual services) for those whoneed it-Reputation for high quality service-Decentralised units providing minimal services-Mobile services- Awareness of services among other serviceproviders eg CBR, health and knowledge of referralmechanism

Access to Services for Persons with Disabilities in Challenging Environments

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To which question would you like this seminar to answer ?

How to ensure equal access by women and menin context of gender inequality, less access to information by women, less freedom to leave the house and children.