Enable 7 - A Publication of Global Rainbow Foundation

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J a n eCo n s t a n c e -UNE S COAr t u s t f o rP e a c e( P g 2 0 2 1 )

GRFLaunches Accessi bl e T r anspor tSer vi ce ForPWDS

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ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

EDITORIAL

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GLOBAL RAINBOW FOUNDATION SERVING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HEART OF GRF GRF (Global Rainbow Foundation) aims at supporting those who are disfavoured in life in one way or another. Our own approach is be as all-embracing as possible, tackling issues from various perspectives and at various entry-points in as many different ways as is required. We are also aiming at accomplishing the Goals in the UN’s agenda on inclusivity of PWDs in the society.

The GRF is about grassroots; it listens to actual needs first and then digs deep to find causes and ways to respond to them. GRF is about closeness and attention to others.

SYMBOLISM OF RAINBOW The Rainbow is very symbolic to our organisation; it is a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning to a forthcoming world in which the rights to education, survival, protection, development and participation of every child and adult of any race and/or social creed and/or with any sort of disabilities are upheld.

A rainbow is a bridge of light – it connects the light of the one to the light of another. It is the interconnection of one colour ray with the other.

The ‘Rainbow’ symbolises unity in diversity, the power of light, enlightenment and progress. Each of the seven colours in GRF has insightful meanings: Red:

Stands for Life & courage; a sense of belonging to each other and high energy; Orange:Promises healing & offers the vision of possibilities to all; Yellow: Represents clarity of mind, the Divine Light, Divine Power & Divine Wisdom; Green: This colour is at the centre, the heart of the Rainbow bridging both realms. It symbolizes Mother Earth, promising health and stability, regaining strength and vitality.

Blue: It reminds us that the sky is the limit; in providing education to all and strives towards global unity; Indigo: Symbolizes the GRF movement, Challenge to help less fortunate people through united GRF volunteers; Violet: It is the divide colour, a reminder of being wrapped by the almighty, colour of strong faith and friendship to all.

The ‘rainbow’ was chosen to transmit joy, happiness and illumination and in so doing it unfolds its meaning for others by extending a gentle hand and sharing love and laughter to all. Its mystical importance is to show and share with all the beauty and elegance of the rainbow merging sky & land across borders, beyond barriers. That is how the ‘Rainbow’ represents our organisation in all its splendour.

THE DIFFERENT MEANINGS According to the Bible, the very first rainbow was a promise from God to Noah that he would never again flood the entire earth.

In ancient Hindu mythology, Indra, the Hindu god of thunder and war, used the ‘Rainbow’ to shoot arrows of lightning, killing the Asura Vrta, a primordial demon-serpent and lifted up the outcast that was oppressed; and glorified the blind and the lame.

As the fascination with rainbows merges with mythology and science and poetry and culture across civilisations; it is the universal platform of a common humanity.

The range of colours reflects the equality our team believes in and practises, giving equal consideration to each and everyone in the communities. For us, all people are equal and should get the same opportunities in life. We put our heart in every step that we take to help the people in need; we want to change their lives for the better.

Our aim is to bring a smile to every face; every smile a distinct colour will combine and create a stunning collective rainbow.

JOIN US! HELP US AND HELP US TO HELP YOU! TOGETHER, LET US MAKE THE RAINBOW. “A GOLDEN LEADER WITH A UNITED TEAM WHICH STRIVE FOR THE RIGHT CAUSE”

Directeur de publication Pr. Armoogum Parsuramen Rédacteur en Chef Dr Youven Naiken Gopalla Une publication de la Global Rainbow Foundation Adresse Gandhi Sarvodaya Kendra (GSK), Royal Road, Petit Raffray Tel : 283 8604/283 0229 Hotline : 58243792 Email : office@grftrust.org

PR. ARMOOGUM PARSURAMEN

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SOMMAIRE ENABLE / EDITION 7 / OCTOBER 2017

ACTUS Budget 2017-18

DISABILITY MEASURES OF THE BUDGET Page 6

EMPLOYABILITY EMPLOYABILITY FOR PWD Page 12

INSPIRE WONDER’-FUL VOICE - STEVE WONDER Page 14

JAYA CHEKORI:

THE YOUNG GIRL WITH INVALUABLE PASSION Page 15

LEISURE RIDWAN- ACTEUR DU CHANGEMENT! Page 11

LEISURE AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Pages 16

MUSIC THERAPY LA MAIN DANS LA MAIN’ (GRF's rehabilitation centre Page 7

UNLOCKING THE VOICE WITHIN Page 17

INTER Information Technology (IT) Accessibility: Page 8

COUNTRIES/ CITIES THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE Page 18

INSPIRE JAIPUR FOOT NOW IN ATLANTA Page 8

THE LITTLE STARS OF MAURITIUS Jade Gebert Page 9

ADVOCACY LACUNAE AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BUDGET Page 10

THE VOICE OF A PERSON WITH DISABILITY Page 11

L’app qui murmure à l’oreille des malvoyants Page 18

BRAVO JANE RISE OF A MUSICAL PARADIGM TO UNESCO ARTIST FOR PEACE Page 20-21

IRINA BOKOVA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNESCO Page 23

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ACTU

ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

BUDGET ANALYSIS

DISABILITY MEASURES OF THE BUDGET 2017-2018 GRF has set up the Disability Legal Services (DLS) which was launched on 24th February 2016 at the Mauritius Bar Association.

The DLS receives and treats plaints of persons with disabilities in view of the settlement of their legal challenges as per available means and resources through the generous collaboration of volunteer probono barristers, notaries and attorneys.

under this national program aimed to train youngsters in field where human resource is in high demand. At paragraph 139, it has been announced that the law will be amended in view of allowing employees of private firms to work from home. The work from home scheme is specially beneficial to PWDs whose mobility is very limited due to the inaccessible public transportation. PWDs may now be allowed

Another important function and role of the DLS, is in the field of Advocacy where there is a constant pledge made to the rel-

evant authorities, ministries and to the government in regard to the effective inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in each and every sector of development. Raising awareness of the public, of governments and socio-economic and political actors on the lack or inadequate consideration awarded to the welfare of children, women and men with disabilities which contributes to the advancement of their rights. This on-going process of raising awareness is highly recommended in article 8 of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, which has been signed and ratified by Mauritius in 2007 and 2010 respectively). In this context, this present article aims at raising awareness on the measures in the field of disability announced in the 2017-2018 Budget.

In regard to employment, the measures announced at paragraph 47 and paragraph 139 do not seem to include PWDs. Paragraph 47 announced the intake of an additional 2500 youths under the National Skills Development Program to address the skill mismatch. We note that the number of PWDs who have been enrolled, on the said program, has not been mentioned and that there is no reference to any reserved quota for them in the new intake

to work from home by private firms who as per the provisions of the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Act 1996 (TEDPB Act), who have 35 employees or more have to employ PWDs . It has to be reminded that in 2012, the TEDPB Act has been amended to put parastatal bodies under the legal obligation to employ PWDs as well. Despite the legal obligation bound on employers of the private and parastatal sector, the unemployment rates among PWDs remain high and there is no effort from the part of the authorities to amend the law for the recruitment of PWDs in the public sector. Indeed, the law does not provide for a reserved quota of PWDs in the public sector, as such is the case in India where the public sector, that is, the central government each year recruit a specific percentage of PWDs as stipulated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

It is recommended to the government to ensure equal opportunities in employment in the public sector for PWDs and also to provide the latter with job advertisements and application forms of the PSC in accessible format for the PSC’s website is not accessible to persons with print impairment.

The measures announced in the field of

education listed at paragraph 263, 264, 269 and 270 are of direct concern to children with disabilities. The infrastructure of 4 secondary schools will be adapted to meet the special needs of children with disabilities as clearly indicated in paragraph 263. The names and geographical location of these 4 secondary schools have not been mentioned and thus several questions remain unanswered. As a matter of right, every secondary school of the island of Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agalega should be accessible to children with disabilities. Now, children with disabilities are limited to attend only these 4 secondary schools and no guarantee is given that the adapted infrastructure will meet the special needs of every type of disability. Moreover, we note that there is no mention of distribution of the specialized equipment which can ease the educational success of children with disabilities. If in India, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 makes provisions for a reserved quota of 5% for students with disabilities in secondary and tertiary institutions; there is no such quota reserved for the latter in Mauritius.

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ACTU

ENABLE EDITION 7- October 2017

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‘LA MAIN DANS LA MAIN’ It is not sure that the recruitment of 184 Support Teachers announced at paragraph 264 of the 2017-2018 Budget will include the recruitment of Braille and sign language teachers whose post do not even appear in the PRB. It should be highlighted that the recruitment of Specialised Needs Education teachers of last year is not perfectly in line with the provisions of article 24 of the UNCRPD where it is clearly stipulated that visually impaired persons literate in Braille should be recruited. So far, visually impaired Braille teachers and hearing impaired sign language teachers are employed by NGOs and other institutions running specialized schools and not by the Ministry of Education.

According to what can be read in paragraph 269 of the Budget, a sum of Rs. 110,000,000 is granted to NGOs running specialized schools. It seems that children with disabilities are still being directed toward specialized primary schools instead of them attending main stream primary schools as stipulated at article 24(2)(b) of the UNCRPD. Due to the change in the CSR rules, many NGOs running specialized schools have closed or nearly closed and it is hoped that they will be given priority in the distribution of funds in order to allow them to continue or reopen their services for the sole benefits of children with disabilities in need of them. The highly wished for authority which will govern the SENs sector has been announced at paragraph 270 together with a new strategy paper for the same sector. It is recommended that the government makes it a must to listen to the voice of PWDs when setting up this new authority and in the drafting of the strategy paper as recommended by the moto of the UNCRPD which reads as follows: “NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US”.

Furthermore, it is observed that the concept of accessibility as treated at article 9 of the UNCRPD is absent from the 2017-2018 Budget. In article 9 of the UNCRPD, the broad concept of

accessibility includes the elements of: access to information, to internet, to specialized equipment, to buildings and to public transportation.

As such, the Research Repository to which the public will have access, mentioned at paragraph 36, should be provided in accessible formats to persons with print impairment. The printed material can be converted into accessible formats for persons with visual impairment have been made legal through section 23 of the Copyright Act 2014. In addition, the upgrading of the educational hardware and infrastructure of the MITD training centres, the École Hotelière Sir Gaetan Duval, the Sir Ramparsad Neerunjun Training Centre and Le Chou Training Centre in Rodrigues should be realized with due care paid to the special needs of PWDs to ensure that the latter can properly get access to them on a physical front as well as to the training provided.

Governments have the moral duty to promote equal opportunities for PWDs which is realized only when national developments are inclusive of the latter’s special needs. The voluntary or involuntary neglect of the special needs of PWDs inevitably leads to the exclusion of PWDs which is in contravention with the very spirit of the UNCRPD. The authorities and government can rest assured that the observations presented in this article are not made in view of mere criticism but rather with the objective of raising awareness on the negative impact of little consideration of the inclusion of PWDs in national development. It is important to also note that the GRF operates independent of political affiliation of any kind and works for the sole benefit and welfare of children and adults with disabilities of our country.

Ms. Aarthi Burtony, LLB Holder Manager Research and Advocacy Global Rainbow Foundation

Société La Main Dans La Main' is a community welfare group with the objective of helping people with disability in Morcellement St André.

It was founded in 2015 by Mr Oumesh Ramlugun, and managed by Mr Premchand Jugoo and Mr Swamy Ramasawmy.

The members of this welfare society make door-to-door visit to the target groups and identify people who require assistance. After contacting the Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF), 'Société La Main Dans La Main' and the GRF rehabilitation team made several home visits. The GRF team, which consists of an Occupational Therapist, a Physiotherapist, a nursing officer and the Project Coordinator of the 'Hope Initiative Project', assessed 5 patients in May 2017. After assessing each patient and providing the latter with a home program along with follow-up medical recommendation, an environmental assessment of the patient's house was made and low-cost home modifications were suggested. The project coordinator for the 'Hope Initiative Project' noted down essential information required to start the procedure of providing the patient with the appropriate and recommended assistive device, free of cost.

After the home visits, 'Société La Main Dans La Main' contacted GRF's rehabilitation centre at Petit Raffray for the medical assessment of a new group of patients from Morcellement St André. Hence, medical help and much needed assistance were delivered due to the laudable work by 'Société La Main Dans La Main'. It would be highly commended if similar community groups from all villages in Mauritius were actively involved in not only identifying persons with disabilities and vulnerable people from their town or village, but also in ensuring that medical guidance was provided as soon as possible.

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ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

ACTU

Information Technology (IT) Accessibility: Is Support available for persons with disabilities to get work training and employment? »

cognitive or learning disabilities, studies and researches have proved that accessibility of e-recruiting Web site is found to vary from a very significant barrier to somewhat a trivial barrier.

The Internet improves access to employment and community for many people. Online technology has made significant inroads into human resource (HR) processes such as recruitment, benefits, and training. However, there is growing concern that many Web sites are inaccessible to people with certain disabilities. Organizations use e-recruiting Web site and web processes for job postings, information dissemination about the availability of jobs and people, and online employee training, yet many web sites are inaccessible to people with disabilities. Most of HR processes have no adaptation to make a computer accessible to a job seeker or an employee with a disability. Only few companies have made their HR Processes accessible and have met standards of accessibility.

Considering five categories of disabilities such as wheelchair users, visually impaired/ blind users, deaf users, fine motor limitations that restrict use of keyboard or mouse, and

Persons with Disabilities therefore experience enormous challenges accessing vocational training and employment opportunities.

These challenges are mainly due to: lack of awareness and training on assistive technology; limited accessibility of ICT products or services; the related (high) cost of assistive technologies; lack of training in soft skills; lack of support and guidance for job placement; On account of these challenges, PWD’s face difficulties in participating in economic, cultural and social life of the community.

Such proactive efforts toward removing technology barriers will reduce IT accessibility discrimination.

Legal frame work such as United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Mauritius: the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act, the Telecommunications Act have of course begun to bring about improvements in accessibility, education, training, and employment opportunities of youth and adults with disability.

Therefore Organizations need to focus on enablement, offering an inclusive, equitable work environment. An organization should also encourage the provision of reasonable accommodations—modifications or adjustments to a job or the work environment and ICT adaptability training to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in employment equal to those of employees without disabilities.

Some of the specific recommendations for lessening future workplace IT barriers are as follows: increase the organization's specific expertise or technical assistance on technology accessibility issues; train technical staff about accessibility issues; create an adaptable work environment; promote uniform guidelines to make Web-based employer / Human Resource processes accessible and Provide computer training for potential employees with disabilities.

Mrs. Agnes Nalini Vincent, Director of Information Technology, Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF).

JAIPUR FOOT NOW IN ATLANTA World Famous Jaipur Foot has helped over 16 lakhs people with disabilities around the world.

The makers displayed the prosthetic limbs in Atlanta, U.S at the Rotary International Convention. The Jaipur Foot was shown in the city where an endowment for “doing good in the world” was created at the Rotary Convention in 1917. The foundation has developed and spent more than $3 billion on various projects during the last 100

years.

Jaipur Foot would be seen by about 60,000 Rotarians from all over the world. Dr. Mehta, the BMVSS honorary secretary, said visitors could help the physically challenged in their respective countries by holding fitting camps.

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INSPIRE

ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

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THE LITTLE STARS OF MAURITIUS

After having helped Jane Constance, the Global Rainbow Foundation, has continued its determination to support other children in need. This is the story of the little Jade Gebert; Jade was nearly one year old when she was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma; an eye cancer. Jade was born like any other babies, fit and healthy; however after some months, some symptoms started to appear; Jade was having difficulty to see with one eye and she was experiencing problems to move around. After several consultations, sad news hit the family; Jade had cancer in both eyes and needed intervention in India.

After a painful journey in India, Jade came back to Mauritius with a visual impairment as the operations undertaken couldn’t help her to recover her eyes sight.

Back in Mauritius, Jade’s parents’ fight start trying to include her in the society and making her become independent. Jade’s parents learnt about a kindergarten Lois Lagesse Centre at Beau Bassin.

However, the family didn’t have the financial facilities to pay for a taxi from Camp de Masque, where they live, to Beau Bassin.

fees of my little Jade during her pre-primary studies,” said Joanie Gebert, Jade’s mother.

Moreover, the new insurance policy of the LIC, for the guardians of children with disabilities has found their first beneficiary in the person of Joanie Gebert. This new policy will help children with disabilities to have a better life.

The parents were very thankful to Mr. A. Parsuramen, the Standard Chartered Bank as well as the LIC and all other persons, who helped their daughter, obtain a normal life like any other children. Despite the various hurdles in Jade’s life she was able to overcome it and learnt to live with her visual impairment. As Mrs Gebert testifies: “Jade is a very lively and intelligent girl; after that incident, she started to develop other abilities such as her sense of touch and her sense of smell. She knows every corner of the house and she lives like any normal little girl of her age; making a mess in the house and she is actually a blessing in disguise.”

Little Jade never gave up despite her disability; she continued to live happily and showed us how she was differently abled.

By:

That is when they meet with the presidentfounder of the Global Rainbow Foundation, Mr A. Parsuramen who sought help from the Standard Chartered Bank and the President of Equal Opportunities Commission, Mr. Brian Glover. “With great compassion, they accepted to finance the transport

LEISURE: WORLD’S FIRST WHEELCHAIRFRIENDLY WATER PARK: MORGAN’S INSPIRATION ISLAND.

Jeshina Ramasamy Manager ENABLE Magazine Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF)

On the 17th of June, people with disabilities experienced immense joy on the opening of the world’s first wheelchairfriendly water park in Texas.

The park is “ultra-accessible” as it uses sophisticated technology to allow people with disabilities to enjoy the park safely. All individuals can enter the park including those with hearing and visual impairments and even guests on ventilators.

Gordon Hartman, Founder of the foundation which owns the park, said the park would “concentrate on inclusion and inspire guests with special needs to do things previously thought not to be in their range of capabilities.”

The park contains a River Boat Ride, sensory gardens and five “splash pads”, instead of normal swimming pools. Some of the splash pads feature temperature controls, to cater for people who have sensitivity to cold water.

Wheelchair users can benefit from the park’s waterproof wheelchairs, which are driven by compressed air instead of battery power. The park also includes restaurants, private cabanas and support facilities Assistance dogs are also permitted within the park.

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ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

ADVOCACY

LACUNAE AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BUDGET 2017-2018 FOR PWDS While countries and cities around the world are trying to make new amendments and trying to improve the lives of People with Disabilities, our small island seems to be in a dormant state concerning PWD. On Wednesday 21st of June, the President-

ernmental schools should be made accessible for PWD and they should also provide an inclusive education. Secondly, there is a need for more investments in ATs (Assistive Technologies) such as Braille tablet, or speaking devices which might help children with disabilities in their learning. Thirdly, soft loans can be given to schools so that they can construct or renovate buildings according to everyone’s needs.

Transport facilities The President-founder of GRF further enhanced that transport facilities should have been given to children with disabilities by pro-

in the government sector as well just like India is doing nowadays, where the companies must recruit differently-abled people.

The president of GRF said that “Mauritius needs to inspire, learn and follow from the experience of India. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a model for the world. He took at heart the goodwill and interests of People with Disabilities; they initiated a New Disability act in 2016 which takes into consideration all types of disabilities.” Mr A. Parsuramen proposed that Mauritius should develop a disability Bill inspiring from India, which will be modern, adapted and will respect the rights of every human being.

Digital Economy

Founder of the Global Rainbow Foundation, Mr. A. Parsuramen held a press conference at Camp Yoloff, Port-Louis where he explained how the “budget 2017-2018 doesn’t serve the People With Disabilities.”

Educational Sector: Everyone has the right to be educated As we noted, during the budget speech, the government is funding millions for upgrading the pedagogical tools and educational infrastructures where there is little mention about improving the lives of children with disabilities in the educational area. The SEN schools and other NGOs are dependent upon the CSR to do their activities.

Mr. A. Parsuramen stated that children with disabilities need a special environment and specially trained teachers; “there is a need to recruit professional teachers to teach the children with disabilities. For example, a person with vision impairment cannot use normal books; he/she needs to use Braille or specialised gadgets which is inexistent in many schools. There are very few teachers/educators, in Mauritius, who possess the Braille knowledge to help the students in need of it.”

Furthermore, among some of the developments to be undertaken in the educational sector, only four secondary schools will be “adapted to make them more accessible for physically challenged students as well as personnel and visitors and this is very limited.”

The President-Founder of GRF hence came up with some recommendations; firstly, all gov-

viding them with adapted vehicles to their needs or by taking charge of their fees. People with disabilities cannot use conventional transport like bus or taxi; hence it can become a financial burden for the family. Mr Parsuramen mentioned that “Though transport is free for certain age group in Mauritius, they are not beneficial for all. The budget did not take into consideration those who have physical disabilities and offer them facilities in terms of transport.

Employment Employment is a real issue in our country.

The budget didn’t put emphasis on the employment of people with disabilities. The President of GRF emphasized that, “Despite the actual laws in force, which obliges private companies to recruit 3% of people with disabilities, only 20-25% of companies abide by this rule.” Hence, he suggested that the government should be able to take actions or penalties against those who do not respect the laws. The Mauritian government can also take the initiative to include these 3% quota

Mr. Parsuramen continued his press conference by adding that people with disabilities “are not included in the digital economy especially people who are visually impaired. For example, it can be very demanding and difficult for a visually impaired person to fill in the PSC application form. Hence, he shared that the GRF has an initiative, the book-share, where there are 450 books in accessible format in different languages for blind people and this is something in which the government can invest into. Moreover, people with disabilities can be encouraged to work from home as there are advanced technology which will be beneficial for them and will also boost their productivity.

Place of worship The President of GRF also suggested that the Places of worship should be renovated and take into considerations the people with disabilities. All temples, mosques, churches and other religious places should be accessible to People with disabilities.

Differently-abled people should be given the chance to prove themselves and most importantly to develop their skills and aptitude, just like abled people are doing. The Global Rainbow Foundation is trying different ways to brighten the lives of People with Disabilities in different domain but more helping hands to this foundation will be greatly appreciated.

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ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

ADVOCACY

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THE VOICE OF A PERSON WITH DISABILITY

The right to justice and equal opportunities for people such as right for education and its facilities, jobs, access to different services and places and other human rights are well established under our national and international laws. Unfortunately not all our citizens can enjoy those privileges and when it comes to pwds it becomes worst.

Hence an interview was carried out to explore those issues more in depth. A person with disability was interviewed and her experiences were recorded.

- Is the educational system leaving children with disabilities behind? Tell me about your experience.

To some extent, the educational system is providing children with disabilities with facilities but on the other hand, it is also leaving children with disabilities behind. More facilities should be made available in both normal schools and SEN schools. For example: Braille, ramps, instructors for deaf, speech therapists are present at school but they are very limited.

Normal schools do not have such facilities.

puter and put it in his office and a teacher came specifically to teach me.

- Did you face any problems to get a job? If yes, what kind of problems did you face to get a job?

Yes, as a person with disability, I had to struggle a lot before getting a job. My certificates were just for show.

I still remember that I called for a job post and when I told them about my disability and on wheelchairs; I was immediately rejected as they told me that they do not have ramps and cannot make any provisions for me. Hence, my chance of getting a job was very less compared to a normal person. For three consecutive years, I was unemployed and faced rejections continually. In my point of view, there are few workplaces that make provisions for people with disabilities.

- Tell me more about accessibility. Do people with disability have access everywhere?

Being a person with disability, I went to a normal secondary school and I am lucky that the school provided me with all facilities that I needed. However, not all people suffering from disabilities can enjoy those chances.

In most cases, people with disability do not have access to many places. For example, these people cannot use normal transports such as cars and buses are they are not in line with our needs. Infact these people need to use taxis which are costly or need to depend on someone to take us to different places.

Thanks to the manager, the teachers, friends and parents, I am now a graduate; the school made special provisions for me in terms of accessibility. For instance, as the computer lab was upstairs, the manager made special provision for her. He bought a com-

With the exception of hospitals which have ramps and lifts, there are many buildings that are not constructed for the mobility of people with disabilities in Mauritius.

What do you think of the Mauritian laws for people with disabilities? What do you recommend?

The law that enforce private companies to employ 3% people with disabilities is not respected. Government should fine companies who do not respect the quota. People with disabilities are not allowed to take insurance policy but only their guardians, which is unfair.

If a person with disability wants to start a business, how will he/she be able to take a loan if he/she does not have a job in the first place?

Hence, laws for people with disabilities should be enforced. The laws which are already on paper should be put in practice for our benefits.

Hence, it can be concluded that although the person who was interviewed was lucky and was a bit more privileged during her educational studies and other facilities despite her disability, this is unfortunately not the case for other person with disabilities as they are rarely given the opportunities to develop their potential.

By: Nawsheen Modunasaib Project Coordinator Global Rainbow Foundation

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EMPLOYABILITY

ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

EMPLOYABILITY FOR PWD For many centuries now, countless of talents and abilities have dwelled in the shadows. However, nowadays, governments and other stakeholders are trying to remedy to these situations by giving the people with disabilities opportunities to show what they are capable of.

Shesh Enterprise in 2008 to provide job access to different types of people but mainly for people with disabilities.

S. Awasthi shared that “getting a job is extremely difficult for persons with disabilities and thus by teaching them the English Language and various other skills, it can help them to get a job.”

WISCONSIN Wisconsin is now known as a leader in disability employment. The University of New Hampshire’s institution on Disability found that 41% of people with disabilities in Wisconsin are now employed.

Moreover, they are also implementing the project SEARCH which helps to connect people with disabilities to employers who need more employees. That project has successfully turned dozens of interns into employees in just two years.

Another program which they are executing is a reverse job search for people with disabilities to sit at tables while employers work the rooms to meet each of them and learn about the potential employees abilities.

These are some of the great initiatives that the state is taking to include the people with disabilities in the community and to make them contribute to the economy of the country.

Places like Bellin (Health Care Service), HSHS (Hospital Medical Centre), Austin Straubel International Airport, manufacturing companies and others are partnering with ASPIRO and like-minded programs to employ people with disabilities.

Redebra Peters, Career consultant and Job Developer, also mentions that “People with disabilities work everywhere.”

Wisconsin is ranked 10th at the national level for employing people with disabilities but Peters wants to do better.

CHENNAI, INDIA

Shashaank Awasthi and P. Rajasekharan started V-

The company’s aim is to work with individuals and help them to get a job and keep it forever. According to S. Awasthi, differently-abled people need a complete re-orientation to understand the issues, train and find suitable job placement. “We work with differentlyabled people in education, training and in securing jobs. We also work with organisations for disability inclusion,” said Shashaank Awasthi.

tion to help people with disabilities.

Demeglio suggests that PWD (People with Disabilities) find ways to showcase their skills. For example: using a laptop in front of the employers to show their know-how. He continues by saying that “hiring people with disabilities isn’t only profitable but the right thing to do” for humanity.

Three ministers from the Ontario Government are involved in the strategies which also aim to create opportunities for disabled youth to get experience and roll out support for businesses.

FORT WAYNE- INDIANA, USA

After training their students, they provide posttraining facility to get them a job. S. Awasthi also said that training in a group is working more than individual training for the differently-abled people. Their main aim is that people with disabilities must have an equal opportunity like normal people.

S. Awasthi added that, “Till now we have trained more than 1,500 candidates with different disabilities in the last five years. Our 400 candidates are placed in various companies like Accenture, Bank of America, Barclays Bank, HDFC Group, Cognizant, Indigo, IndusInd Bank, ITC Hotels, JP Morgan, Mercer, Royal Bank of Scotland and more.”

Moreover, 40% of their staffs are people with disabilities and that helped them to understand the exact situations of similar people. The V-Shesh team has four training centres in India at New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The team is also working with schools in rural Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states. Last year in December they were recognised with a National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities by the President of India.

ONTARIO, CANADA The Ontario Government is looking to find jobs for thousands of people with disabilities. The province’s push is trying to get more businesses with more than 20 people to hire at least one person with disability in their company.

Rob Demeglio, who is the Executive Director of Independent Living which is a non-profit organisation in the area of Sudbury, is also someone who helps and hires people with disabilities as he believes that they are an “untapped market”. The proof, Demeglio himself is blind but he is successfully guiding his organisa-

Fort Wayne can now boast being an Ability City; this designation recognizes the City’s longstanding commitment to support the employment of individuals with disabilities.

Mayor Tom Henry declares that being “an Ability City speaks volumes about our commitment to being a caring, giving and welcoming community.” Fort Wayne has become a leader in jobs and business growth because companies and organisations, in that City, have stepped up to include and embrace individuals with disabilities to form part of their community. The Mayor further emphasizes on the fact that “everybody has something to offer.”

To become an Ability City, a Town or County should agree to purchase through Ability Indiana where they aim to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Easter Seals President and CEO, Donna Elbrecht said that “workers are getting positive feedbacks from employers” and that they are generally dependable and excited to be part of the workforce. She also sees the broader value in becoming an Ability City because it could increase awareness about people with disabilities who are good job candidates.

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ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

EMPLOYABILITY

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RIDWAN- ACTEUR DU CHANGEMENT! “Be the change you wish to see in the World.” - Mahatma Gandhi

After his studies in Psychology with Counselling Skills at the Middlesex University, Ridwan Dilmahomed, started his career in social work as trainee in various non-governmental organizations. This young man of 25 years old has a goal in life: it is to work towards the welfare of the vulnerable groups in our society by promoting human values.

Since a year now, Ridwan works as Project Manager for the employability sector of the Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF), engaged in the training, rehabilitation and empowerment of people with disabilities. It was then that he realized his role and contribution to this World.

“At the Global Rainbow Foundation, we are contributing to the welfare of persons with disabilities through a pool of activities. By empowering these people with the proper skills and the right mind-set, I believe that they can undoubtedly excel in everything they aspire to accomplish and contribute to a better society.

Moreover, the Global Rainbow Foundation empowers the needy through the donation of prosthesis or assistive devices, thus giving them the motivation and faith to struggle out of poverty,” declares Ridwan. He firmly believes that poverty is not only an economic condition, but also a psychological state.

Ridwan’s views on ‘TOIT POUR TOUS’ Ile Maurice...

“It is a truly inspiring sustainable project which will positively impact on many aspects in our society. The idea of helping the vulnerable groups in an eco-friendly approach is remarkable. In this way, these needy families will not only have a decent house to live in, but they will also develop a sustainable mind set by contributing to the preservation of the environment.

In addition, this project will encourage the beneficiaries to develop a sense of belonging to the society.”

According to Ridwan, we often complain about the circumstances we face or blame others for the condition we live in. “We are responsible for the decisions we make. If we want to see changes in our surroundings, first we have to become the recipient of that change!” advocates Ridwan. In this context, he invites all Mauritians to contribute to the betterment of the society and help to eradicate extreme poverty simply by making a decision to change and develop a more altruistic nature. He further adds that we need to ask ourselves the right questions, the first one being ‘why’ we need to help others.

“Helping the needy does not only mean giving your time or money, but this also implies talking about it, sharing your views, showing interest and motivating others to do the same.”

For TOIT POUR TOUS Ile Maurice to have a

significant impact during its implementation, Ridwan firmly believes that all NGOs, associations and other stakeholders sharing the same vision towards poverty alleviation should join hands and work together. This will guarantee the success of the project and encourage a sense of togetherness in the society.

“I sincerely wish that this project succeeds. I also believe that it should be promoted on a national level to bring more awareness and encourage people to join and collaborate. It can be a good initiative to directly involve the beneficiaries of this project and invite them to give their opinions and to extend their hopes to the Mauritian population,” says Ridwan, determined to bring a positive change in the Mauritian society.

Ridwan Dilmohamed Project Manager GRF

AVN AROGYA IN MAURITIUS

On Saturday 24th June 2017, The Global Rainbow Foundation organised a medical conference based on “Ayurveda for today’s healthcare needs” in collaboration with AVN Arogya’s Managing Director Dr. Ramesh R. Varier. A consultation session was also organised for the patients around the island with the doctor.

AVN Arogya was founded in 1930, in Madurai, by the renowned Ayurvedic Physician, Arya

Vaidyan N. Rama Varier. Over the past eight decades, the AVN Group has spanned three generations and it has developed into a renowned Ayurveda organisation, with a range of activities, offered by a team of experienced and highly enthused Ayurvedic Medical and Paramedical personnel.

In the AVN Arogya leverages the wisdom of Ayurveda, and effectively integrates Classic Ayurvedic treatment with these modern disciplines to help special children lead better lives.

They also combine time tested principles of Ayurveda with modern day practices and treat the patient in a holistic manner. The organisation takes care of children with disabilities who has development disorders like Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder, Cerebral Palsy*, Down’s Syndrome;

which are gradually increasing around the world and causing much stress in families and the society at large.

The Global Rainbow Foundation along with the AVN Group are cooperating together to have an Ayurvedic team in Mauritius for the benefits of the population and also for those who have disabilities.

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INSPIRATION

ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

‘WONDER’-FUL VOICE - STEVE WONDER As we celebrated the World Music Day on the 21st of June this year, let us pay tribute to World’s famous singer who composed and sang ‘I just called to say I say I love you’.

He remains an inspiration for people with disabilities with his golden voice.

‘Wonder’-ful Voice Stevie Wonder was born on May 3, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan and was named Stevland Hardaway Judkins. He was six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disorder which was exacerbated when he received too much oxygen in an incubator, leading to his blindness.

Despite his vision impairment, he showed an interest for music at an early age; first with a church choir in Detroit, Michigan and later with a range of instruments, including harmonica, piano and drums, all of which he taught himself before age 10 and he was thus known as a child prodigy.

At the age of 11, he signed with Berry Gordy Jr. and newly renamed Little Stevie Wonder was able to release his debut The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder, an instrumental album which showed off the youngster’s amazing musicianship. He continued his “Wonders” by going on to study classical piano and he also pushed himself to improve his musicianship and song writing capabilities.

The Celebrated Decades

der has regularly tackled social problems through his music and appearances. He successfully led a movement to create a national holiday recognizing the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Wonder had also dedicated his Oscar win to anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Mandela and had performed on the No. 1 charity singles "We Are the World," to raise money for famine relief in Africa, and "That's What Friends Are For," with Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

Due to his innate talent and also his deep commitment to his passion, Wonder experienced his growth as his voice matured into a shining tenor. Wonder created some of the most indelible songs in popular music history: No. 1 hits; the jaunty funk jam “superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” a smile-inducing ode to love and the massive No. 1 pop single "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Like so much of Wonder's work, the song appealed to a wide audience.

During his journey he displayed panoply of genres fusion together which covered everything from ethnic diversity in the U.S., Utopian communities to vengeful relationships and transcendent love and beauty.

Dedication to Social Work (PWDs, AIDS, Famine, Racism…)

In addition to his acclaimed artistry, Won-

Wonder has also been a long-time advocate for improving services for the blind and those with disabilities. In connection with the International Day of Persons With Disabilities, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009. In June 2013, Wonder continued his support work when he announced he would keep his promise to perform a concert in Marrakesh for negotiators from the World Intellectual Property Organization when they agreed on an international treaty providing blind and visually impaired individuals around the world with more access to books.

Awards Despite his disability, Wonder was very often awarded for his dedication and passion; he won an Academy Award for original song in 1985 and in 1999 he was bestowed as MusiCares Person of the Year by the

GRAMMY Awards committee and some of his other awards include: • Lifetime Achievement Award by Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2002) • Hall of Fame Award by National Assn. for the Advancement of Coloured People (2009) • AAPD Image Award by The American Association of People with Disabilities (2010) • Musical Arts Award by BET Honours (2012) • A Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama (2014) • Honorary Degree by Yale University (2017) Wonder is a message to a whole lot of people in the world; there are few like him who is dedicated to a passionate career but also fighting for other people with disabilities to gain opportunities to develop their talent. Being a pianist, a successful singer, a composer, a multi-instrumentalist, lyricist, and also an actor and a film producer; hence, showing us that having any type of disability is not the end of everything, it is actually a new beginning and people differently-able should grab the opportunities and make their dreams come true. .

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INSPIRATION

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JAYA CHEKORI: THE YOUNG GIRL WITH INVALUABLE PASSION We had the pleasure to meet a bundle of passion on Saturday 24th of June during the medical conference. Jaya Chekori was there with her parents to attend the ceremony but also to promote her business and sell her products.

Jaya is a young girl with a physical impairment and it’s been already four years since Jaya started her business and now at the age of 20, she is the owner of a budding business; she crafts her own chains, bracelets and is coming up with new ideas for expansion of her business. Two members of the GRF staffs, J. Ramasamy and N. Modunasaib, had the pleasure and opportunity to interview her.

How did you come across the Global Rainbow Foundation?

I got the number of Mr A. Parsuramen through a friend, and then I contacted him and went to meet him at GRF’s Office in Port-Louis. Afterwards, he gifted me the motorised wheelchair and since then I am in contact with him and the foundation.

What was your school Life like?

I was not able to adapt myself with the students; it was one of the reasons which forced me to leave school. They have a negative mentality whereby, once they saw me or anyone in a wheelchair, they start to criticise the person and I also heard hurtful words about being on wheelchair. It didn’t affect me to a breaking point but still words are like swords, no matter what.

Despite the literacy level being high in Mauritius, it seems like people are lacking more and more manners and tact in their behaviour and attitude towards a person with disability.

Since when did you develop that passion to start crafting and how?

I was operated at the age of 7 as my hip got dislocated and they had to put surgical screw in it which forced me to stay on bed till my recovery.

I was sent to Reunion Island for my treatment, and I had a friend there who gave me plastic beads.

I began to craft small stuffs first and I saw that some of my designs were actually beautiful and

thus I started to share them with my friends, cousins. And I noticed that they appreciated my crafts and hence came the idea of opening my own crafting business.

As I had to stop school at a young age, I told myself, it was best to open my own business.

It was the best thing for me because, nowadays, there are some parents who force their children to do something that they can’t or don’t like to do.

However, no matter how much they are forced to, they won’t like it or do it because they don’t have the passion for that.

Moreover I thought it was preferable to do something for myself instead of continuing in the educational field where I couldn’t cope with and thus I gave free reign to my passion/hobby.

Most importantly, my parents were by my side when I decided to open my business, and they still are supporting me; this gives me the courage to pursue my dream.

Tell us more about your business It is running quite smoothly but mostly on special occasions, festivals etc. If a client needs a necklace, she will most probably order it for a special occasion; hence that is when they come to place their order The business consists of crafting fancy jewellery, writing wishes and Quotes on plates and wedding glass flutes, Wood carving but we are waiting for the machine, we also inscribe on glass like shields but we have to get more practice to draw on glass sheets with that machine since it is new to us. We have also just created the New Telescopic Medical Mirror for diabetic people which are for sale at our shop.

You created the New Telescopic Medical Mirror for diabetic people, how did you get this idea?

There was a man with diabetes who came to me with a mirror, and he told me that he needed a mirror for daily foot care because he cannot bend down to examine his feet himself. And I told him that I will try to come up with something if I can. I discussed it with my father about developing a mirror for people with diabetes. As you know, a lot of Mauritians are getting diabetes nowadays, and hence this mirror will be a kind prevention for them but also a way to help those who already ill as it can help in protecting their feet.

Everyone should be made aware of such a mirror in order to help those in need of it.

We also know that you are an Ambassador for the Global Rainbow Foundation. Tell us more about your role as an Ambassador.

My role as Ambassador is that I can give the children with disabilities some courses on crafting because there are some children with disabilities whose parents keep them at home without any particular reason. Being an Ambassador, my role is also to motivate them to develop a passion be it in craft-

ing or in other ways.

Do you have any future projects?

For the time being, I want to continue with this business, and we have other projects that are coming in the future to expand the business. For example we are now making jewellery box with sorbet stick, which is new on the market.

We are created one classifier that we are making with wood plank which can be put on office table where one can put pens, block note, and business card and can also write your names on it.

What are your Hobbies?

First and foremost, I like the Social Network; FB. I also like to watch TV a lot and I practice sports most specifically playing badminton on wheelchair.

Do you have any message for the population or youngsters with disabilities?

My message to the parents is that they shouldn’t keep their child from the outside world because when the moment arrives for them to face the real world; they won’t be able to cope with the reality because it will frighten them. They will always remain attach to their parents without making friends or new acquaintances.

There are some friends that I know who stay at home only, because their parents won’t let them out of the house; that’s a mentality which we have to change. Let your children out of the house, and let them experience reality so that when the time comes, you know that they will be able to handle themselves on their own. Give them that freedom and that trust to let them out of the house and to do what they want to do.

The most important step is for the parents to take; they have to let their children out of the house into the world, to see the real world and let them experience it at their own pace. If not, even if the child has a dream or a desire, he wouldn’t be able to achieve it because without their support that child won’t be able to realise his dreams.

The biggest courage in a child’s life is the parents; if the parents are by his side supporting him then he will be able to achieve major goals in his life despite being disabled.

I am extremely thankful to my parents to have given me the opportunity to pursue my desires and supported me so far in my journey.

Disability is not a curse; we should develop always help people with disabilities to aspire the ability from it. We have to support those talents come out of the shadows; especially parents should encourage their children no matter with what disability, they are kids with passion, with desires, with dreams, let them be differently-abled and let them develop their potential. By extending a helping hand to Jaya Chekori, GRF has boosted her up to pursue her dreams and to open up a budding business which she is passionate about.

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ENABLE EDITION 7 - October 2017

LEISURE

LEISURE AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Since the time of civilization, every person tries to do activities during their free time irrespective of their social background.

What an individual does for relaxation is leisure. Various forms of leisure in primitive time were drama or play, jumping rope, cards, musical chair, singing, tennis, badminton, football and many more. As we say practice makes perfect and this has led leisure to evolve into a sport or competition. It gives us the opportunity to know ourselves and develop our talents. Leisure and sports are readily accessible to everyone; is it also the case for persons with disabilities (pwds); or should pwds have access to adapted leisure and sports which is adapted to their type of disabilities?

Yes, PWDS have the right to access to leisure and sports which is adapted to their specific disabilities. Since the Olympics games does not favour the participation of athletes with disabilities; an international sports competition which takes into account their special needs known as Paralympics has been introduced in 1960. Paralympic games are opened to persons with all types of disabilities including visual impairment, physical impairment, hearing impairment ant intellectual impairment. As compared to the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games, where persons on wheelchair were limited only to practice archery, Paralympics game also allows pwds to practice all the disciplines as in the Olympics. In 2001, it has been decided that the Paralympics game will take place in the same venue as the Olympic Games. In addition, in 2016, it has been established that there would be two editions of the Paralympic game, namely the first one in summer and the second one in winter.

Mauritius made its debut to the Paralympics game in 1996 with two representatives. After an

absence of eight years, it made a comeback in 2004 and 2008 respectively. Mauritius has never participated in the Winter Paralympics, and its athletes have never won a Paralympic medal.

In 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a camp called Camp Shriver for children with intellectual disabilities in her hometown as sports were not

to regional cooperation, build friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the islands of the Indian Ocean. Its flag is light blue with its logo, which consists of white and grey letters of Games name abbreviation, and four interlaced rings coloured red and green placed over the letters. In 2003, Mauritius hosted the Indian

accessible for them. The objective of Special Olympics was to explore the children's skills in different sports and physical activities and it started in 1968 in Chicago. It gained its recognition in 1988 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2004 President George W. Bush signed into law the ‘’Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act’’ which eased the athletes. People with intellectual disabilities are encouraged to join Special Olympics for the physical activity through which they gain self-confidence, building greater athletic skills and higher self-esteem. Athletes, who are eight years old and above are eligible for the Special Olympics competition.

Ocean Islands Games in which six countries participated where our island earned 183 medals (56 gold, 75 silver and 52 bronze) In 2007 Mauritius won a total of 173 medals (35 gold, 55 silver and 83 bronze) which was held in Madagascar. In 2011, Mauritius had sent a delegation of 350 athletes and officials to the eighth edition of the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Seychelles. A segment reserved for athletes with disabilities is also scheduled during the 10-day's IOIG and Mauritius was in competition for athletics and swimming. In Reunion at the 9th Indian Ocean Island Games, Mauritius won a total of 185 medals (66 gold, 49 silver, 70 bronze). In 2015, Cedric Ravet won a gold medal for the sport on wheelchair in the male category, Brandy Perrine aged 17 years made her debut and both represented Mauritius.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) arti-

The Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) is a sportive event which is held every four years with athletes from Indian Ocean.

It became official in 1979 and was organised in Reunion Island.

Its objectives are: to contribute

cle 30 states the following concerning the access to sports for Persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities must have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential. The state has the duty to ensure that the laws of protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials. In comparison to the UNCRPD and Equal Opportunity Act 2008 (EOA), EOA section 24 states that no person shall discriminate against another person; firstly arrangements are to be made for the purpose of determining who are the participants, the determinants of who should be authorised to participate and the terms or conditions on which participation in a sports activity is allowed. Furthermore, a person may exclude people of a particular sex from participating in a competitive sporting activity in which the strength, stamina or physique of competitors is relevant. A person may restrict participation in a competitive sporting activity depending on the following criteria: to people who can effectively compete, age or age group and on the general or particular impairment.

The points in the UNCRPD and EOA emphasises that every person is allowed to participate in any sports of their liking depending on the requirements.

People with Disabilities should be encouraged to practice a sport activity which can then be turned into a leisure activity and thus they can participate in diverse competition and become autonomous.

By RAMCHURN Kirti Devi BSc (Hons) Finance & Accounting,Administration & Finance Officer,

Global Rainbow Foundation.

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MUSIC THERAPY

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UNLOCKING THE VOICE WITHIN The World Music Day was celebrated on the 21st of June and due to this we will look at how music therapy can help people with disabilities.

tening to music may facilitate relaxation.

Music therapy can increase an individual’s level of independence, and develop feelings of self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem. Through participation in successful and enjoyable experiences, music therapy can assist these individuals in reaching their fullest potential.

Benefits of music therapy for people with physical disabilities: Reinforce and provide motivation for physical exercise The use of music in therapy provides a positive and pleasurable atmosphere for persons with physical disabilities to experience achievement. Carefully chosen background music can enhance regular physical exercise.

fidence and self-esteem can be enhanced.

This may involve adapting instruments or songs to make them more accessible and to ensure that the musical experience can be successful while continuing to provide challenges to the individual. Music therapy can help these individuals to develop positive attitudes toward their disabilities and provide opportunities for personal growth.

Develop functional speech and communication abilities singing and speech have many commonalities. The vocal exercises and singing can help to improve the speech level of a person with cognitive impairment.

Music has also been effective as a stimulus to promote spontaneous speech with physically challenged children.

Music therapy is a way to help people with special needs; it can be practised by people of all ages and it may play an important role in developing, maintaining and/or restoring physical functioning.

Sometimes people with disabilities find it hard to express themselves and to efficiently communicate with others hence, this can make them lose their whole sense of identity. That is where music therapy can help; through this the person can share their thoughts, ideas, feelings and inner emotions which can thus enhance their physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills.

Music can be the medium through which people with special needs can learn how to fully express themselves, with or without speaking, interact and communicate in a safe and creative space.

How to music for People with Disabilities Through music and dance routines, movements may become more controlled, fluid and purposeful. Background music or live music may be used; which can increase flexibility and adaptability to match and guide physical movements elicited by the client. Musical instruments may be used to work on range of motion, hand grasp strength, and non-verbal self-expression.

These instruments are often adapted to fit the specific physical capabilities of each client. The use of computer-aided and electronic musical equipment also allows severely physically disabled clients to reach their fullest creative potential. For some clients, lis-

Music can help provide distraction and diversion from exercises that may be difficult for the individual, provide motivation to maintain participation and make a regular exercise routine seem less tedious.

Foster independence, self-confidenceand self-esteem as physical abilities improve, and persons have increased opportunities to practice and acquire new skills and abilities, independence can be fostered and self-con-

Motivate interaction with others Persons with physical disabilities may encounter decreased opportunities and motivation for social interaction. Hence, music therapy can provide opportunities to interact with peers through a shared experience and cooperate together to achieve a common aim. Group music therapy sessions can also provide opportunities to share personal experiences with others and provide a means and an outlet for appropriate self-expression.

Hence, music therapy, if rightly planned and executed can be very valuable for people with different disabilities as it will help them to relax, to share a common leisure activity with others, to improve their abilities and boost up their self-confidence but also to develop and maintain new relationships with others.

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INTER AFRIQUE

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ENABLE EDITION 7- October 2017

COUNTRIES/ CITIES THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOWADAYS, MANY COUNTRIES AND CITIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS THEY ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A NORMAL LIFE. MANY GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW ADOPTING THE SDGS GOALS TO FACILITATE THE DAILY LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AMMAN, JORDAN

MALAWI, SOUTH AFRICA

Amman, capital of Jordan, is aiming at broadening the definition of disability in their country; the law is estimated to be the “most advanced” in the region, and is expected to realise a “quantum leap” in the way the country handles the issues facing people with disabilities.

The previous law considered only the “pure medical aspect of disability, without much notice to the physical and behavioural barriers.”However, with the new coming law, people with disabilities in the country will these experience changes:

- They will be given the right to decide for themselves after receiving enough information about the consequence of each of their decisions.

- People with disabilities will also be given “disability IDs” that will function as a “gatekeeper”to access all services granted to them instead of having to apply each time for exemptions and privileges.

Fawaz Ratrout, Social Development Ministry Spokesperson, praised this law as a new approach“to address the different needs of people with disabilities and help integrate them into the society.”

GHANA, AFRICA

THE GOVERNMENT IN GHANA HAS INTENSIFIED PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS AND PREJUDICES ABOUT DISABILITY.

Participants, from all around the world, participated in the 10th session of the Conference of the State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York which was set to promote the rights and advancement of persons with disabilities. Ms Djaba, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in Ghana, addressed the impact of multiple discriminations on people with

disabilities and ways to promote their participation in the society. She said that “we must collectively work harder to celebrate their abilities, for disability is not inability.”

Under the Affirmation Action Bill, she claimed that “all new government and public buildings are to be built in such a way that will make it easy for people with disabilities to easily gain access to them.”

The Minister also revealed that the current allocation of the national revenue has been increased to 3% in order to provide easier access to education, healthcare and assistive devices for the people with disabilities.Moreover, the Ghana Government decided to develop a mechanism to monitor the disbursement of the (LEAP) funds in order to ensure that the resources required get to the right people.

Measures, such as ramps and lifts in public institutions, reading materials with the help of the Braille system, have to be taken for the benefits of the people with disabilities.

Musa Chiwaula, the Director General of SAFOD (Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled) claimed that they have come up with a project that will help to reduce the hurdles that people with disabilities, in South Africa, face in regards with accessing AT (Assistive Technology).

They are estimating that 85% - 95% of people with disabilities don’t have access to AT and thus they are deprived from their basic human rights such as access to education, healthcare, employment, information and communication amongst others.

It was also noted that ATs can enhance the functionality of people with disabilities within the workplace and that without ATs most of the people with disabilities would find it difficult to fully access the job market.

Hence, their project will help to achieve a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and as Chiwaula mentioned “they are the new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators that the UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies.”

Goal Number 10 of the SDG emphasizes on the “social, economic and political inclusion of persons with disabilities” which can be more feasible with the use of ATs within the workplace.

Chiwaula, who is himself a person with disability, accentuated on the fact that they “are not looking to make any profit whatsoever”, they just want to get the necessary help in order to provide ATs for people with disabilities.

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ENABLE EDITION 7- October 2017

JANE CONSTANCE RISE OF A MUSICAL PARADIGM TO UNESCO ARTIST FOR PEACE “I sing the colours of the sea. I sing the forest…though I cannot see them. My joy lies in the singing of the birds and the applause of my audiences. My inability to see has been compensated for by perfect pitch. I plan to become a lawyer to defend the rights of all people with disabilities”.

Jane Constance - the internationally-acclaimed singing star who is going to hoist the Mauritian flag with much pride on an international platform as UNESCO is a bright rising and shining star in the musical world. Indeed, we are talking about the one who not only penned songs touching the hearts of millions of people but who is also the voice and inspiration of many Persons with disabilities, being visually-impaired herself. An artist is one who uses his/her talent to bring together people and one who envisions a world where everyone is equal by sharing messages of peace, love, harmony and unity. Jane Constance is one of many such artists who foresee through her songs to enact on measures and amendments for better inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the mainstream society.

The unequivocal singing talent of Jane Constance, winner of Voice Kids 2015 perfectly holds true the description of Ben Carson that “every person is endowed with God-given abilities, and we must cultivate every ounce of talent we have in order to maintain our pinnacle position in the world”.

On 26th September, the seventeen-year old Mauritian will be acclaimed as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

The journey of Jane Constance with Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF) dates of 2012 when the Founder-President of the organization, Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen, GOSK, met Jane at the Inauguration of the SICOM Foundation and was amazed by her singing talents. For a brief, the Global Rainbow Foundation is a Charitable Trust, which provides support and opportunities to persons with disabilities for holistic human development so that they can lead a rewarding life with dignity and respect in the local and global community. It encourages social inclusion instead of considering ‘disability’ as a stand-alone thematic issue. Who could be a better advocate for the rights of Persons with disabilities than Ms. Constance who firmly supports the mission statement of GRF that a person’s disability should not limit his/her abilities. Being visually-impaired since birth, Jane Constance believes to be lucky for she reinforces herself with every challenge she overcomes. The nomination of Jane as UNESCO Artist for Peace is not another success story feather in the cap of Global Rainbow Foundation but is the paragon of talent among the community of Persons with Disability.

The Global Rainbow Foundation accompanied the “Angel” of GRF in her journey to the pinnacle of success at UNESCO since the day the Founder-President of GRF was persuaded with her convictions to make a difference in the life of other Persons with Disabilities with her singing talent to show that disability cannot be an obstacle. Jane Constance’s performance at the UNESCO Headquarters only upheld the convictions that Mr. Parsuramen had of his “Angel” for as the Ambassador of GRF; her missions were in conformity with the mission and ideals of UNESCO and she was not at all hesitant to endorse the same in a special song dedicated for the occasion.

Her remarkable victory at The Voice Kids 2 in Paris was the real turning point in her musical career which enabled her to rise and hold a rank among the finest artists on an international platform. The Global Rainbow Foundation continued to accompany her both at her educational and professional level along the line. With the same feeling of pride like every Mauritian, upon Jane’s return to Mauritius after winning the Voice Kids 2 on 26th October 2015, the FounderPresident of Global Rainbow Foundation, Mr. Parsuramen sent a Recommendation Letter to the then Prime Minister of Mauritius to nominate Jane Constance as UNESCO Artist for Peace on the very same day. As for Mr. Parsuramen and millions of Mauritians, it was a matter of great pride to welcome a Mauritian who through her performances, charisma and inner strength had brought pride, honour and glory to Mauritius.

On 6th February 2017, the initiative of the Global Rainbow Foundation in favour of nominating Jane Constance as UNESCO Artist for Peace was successful when UNESCO received a letter of nomination from the Government of Mauritius. It is with similar feeling of pride that on 26th September 2017, Ms. Constance will be officially nominated as Artist for Peace at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

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MS. JANE CONSTANCE’S JOURNEY AS GRF AMBASSADOR Below are a few landmark events of Jane Constance journey as Ambassador of the Global Rainbow Foundation towards her ascension as UNESCO Artist for Peace: • 2012 - First meeting with Jane Constance: Inauguration of SICOM Foundation.

• 2013 – Nominated as GRF’s Ambassador of Children with Disabilities for her firm engagement for the rights of children with disabilities.

• 5th April 2014 – Jane Constance Live: A fundraising event to empower persons with visual impairment at Conservatoire National de Musique Francois-Mitterrand, Quatre Bornes.

• 12-17th November 2014 – Sambhav 2014: showcasing artistic talent of the specially abled persons for inclusive growth in New Delhi [initiative in collaboration with the Indian Government and participation of Jane as Ambassador of GRF].

• 3rd December 2014 – 1st concert at UNESCO Headquarters. [Initiative of GRF in collaboration with UNESCO Paris and the Mauritius Embassy in Paris for a concert of the first Mauritian to perform on a international platform like UNESCO on the International Day for Persons with Disabilities].

• 25th October 2015 - Winner of The Voice Kids season 2.

• 26th October 2015 – Recommendation Letter sent to the then Prime Minister by Global Rainbow Foundation to nominate Jane Constance as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

• 25th November 2016 – Jane Constance: launch of 1st album ‘A travers tes yeux’ inspired from her challenges she overcame as a visually-impaired person.

• 16th February 2016 – Global Rainbow Foundation sent a reminder of the previous Recommendation Letter to the then Prime Minister to nominate Jane Constance as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

• 6th February 2017 – The Government of Mauritius sent out the letter of candidacy of Jane as UNESCO Artist for Peace to Her Excellency, Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. • 23rd March 2017 –Nomination of Jane Constance as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

• 26th September 2017 – Official ceremony

THANK YOU NOTE TO UNESCO On behalf of the whole population of Mauritius, the Global Rainbow Foundation expresses its heartfelt gratitude for accepting the candidacy of Jane Constance as Artist for Peace. It would be most appropriate to seize the present opportunity to particularly thank two (2) important persons who made this endeavor possible, namely Her Excellency, Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations (UNESCO) and Mr. Eric Falt, Assistant Director-General and External Relations and Public Information of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations (UNESCO). Mauritius is deeply honoured by the nomination of Jane Constance as Artist for Peace. As GRF Ambassador for children with disabilities and in line with the mission of UNESCO, it is expected that Jane Constance will fulfill her duties of advocating and raising awareness on the rights of Persons with disabilities with flying colors.

MISSION STATEMENT OF MS. CONSTANCE As an organization whose mission and vision is to empower Persons with Disabilities, the Global Rainbow Foundation aims to continue accompanying Jane to raise awareness on the rights of Persons with Disabilities; on their right to life without discrimination and education among others which are in line with the universal mission and ideals of UNESCO. As Ambassador of the Global Rainbow Foundation, Jane can always count on the unfailing support of the organization in her mission to encourage social inclusion instead of considering ‘disability’ as a stand-alone thematic issue. The experience of the organization with respect to working at grass root level with Persons with Disabilities has enabled to witness the barriers faced by students with disabilities and especially of students with visual impairment. Duties of agencies such as UNESCO towards students with disabilities does not limit itself to providing them with material support but extends to ensuring that their right to access to inclusive education which is guaranteed to them at article 24 of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, which UNESCO supports, being one of the United Nations agencies) is respected.

The whole team at the Global Rainbow Foundation wishes Jane Constance all the best in her future endeavors. On an ending note, it’ll be proper to quote John Maxwell in the present event.

“Success is…knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.” – John Maxwell

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IRINA BOKOVA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNESCO ON THE OCCASION OF THE DESIGNATION OF MS JANE CONSTANCE AS A UNESCO ARTIST FOR PEACE UNESCO Dear Jane Constance, I am honoured to welcome you all to UNESCO for the designation of Jane Constance as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Jane’s talent and unique voice are appreciated and admired… not only in her native Mauritius but also far beyond its borders, including here at UNESCO… While preparing for this evening, I received many messages of congratulations, sympathy and interest, for we have many fans here at UNESCO, who are proud to include Jane Constance as a new Member of the UNESCO family… I know there are here tonight – please make some noise!

For millions of people around the world, Jane, you are recognized as a virtuoso of song, and as a vibrant advocate for hope.

Just ten days ago, you celebrated your 17th birthday, and I am pleased to announce that Jane Constance is the youngest artist to join the list of UNESCO Artists for Peace.

Dear Jane, despite your age, you have achieved many dreams.

In 2015, you gained fame from success on the prestigious French television show The Voice of Kids.

Last year, you presented your first music video, and released your first album, entitled Through Your Eyes.

You are the first visually impaired Mauritian ever to have studied piano and singing at the Royal School of Music in London.

You are an inspiration to us all… and I know you will share this inspiration in your new role as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Chère Jane, Vous avez choisi d’apporter votre soutien aux personnes handicapées, par des actions qui sont au coeur du mandat de notre Organisation : la culture, la musique, la sensibilisation du public.

Albert Einstein disait qu’il est « plus facile de briser un atome que de briser un préjugé. » C’est vrai.

Mais nous pensons, à l’UNESCO, qu’à travers la culture, à travers l’art et la mise en valeur de rôles-modèles, de figures positives dans

lesquelles les jeunes peuvent se reconnaître, nous pouvons changer les mentalités, combattre les stéréotypes.

Beethoven était sourd, Stevie Wonder et Ray Charles aveugles, Django Reinhardt jouait de la guitare avec trois doigts seulement, Frida Kahlo souffrait de poliomyélite…

Se focaliser sur leur handicap, c’est passer à côté de l’essentiel.

Le handicap ne définit pas qui nous sommes, c’est à nous de choisir la place que nous lui donnons.

Je me souviens que vous êtes venue à l’UNESCO, en 2014 lors d’un concert donné pour la Journée internationale des personnes handicapées.

Je me souviens de l’impact énorme de votre concert – et de la prise de conscience que le handicap n’est pas un obstacle, bien au contraire : il faut donner sa chance au talent d’où qu’il vienne.

Par votre travail, par votre énergie communicative, vous donnez à beaucoup d’autres la confiance d’entreprendre et de se lancer.

Cette confiance est le moteur de tout le reste, et nous voulons avec vous justement mettre en avant les réussites, les espoirs, les exemples et soutenir toutes les personnes, quel que soit leur handicap, à jouir pleinement de toutes les libertés fondamentales, comme le droit à l’éducation y compris à l’éducation artistique.

En partenariat avec la Fondation Global Rainbow, présidée par notre ami Armoogum Parsuramen, vous soutenez la mise en oeuvre de projets de défense des droits des personnes handicapées à l’Ile Maurice, au Sénégal, ou encore en Inde.

Je sais que vous êtes une passionnée des nouvelles technologies, des nouveaux outils qui nous aident, et peuvent aider des millions de gens, à découvrir le monde, à gagner en autonomie.

Les progrès dans ce domaine sont fantastiques, pour promouvoir l’éducation, la culture, la science, et très souvent ces technologies, lorsqu’elles sont mises au service des personnes handicapées, représentent un progrès et un accélérateur d’innovation pour tous.

L’UNESCO est à vos côtés dans ce combat.

Mais j’ai déjà trop parlé, tout le monde est ici pour vous écouter, et je vous remercie d’avance pour le « concert privé » que vous allez nous offrir, pour le plus grand plaisir de tous les fans présents ce soir, dont je fais partie, aussi je ne veux pas différer davantage le moment de vous nommer officiellement, chère Jane, notre nouvel Artiste de l’UNESCO pour la paix.

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