Pacific Disability Forum

3. Update from Tuvalu

Fusi Alofa Association of Tuvalu is proud to announce that its new office will be opened on 1 march 2010 to serve persons with disabilities in Tuvalu the office will also provide support to parents and care givers.

FA Tuvalu President Mine Pilokosi said that the committee is grateful to PDF which has provided funding for rent, stationeries, utilities, computer and the salary for an office manager. This support is very timely as FAAT prepares for its one year establishment celebration on 15 may 2010.

PDF has been able to support FA Tuvalu through the AusAID initial Capacity building project for DPO’s in the pacific. The PDF program officer Angie was in Tuvalu from 18 – 25 February to provide office setup support (Attached is a photo of Angeline Chand in the new FAA Tuvalu Office handing over their office laptop to Mine Pilikosi and Matakina Simii)

Don't pity, let them live life

(Fiji Times Online - Thursday, February 25, 2010)

PARENTS of children living with any form of disability must not pity their children, but instead treat them as they would other children.

These are the words of Shabina Prasad whose 13-year-old daughter Rachel has a hearing impairment but attends Gospel Primary School, competing academically against children without any form of disability.

"Although it broke my heart when I saw that my daughter had no ears when she was born on Sunday September 22, 1996, I had to challenge myself that I will make sure Rachel lives a normal life despite that," Ms Prasad said.

"Today, Rachel goes to a normal school among some 900 students, goes to the movies and enjoys social life. She is a normal girl and having hearing impairment doesn't mean she cannot enjoy a normal life like everyone else," she said.

Ms Prasad worked for eight years at the Gospel School for the Deaf in Vatuwaqa and noted parents were sometimes embarrassed because of their child's disability.

"That should not be the case, parents must not pity their children who are living with disabilities but they should be encouraged to live a normal life and be free from the stigma that continues to exist in Fiji," she said.

Clinic for the deaf

(Fiji Times Online - Monday, February 22, 2010)

THE Carabez Alliance has set up an independently-run clinic that expands audio logical services to all deaf children in Fiji.

The Carabez Clinic will be opened tomorrow at Suva's Bayly Clinic by Dr Neil Sharma.

Carabez Alliance founder Bronwyn Carabez said they have been serving the needs of deaf children in Fiji since 2005 and were previously based at the Gospel School for the Deaf.

"The children in the Carabez program receive free of charge hearing aids and ongoing audio logical care," she said in a statement.

"It soon became apparent that the needs of deaf children from around Fiji could be better served from an independent clinic.

"This is a first not only for Fiji but also the Pacific Islands."

She said the clinic would continue to provide free hearing aids and audio logical care.

Cochlear implantation services are expected to become part of the clinic in 2011.

"This program is designed in such a way that deaf children will now be appropriately aided through the services of an early intervention program this year," she said.

"One of the aims is to fully integrate these children with their local peers through their inclusion in local schools.

"We welcome all children. The services are free and its world standard."

Ms Carabez founded the alliance with her husband, Jeff, after their daughter Virginia was diagnosed as being moderate-severely deaf when she was three.

She said funding came from Hear the World Foundation.

Disabled people unaware of rights

(Source: Fiji times Online - Serafina Silaitoga
Monday, February 22, 2010)

MOST disabled people in Bua and Macuata are not aware of their rights as citizens including their rights to access government services.

In a bid to increase awareness of such services and rights of people living with disabilities, a Fiji Disabled People's Association team is visiting the North.

Association president Akuila Rewatabua said they were compiling statistics on the number of disabled people in Cakaudrove. Bua and Macuata.

"We have discovered the majority of those who attended our workshops are not aware and it is a concern," Mr Rewatabua said.

"After disabled people were recognised by The National Initiative and Civil Education, we were given the task of educating our people.

"A good response has been received in the two provinces and we will be in Cakaudrove this week including Taveuni to continue with our workshop."
Mr Rewatabua said the members have started enquiring about how to access financial help from government bodies like Social Welfare.

Paralympic sets up event

(Fiji Times Online - Monday, February 22, 2010)

A good response has been received by the Fiji Paralympic committee organising a major sport event for people living with disabilities in the Northern Division.

Sporting ambassadors Linda Panapasa and Iliesa Delana, who are visiting the people in the north, said a lot of people with disabilities in villages have submitted their names to take part in the games that would most probably be held at Labasa's Subraila Park.

Panapasa said most were not aware of the sporting body and the July event would give them opportunities to show off their hidden talent. She added that most expressed interest of developing their sporting talent to represent the nation.

Panapasa and Delana are expected to visit about 20 villages in the three provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata. Last week, the committee's sports development officer Saimoni Nainoca was in the division holding discussion with government officials about the proposed event. Nainoca had said that the only people involved in sporting activities in the north over past years were the two special schools of Labasa and Savusavu.

"This bigger sporting event will involve people with disabilities living in rural areas that have not been part of the activities and will expose their hidden talent.

"We want to give them opportunities to take part in activities such as sports and other activities in the community

"These people with disabilities living in villages have always been forgotten so getting them to be part of big sporting events will also open their eyes to other activities available that they can be a part of," Nainoca said. He said the meetings with government officials in Labasa and Savusavu this week had been successful.

"I have received positive response and we plan to have our first big event in July this year where the provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata will be involved."

Special school for Bua

(Fiji Times Online - Monday, February 22, 2010)

DISABLED people in Bua have not received formal education because the province has never had a special school.

This was revealed by the newly-formed association for disabled people in Bua - the Cakaunitabua Disabled Association.

President Jovesa Nawaqavolau said it was sad that past political leaders did not consider their education important.

That need has developed into a plan for the province to have its own special school with the Fiji Disabled People's Association at the helm.

"In the North, only the provinces of Cakaudrove and Macuata have special schools in Labasa and Savusavu but no school for Bua," Mr Nawaqavolau said.

He said parents have not been able to afford educational fees and other expenses for their disabled children to study in Viti Levu or even to Labasa.

"There are other factors like accommodation. Most students will live with relatives which is not easy because we don't know how they will be treated by people in the new neighborhood," he said.

"So having their own school will help change the lives of many.

Fiji Disabled People's Association president Akuila Rewatabua said they met government officials in Bua and the association would draw up a proposal for the authorities, including the Education Ministry.

You whisper, I hear
(Fiji Times Online - Monday, Thursday, February 25, 2010)

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