Pacific Disability Forum
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News Title:
PDF Weekly Update 21 May 2010
Date Published:
21 May 2010
PDF Weekly Update
21st May, 2010
Greetings from the Pacific Disability Forum.
In the news this week, we have updates from Australia, the Cook Islands, the Fiji Islands and Vanuatu.
1. Youngest parliamentarian elected to South Australia (SA)
(Source: Adelaidenow.com - http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/youngest-parliamentarian-elected-to-sa/story)
Dignity for Disability's (D4D) Kelly Vincent, who is aged 21 years and 186 days, has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound, won the last seat in SA's March 20 election in the upper house.
Not only is she the youngest but she is also believed to be the only the second wheelchair-bound person elected, after former federal MP Graham Edwards whose legs were amputated after treading on land mines in the Vietnam war.
Ms Vincent was second on D4D's list but won the seat after top candidate 46-year-old Paul Collier died during the campaign after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
Dr Collier became a public advocate for the disabled after being made a quadriplegic in a road accident on the way to his 21st birthday party.
When her victory was confirmed at the SA Electoral Commission on Thursday, Ms Vincent did not hold back the tears and paid homage to Dr Collier.
"My biggest thank you is to D4D's late president Dr Paul Collier," she said through tears after the win.
"His vision, intelligence and hard work have paved the way for the journey the disability sector is now undertaking.
"It is essentially because of Paul, and his encouragement, that I am here today."
She said the election of a person with a disability and the changes made to accommodate them, were steps towards a more inclusive state.
There were some worries about parliamentary access for her wheelchair but Ms Vincent said it was not as unwelcoming as people thought and adjustments were already being made for her.
Adelaide University's head of politics, Clem Macintyre, told AAP the win was a sign the voters wanted better support for those with disabilities.
"Kelly Vincent is the youngest parliamentarian in living memory," Dr Macintyre said.
"The parliament is going to have to make some changes to accommodate her.
"Seeing her going in and out of the building and the chamber on TV is going to bring to the fore the problems that people in equivalent positions frequently encounter."
Although she got less than two per cent of the vote, other parties’ preferences was the D4D Party.
The Labor Party's Paul Holloway said the changes to Legislative Council voting made in the 1970s, making it proportional representation, gave minority groups a voice.
The Liberal's David Ridgeway gave special recognition to Ms Vincent describing the election as "landmark".
Greens candidate Tammy Jennings, who joins fellow Green Mark Parnell in the upper house, said the election of three new females to the chamber was good news.
She said the Greens had increased its vote in every election since 1997 and was the only party to do so.
Family First Party's Robert Brokenshire said the election of Ms Vincent was a message to the government to prioritise money spent on disability services.
2. Disability training workshop held in Cook the Islands
(Source: Cook Island News Online – 8th May 2010)
A three day training workshop was held recently to educate people with disabilities on their rights.
The training program was held on Rarotonga from April 21 to 23 and was organised by Cook Islands national disability program coordinator Debbie Ave.
Twelve local people with different disabilities learnt about their rights as a disabled person.
Ave said that the training program had been a very productive one for all involved.
She said that work began during the conference to promote a locally based disabled persons organisations.
The one off training program was sponsored by AusAID, is facilitated by Australian Human Rights Commission, Pacific Disability Forum, Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and UNESCAP and will be held in other Pacific countries including the Fiji islands, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.
Ave would like more of the people with disabilities who took part in the training program to be part of the Cook Islands National Disability Council to advocate on the behalf of other disabled people in their communities.
Ave would like to thank Marjorie Boaza who translated English to Maori and John Paul Lyndsey who translated English to sign language during the workshop.
3. $0.5 Million new multi-purpose centre for Persons with Disabilities in the North
(Source: Fiji Sun Newspaper E News – 14th May 2010)
A $500,000 new multi-purpose centre for Persons with Disabilities in the Northern Division has been established.
The foundation laying ceremony, officiated by the Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni in Labasa yesterday, marked a historic occasion for the PWDs community.
The new centre for Persons with Disabilities is going to be completed in two stages; the first stage costing $300,000 which is to be completed before the end of the year.
Work on the $200,000 second stage will start when funds are made available.
Dr Luveni said at the completion of the first stage, the centre would provide a good number of courses and pathways for Persons with Disabilities in Labasa.
“Persons with disabilities have been one of the marginalised groups in our communities and they deserve the care and the respect we able-bodied people often enjoy,” she said.
“The new complex will pave the way for Persons with Disabilities to grab opportunities and earn better means of living for themselves,” she said.
Dr Luveni said the new facility would see Persons with Disabilities being empowered to graduate out of poverty and “will provide a further avenue for them to move out to be independent and earn a better standard of living”.
“The Government is committed to empowering Persons with Disabilities through Pillar 8 of the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress. The aim of social justice and affirmative action programmes is to restore dignity to all those who are poor and disadvantaged by ensuring that their basic needs are met.”
Divisional planning officer northern, Ratu Eliki Tikoidraubuta, said the centre marked another milestone in creating a sanctuary for the PWDs community in the division.
“It has been on the table for a long time and we thank Government for enabling a brighter environment for Persons with Disabilities in the division,” he said.
4. Aru Wycliff wins first tennis competition for people with a disability
(Source: Andrew Bynon - Management Support Officer for the Vanuatu Paralympic Committee)
Disability was no barrier to playing tennis on Tuesday afternoon. The Vanuatu Paralympic Committee and Ecole de Tennis Port Vila have started a regular round robin competition for people with a disability. The first round saw people with all types of disability playing competitive tennis. Aru Wycliff won the day, closely followed by Kassandra Tarivonda and Toa Lanson in second and third place.
The round robin competition will culminate at the end of the year with the Tennis Masters. The Masters will see the top four tennis players with a disability playing against each other to find out who is the number one tennis player with a disability in Vanuatu.
People with a disability have been training in tennis with Ecole de Tennis, under the coaching of Rachel Chevalier and Madame Evelyne Jacobe for a number of years in Port Vila. This is the first opportunity for people with a disability to use their skills in regular competition.
“As with all sport, the more opportunities there are to play, the better you become. The skill level of these competitors can only increase as competition continues,” reported Andrew Bynon, Management Support Officer for the Vanuatu Paralympic Committee.
L- R; Andrew Bynon, Kassandra Tarivonda, Noel Bonadaventure, Tom Tete, Toa Lanson, Rondy Philip, Arthur Simrai, Aru Wycliff, Madame Evelyne Jacobe.
That is all for this week. You have a lovely weekend and do keep in touch with PDF.
Regards,
FROM THE PDF Team
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