| |
|
|
| |
|
High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Conclude
the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002
|
| 25-28
October 2002, Otsu City, Shiga, Japan |
|
PROFILE
OF SPEAKERS |
|
|
Mr. Eita Yashiro
is Director, Foreign Affairs Division, Liberal Democratic
Party and a member of the House of Representatives.
He is an active and well-known disability rights activist
in Japan as well as internationally. A popular television
personality, he was injured on stage and became a
wheelchair user in 1973. He was the Principal organizer
of the Disabled People International (DPI) in 1981,
the first chairperson for the DPI Asian Pacific region,
the first member of the DPI World Council and remains
honorary chairperson for the DPI Asian Pacific region.
He has also served as a Member of the House of Councillors
and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications. He is
the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee International
Forum on Disabilities to Mark the End Year of the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. Mr.
Yashiro can be contacted at: 2-2-1-341, Nagata-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 1000-0014, Japan, Tel: (03) 3508-7341,
FAX: (03) 3597-2741, E-mail: g04602@shugiin.go.jp |
 |
Mr. Satoshi Fukushima
is the Asian Regional Representative of the World Federation
of the Deafblind and the Director of Japan Deafblind
Association. He lost his sight at the age of nine and
hearing at the age of 18, to be totally deafblind, and
started to communicate by finger braille in 1981. He
was the first deafblind student to join a university
in Japan, where he graduated and completed a doctoral
course in education. He has worked as a research fellow
at the Metropolitan University and as an associate professor
at the Education Faculty of Kanazawa University. Currently
he works for Barrier-Free Studies Department of the
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
at the University of Tokyo as an associate professor.
He specializes in education of children with disabilities
and in communication of deafblind people. Mr. Fukushima
can be contacted at: 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
153-8904, JAPAN; E-mail: fukasima@rcast.u-tokyo-ac.jp;
Fax: 5452-5062
|
 |
Mr. Guo Jianmo is the
Secretary General of the State Council Coordination
Committee on Disabilities – the highest administration
department in charge of disability affairs in the central
Government of China. He is also President of China Disabled
Persons’ Federation (CDPF). Graduated in cultural
studies, he has worked as editor for a professional
magazine of the Ministry of Education, Director of literature
and arts of China Education Daily (newspaper) and chairman
of board and chief editor of China Huaxia Publishing
House. He was one of several activists participating
in establishing the national umbrella organization of
persons with disabilities in China – the China
Disabled Persons’ Federation in 1988. He has served
as board member of the executive committee, Director
General of publicity and Vice President of the Federation.
He was vice Chairman and president of CDPF in 1998.
Mr. Guo became a member of the National People’s
Congress and a speaker for disability groups in the
Congress since 1998. Mr. Guo Jianmo 44 Beichizi Street,
Beijing 100006, CHINA; Fax: (8610) 6513-9722; E-mail:
cdpfida@public.bta.net.cn |
 |
Ms. Anuradha Mohit is
the Special Rapporteur of the National Human Rights
Commission of India. She has visual impairment since
the age of 10. Trained in special education and administration,
research methodologies and music, she has served as
Deputy Chief Commissioner in the office of Chief Commissioner
for persons with disabilities, Government of India,
Executive Director of the National Association for the
Blind, India and Lecturer in Research Methodology in
Fine Arts. Ms Mohit is well known as founder member
of the Disabled Rights Group and had worked for the
bill of rights, implementation of the disabilities act
1995 and related media campaigns. She held positions
in several disability committees and commissions, among
them, convener of the Asian and Pacific network of women
with disabilities, national co-coordinator of Community
Based Rehabilitation Network, member of the Drafting
Committee of Persons with Disabilities Act 1995, member
of the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Tourism
(for barrier free tourism for persons with disabilities),
and consultant for UNESCO on ICT and people with disabilities.
Through these mechanisms, Ms. Mohit has contributed
immensely to the cause of people with disabilities,
in areas such as inclusive education, women with disabilities,
community based rehabilitation, prevention of disability,
etc. She has produced several publications on these
issues. Ms. Mohit can be contacted at C-3/3125, Vasant
Kunj, New Delhi 110 070, India; Tel: 91-011-613 0219;
E-mail: anuradhamohit@yahoo.com
|
 |
Ms. Johanne Hanko is Environment
Department Manager at the International Office of Technical
Assistance, (Thailand) Limited. Her training includes
environment engineering, biotechnology, policy studies,
auditing and education; her fields of expertise are
in the oil and gas industry and environmental engineering.
Among her extensive experience in Asia, North America
and Europe, she has served as a technical adviser to
ESCAP, an expert for FAO on disability matters, rural
disabled, environment, biotechnology and hazardous waste
management and UNEP in environment engineering issues.
She has several publications on disability issues in
the context of rural poverty alleviation, sustainable
development, agriculture and agro-industry, women’s
participation, etc. Ms Hanko is a member of the Thematic
Working Group on Disability-related Concerns. She can
be contacted at 10/15 Moo 9, Sukhalumjeak Road, Klonkum,
Buengkhum, Bangkok, 10230, Tel: (66 1) 828 8719, E-mail
: panocean@ksc15.th.com
|
 |
Mr. Monthian Buntan is
the Director of Technology, International Relations
and Human Resource Development of the Thai Blind People's
Foundation. Trained in Music Theory and Composition
as well as English and Philosophy he was the Deputy
Director of Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University.
Among his many positions in the disability movement,
he served as the first Vice President of the Thailand
Association of the Blind, Executive Committee Member
of the World Blind Union, member on the Advisory committee
on Disability to the Prime Minister of Thailand, member
on the Committee on Educational Reform for Persons with
Disabilities, other Disadvantage Groups and Gifted Children,
Ministry of Education. Mr. Buntan is also founder of
the Thai National Institute for the Blind and the Thailand
National Committee on DAISY Production and Services.
In 1995, he was awarded the Most Outstanding Person
with Disabilities in Thailand from the Council on Social
Welfare and in 2001, he was awarded the Plaque of Honour
from the Prime Minister of Thailand as an Outstanding
Individual whose contributions have made significant
improvements to the lives of persons with disabilities
in Thailand. Mr. Buntan can be contacted at: Thailand
Association of the Blind, 85/1-2 Soi Boonyoo, Dindaeng
Road, Samsennai, Phayatai, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand;
Tel: 2-246-2287, FAX: 2-246-2278, E-mail: mbuntan@tab.or.th,
mbuntan@hotmail.com or mbuntan@anet.net.th
|
 |
Mr. Setareki Macanawai
is head teacher of the Fiji School for the blind. Trained
in education administration, he is a course writer on
disability studies at the University of the South Pacific.
Among his many positions in the disability movement,
he is President of the Fiji Disabled Peoples Association,
Vice Chairperson for Disabled People International (DPI)
Asia-Pacific Region, a council member of the Fiji National
Council for Disabled Persons, the DPI World council
member in 1981 and chairperson for the DPI Oceania subregion.
He had established the DPI Oceania in Fiji and member
national assemblies in Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa and Vanuatu. For his outsanding contribution to
the cause of the disability movement, he was awarded
the 6th Kazuo Itoga Memorial Foundation Award, Japan,
in 2002. Mr. Macanawai can be contacted at: Box 17703,
Suva, Fiji Islands, Tel: (679) 338-3582, FAX: (679)
3301161, E-mail: smacanawai@hotmail.com.
|
 |
Ms. Debra Perry is a Senior
Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation for the International
Labour Organization (ILO) and provides technical and
policy assistance to governments, employers, workers’
organizations, and NGOs throughout Asia and the Pacific.
She is trained in Rehabilitation Services Education
and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counsellor and a Licensed
Professional Counsellor in the United States. Prior
to her joining the ILO, she started and managed a Washington,
D.C consulting business that provided training, management
and technical assistance to national and international
NGOs, governments, private enterprises, universities,
and trade unions in the areas of disability, diversity,
fundraising, marketing, strategic planning and partnership
development. Earlier in her career, Ms. Perry provided
direct services to injured and disabled workers and
those with various disabilities. For many years, Ms.
Perry worked for Goodwill Industries International,
which is one of the largest private providers of vocational
rehabilitation and training services for disadvantaged
and disabled persons in the world. Ms Perry can be contacted
at ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, United
Nations Building, 10th and 11th Floors, P. O. Box 2-349,
Bangkok 10200, Tel: (66) 2-288 1792, E-mail: perry@ilobkk.or.th
|
 |
Mr. Shoji Nakanashi is
the Chairperson and Director of the Human Care Association.
He also serves as Chairperson of the Japan Council on
Independent Centers, and Asia-Pacific Regional Council
Member and World Council Member of Disabled Peoples'
International. In 1986, he had established the Human
Care Association as the first independent living center
in Japan and in 1991 he established the Japan Council
on Independent Centers. Mr. Nakanashi can be contacted
at: 4-14-1-1 Myojincho Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0046,
Japan; E-mail: yukin@din.or.jp
|
 |
Ms. Fatima Mansuri is
active in disability advocacy, a member of the Disabled
Peoples International Pakistan 1988, and National Council
member, Founder and Chairperson DPIP Karachi Sindh.
She is visually impaired for the last 15 years. Trained
in journalism and home economics, she was the first
woman appointed as Controller Programs (Research), Pakistan
Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), a position she retired
from in 1989, after 37 years of service with PBC. She
has participated in numerous meetings in various cities
around the world as delegate, consultant or resource
person, on issues related to media, disability, women,
home economics, social welfare. In 1999, she participated
in the Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium Women 2000, Bangkok,
as the only woman with disability of 300 women delegates
from the region, to prioritize issues of women with
disability. She has also contributed to the inclusion
of the concerns of women and girls with disability in
the Platform for Action of the UN Fourth World Conference
of Women at Beijing. She is a member of the International
Network of Women with Disability. She has been involved
in a number of projects related to women and disabilities
in Pakistan and is currently working on the establishment
of a “Resource and training center for women and
girls with disability”, from four semi urban,
low income areas of Karachi. Ms. Mansuri can be contacted
at: 23-B, 5th Central Lane, Phase II, Defence Housing
Authority (DHA), Karachi, Pakistan, Tel: 92 –
21- 5897092, Fax: 92 – 21- 5897092, 92 - 21-5837542,
E-mail: mansuri@cyber.net.pk
|
 |
Mr. P. Sudhakara Reddy
is Founder-President of the Society for Equal Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities and Convenor (Accessibility)
of Disabled People’s International - India. He
is a wheelchair user. His training is in Electronics,
Communication and Computer Science. He is well known
as a disability rights activist for barrier-free environments,
including the conducting of access audits of railway
stations, campuses, public buildings, etc. With his
expertise in this area he has been invited to many events
as lecturer, trainer, researcher, including as resource
person to schools of architecture and urban/regional
planning and disabled peoples’ representative
to State committees dealing with disability policies.
He founded the first ever advocacy group in the State
of Andhra Pradesh, India for the purpose of securing
equal opportunities, full participation and protection
of the rights of persons with disabilities. He is currently
involved in developing lecture modules on disability
in India vis-à-vis various related international
instruments. In 2001, he received an award from the
LANCO foundation and in 2002, he received the Andhra
Pradesh State Government Award for the best efforts
in the promotion of a barrier-free environment. Mr.
Reddy can be contacted at: 1-4-879/60, SBI Officers
colony, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad – 500080, India;
Tel: +91 40 7612883, 7672882; e-mail: psreddy1@hd2.dot.net.in
|
 |
Ms. Marie Bentin Toalepaialii
is Assistant Director of Education (Policy Planning
and Research), Department of Education, Samoa. She is
also Chairperson of the Special Needs Education Advisory
Committee. Previously, she served as a schoolteacher
and curriculum developer. Ms. Toalepaialii can be contacted
at: P.O. Box 186, Apia, Samoa; Tel: 685-21911; Fax:
685-21917; e-mail: mbpose@hotmail.com.
|
 |
Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura is
Director of Information Center and Director of International
Division, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons
with Disabilities (JSRPD). Trained in geography, he
has vast experience in disability-related work and issues,
serving as researcher on DAISY, National Rehabilitation
Center for the Disabled, Member of JICA Advisory Committee
for Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability and
Board Member, Global Applied Disability Research and
Information Network on Employment and Training, GLADNET
Association. Among the agencies he is currently involved
in are as Steering Committee Member of Web Accessibility
Initiative, World Wide Web Consortium; chairman of the
Copyright Committee of the Disability Concerned National
Forum on Broadcasting; advisory Board Member for the
Japanese Federation of the Deaf and chairman of the
Section of Libraries for the Blind, International Federation
of Library Associations and Institutions. Mr. Hiroshi
Kaw can be contacted at: 22-1, Toyama 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 162-0052, JAPAN; E-mail: hkawa@attglobal.net;
Fax: 81-3-5273-1523
|
 |
Mrs. Aloka Guha is Chairperson
of the National Trust for Persons with Autism, Cerebral
Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities,
Government of India. Her training includes sociology,
genetic counseling and teaching persons with intellectual
disabilities. Among her previous experience includes
work in a mental hospital in Canada, a special class
in a regular school in Calcutta, CBR work in Delhi and
Madras and Early Intervention Clinics in Mumbai. She
was Director for 12 years of the Spastics Society of
Tamil Nadu, which won the UNESCAP Award (2000 for HRD)
in Disability. Currently, her interest and activity
is focused on early intervention, C.B.R, HRD, documentation
and low cost technology and convergence. Among her outstanding
achievements are, having set up the first exclusive
early intervention clinics in India, developing the
horizontal model of rehabilitation in the State of Tamil
Nadu, setting up self-help groups of women with disability
and mothers of children with disability and developed
low cost assistive devices from mud, straw and waste
material. She also contributed to the first State Policy
on Disability in India. Mrs Guha can be contacted at:
c/o IPH Complex, 4 Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi 110
002, India; E-mail: nationaltrust@ren02.nic.in; Fax:
011-321-7414 |
| |
|
|
|
|
