The Right to Inclusive Education – Impressive numbers!
Italy is, so far, the only European country in which almost all (99.6%) disabled pupils, out of a total of 170,000 (in 2007-2008), were included in mainstream schools. In Italy inclusive education is achieved with the help of over 90,000 specialized teachers for learning support and an additional 25,000 educators employed by the schools. As [...]
Access to Justice for persons with intellectual or mental disabilities
78% are victims of crime As established by the Investigation and Testimony Procedures Law, in Israel, a Special Investigator is now assisting police interrogations of persons with disabilities. In addition, the law provides for important adaptations to the testimony given in court, including the exemption from cross-examination as a witness. From 2007 to 2010, there [...]
Good Policy from British Columbia
Representation Agreements are praised by the disability community as highly successful in providing legal recognition of supported decision-making. They significantly prevent guardianship and are the reason why the number of private guardianships has remained fairly stable during the last years! The non-profit organisation Nidus provides a centre for excellence in Best Practice with personal planning [...]
Sign language – Web TV
Web TV (www.deaf-tv.si) is a specialised medium for hearing impaired people and public in general. Its main role is to provide information to the deaf/hard of hearing in comprehensible way: using Slovenian sign language (SSL), plus subtitling and voice, and taking into consideration their different needs. Web TV was established in 2007 by the Deaf [...]
Equal employment opportunities
Specialisterne is a for-profit company designed to assess, train and employ people with ASD (autism spectrum disorders). Specialist People Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of enabling one million jobs for people with ASD and similar challenges and thereby making societies globally respect and accommodate people with ASD as equal citizens. The Specialist [...]
Social Indicators – interesting results
There are some interesting results, both positive and negative, amongst the social indicators in the Zero Project Report 2012. For example, on the positive side, much seems to have been done both to ensure the accessibility of buildings open to the public and that, for those who need it, sign language is increasingly a sine [...]
LIVE Transcription
VerbaVoice provides a unique solution to the barriers deaf and hard of hearing people currently face in their daily life – especially in education and on the labour market. Via an online platform, any deaf or hard of hearing person can book and connect to a speech-to-text reporter (STTR) whenever necessary: the voice of the [...]
Blind Women Detect Breast Cancer
Discovering hands uses the special skills of visually impaired women to make a difference in the early detection of breast cancer.
Accessibility Information for Wheelchair Users
Wheelmap.org is an online map of wheelchair accessible and inaccessible places, providing a simple and efficient way towards better inclusion for wheelchair users.
Reduction of suicide – the Swedish Personal Ombudsman
Support by a Personal Ombudsman shows highly positive response rates and reduces guardianship, isolation, drug addiction, homelessness, suicide and violence amongst the individuals addressed. As well, calculations have shown that PO operations reduce costs by approximately €80,000 per assisted person over a five year period! That is why Sweden decided to expand this system on [...]