Deafblind International The 2nd Asian Conference January 29-31, 2006 Dhaka, Bangladesh Paper Presentation Mr. Birendra Raj Pokharel President National Federation of the Disabled- Nepal

“Deaf-blindness -Breaking Barriers”: Professionals and parents in partnership “Deaf-blindness -Breaking Barriers”: Professionals and parents in partnership Title: Emergence of parents group with the help of Professionals in Nepal. Title: Emergence of parents group with the help of Professionals in Nepal.

Disability Movement Nepal lies in south Asian sub-continent between China and India. Nepal lies in south Asian sub-continent between China and India. A number of studies had been conducted but the prevalence rate has not been standardized A number of studies had been conducted but the prevalence rate has not been standardized Narrow Definition of the Disabilities Narrow Definition of the Disabilities PWDs gained freedom to establish Self Help Organizations (SHOs) only after PWDs gained freedom to establish Self Help Organizations (SHOs) only after 1990.

Self Help movement of PWDs raising activities to safeguard their rights and interest. raising activities to safeguard their rights and interest. National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN) was established in 1993 National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN) was established in 1993 focused works on advocacy, capacity building, sensitization and awareness focused works on advocacy, capacity building, sensitization and awareness Succeed to bring some legal provision. Succeed to bring some legal provision. DPWA Rules DPWA Rules NPPA NPPA Civil Service Act 2005 been observed. Civil Service Act 2005 been observed.

Overview of Deafblind in Nepal: The National Definition and classification on disabilities, endorsed, Deafblindness are not accommodated., the deafblind is considered as multiple disabilities, the special attention has not been given to this category.

The education for the Blind children started since 1964 a Special School for Children with Hearing Impairment since 1966 No school for DB Children

Out Rich Services survey has been conducted on Disabilities, no particular studies made in the field of DB. Some professionals started home visit program covering the PDB in two households in Kathmandu. the primary tasks made by Mr. Madhav Prasad Aryal at the motivation of a British Volunteer Susana Gibson and Mrs. Dale Davis who work for Hellen Keller International in Nepal. the out reaches service for the DB Children is most essential for providing support to them. counseling for developing self-confidence among the parents and orientating them to handle the children with proper daily living activities. The out-rich service first time was undertaken by every weekend

Support Centers for DB Children: Ankur Foundation for Inclusive Education Hilton/Perkins Program in 2000 when it started home-to-home services with A team of three persons Mr. Kirk Horton, Ms. Marianne Riggio and Mr. Mike Collin visited home based services Support include awareness creating, counseling, demonstration of skill training, meeting to Parents and Family members and basic training to concerned children and manpower development. two teachers became trained in the field of Deafblindness

the Deafblind section in the Naxal School for Deaf in Kathmandu has been established technical and financial cooperation of DSI and the Danish Deafblind Parents Association. The school has 8 staffs and has commenced the education for these children. “Learning through play” is most appropriate strategy for the development of DB children and their communications.

Parrent’s attitude: In most of rural community, the parents have to look after their livelihood Found to be escape from the child keeping them in somehow safe position. The practices on storing them in the basket and swing them to keep silent. Motor development of these Children is weak. It has been observed in some children that, their lower limbs haven’t developed

Master Iswar Nepal, a boy of age 14 years has been left back by joining the school because his lower limbs didn’t growth normally since, his parents always stored him in a curvy basket for 14 years.

Master Manoj Nepali, a boy of 9 years, the younger brother of Master Iswar have joined the school since, his lower limbs are getting normal with physiotherapy services.

 Ms. Shraddha Shahi, a girl of 11 years has started mobility after getting physiotherapy service with mobility training..

The coordinator Mr. Sugam Bhattarai has taken initiative and brought these children in the premises of DRF and have started physiotherapy services and mobility training in weekly basis.

the key skills in daily living of DB children like self-care, feeding, dressing, mobility and communication should be developed simultaneously undergone in the school premises.

Emergence of Parents group of DB Children: The professionals urged to play vital roles for educating the Parents mainstreaming them. The professionals urged to play vital roles for educating the Parents mainstreaming them. it is realized that there is a strong need to start the harmony among the parents for consolidating effort through the establishment of parent support groups it is realized that there is a strong need to start the harmony among the parents for consolidating effort through the establishment of parent support groups To provide them an opportunity to become sensitized and acquire gainful knowledge To provide them an opportunity to become sensitized and acquire gainful knowledge that has recently been succeeded with a help of professionals in Nepal. Inherently the parents of the DB children started to be empowered and came together for sharing the common problem relating daily living activities, education and learning through play for the DB Children. that has recently been succeeded with a help of professionals in Nepal. Inherently the parents of the DB children started to be empowered and came together for sharing the common problem relating daily living activities, education and learning through play for the DB Children.

Nepal Deafblind Parents Association presidency of Ms. Meena Shahi, the Parents of DB Children has been registered. presidency of Ms. Meena Shahi, the Parents of DB Children has been registered. started expand the network in urban to rural community. started expand the network in urban to rural community.

Recommendation: It is most essential the accommodation of Deafblind in National definition and classification of Disability. It is most essential the accommodation of Deafblind in National definition and classification of Disability. The data of the PDB should be established and updated. The data of the PDB should be established and updated. The Parents group should come within the mainstream of disability so that, the common voice can be made that would be heard by the government. The Parents group should come within the mainstream of disability so that, the common voice can be made that would be heard by the government. The situation for bringing out the DB children in community should be developed. The situation for bringing out the DB children in community should be developed. The awareness and confidence among the parents regarding the improvement of their children, the interest to learn a skill for taking proper care of their respective children should be encouraged. Specially attitude of mothers should be improved so that she could adopt appropriate techniques for promoting her child. The awareness and confidence among the parents regarding the improvement of their children, the interest to learn a skill for taking proper care of their respective children should be encouraged. Specially attitude of mothers should be improved so that she could adopt appropriate techniques for promoting her child.

The Social Attitude should be changed which stigmatize and creates negative attitude that prevent the parents to talk about DB. The Social Attitude should be changed which stigmatize and creates negative attitude that prevent the parents to talk about DB. Professionals, Teachers and Technicians should be trained and adequate human resource should be developing for implementing the program. The updated information should be provided to parents and Professionals. Conduct workshop and seminar and share experiences and activities to be continued within the country and abroad. Professionals, Teachers and Technicians should be trained and adequate human resource should be developing for implementing the program. The updated information should be provided to parents and Professionals. Conduct workshop and seminar and share experiences and activities to be continued within the country and abroad. Continuous therapeutic and occupational services should be developed with specific training in the areas of concept development of relevant stakeholders. Continuous therapeutic and occupational services should be developed with specific training in the areas of concept development of relevant stakeholders.

Naxal School For the Deaf should Emphasize: It is vital to promote learning environment with the factors like It is vital to promote learning environment with the factors like visual, tactile, and social and classroom environment visual, tactile, and social and classroom environment That are needed for better learning. That are needed for better learning. In this course of accommodating the DB children, the school should be aware of how the surroundings can most friendly be designed. In this course of accommodating the DB children, the school should be aware of how the surroundings can most friendly be designed. Thanking for your attention Thanking for your attention