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Mission to Pakistan
16 - 21 December 2006

Independent Living of Women with Disabilities

This mission was to collaborate in a Seminar on Independent Living (IL) of Women with Disabilities in Islamabad, organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education, and in a Peercounseling Domestic Training organized by the Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in cooperation with Milestone from 18-20 December 2006; also to facilitate a planned school project in Sesar, Bagh in cooperation with relevant organizations in Pakistan. The Seminar on IL on 18 December 2006 opened with remarks by Mrs. Kanitta Kamolwat, APCD Director, Mr.Kaibara, JICA Resident Representative, and Mr. Aftar, Director of Special Education. The objectives were to promote positive understanding and support for IL of persons with disabilities by relevant senior government officials, professionals, and leaders with disabilities in Pakistan, especially in the earthquake affected areas. Approximately, 60 persons including officials, leaders with disabilities, and professionals participated. Ex-participants of the APCD training in Bangkok shared their reports on their post-training activities and emphasized that they and their Pakistani peers with disabilities could gain selfconfidence and start IL in the community. Mr. Topong Kulkhanchit, APCD resource person, explained about the social model of disability, the IL concept stemming from the model, and the current global movement of IL. Ms. Akiyama, JICA Short-term Expert, shared her own experience of being "disabled" and empowered through the participation of IL activities. For her, IL leaders provided support and peercounseling which brought hope and changed her life from a passive life in an institution to live independently in the community .

The Training Course on Peer-Counseling Basics was conducted by STEP. A short-term JICA Expert and former APCD participants, who were women with severe disabilities, have empowered participants with disabilities through peer-counseling; they were excellent role models and mentors for 17 women with disabilities throughout the training. The objective was to equip women with disabilities with basic knowledge and skills on peer-counseling in order for them to be future peer-counselors for persons with disabilities, especially for women with disabilities, specifically in the earthquake affected areas. At the end of the training, participants regained self-confidence and internal strength to live positively in their communities. Also, a small but new movement and network among women with disabilities has seemingly begun in Pakistan.