Asitha Weweldeniya , Weweldenige , Development with Disabled Network Colombo, Sri Lanka

1. Holistic Approach to Develop a Barrier Free Environment for People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Sri Lanka AsithaWeweldeniya, Weweldenige, Development with Disabled Network Colombo, Sri Lanka coordinator@dwdnetwork.org

2. Development with Disabled Network (DwDN) Development with Disabled Network (DwDN) is a network of disability and development sector organizations and professionals to facilitate a common platform for mainstreaming disable people in development process in Sri Lanka. It facilitate sharing expertise, lessionsand lobbying/advocacy platforms for the members and other stakeholders to increase the participation of disabled people in the social-economic development of the country. Sharing experiences, capacity building, research and advocacy are the main strategic directions of DWDN . DwDN works at different levels from the grassroots to national level to achieve its overall objective.

3. Cross cutting themes • Disaster • Livelihood development • Transport • Vocational training & employment • Water & sanitation • Governance • MDGs

4. Overall situation • 8% disability population (WHO World Disability Report 2010) • Over 70% are living in rural areas • Over 90% are in under the poverty line • Limited access to education, employment and health due to the lack of transportation facilities

5. Legal background • Act no 28 of 1996, The protection rights of people with disabilities (amended 2003). • Act no 08 of 2000, The protection of elderly people • The national policy for the disability, 2003. • The gazette notification (2005 – 10/16) of providing accessibility facilities for people with disabilities in public places. • Signed UNCRPD

6. Specific objectives of the program • To develop a framework for “barrier free environment development” • Validating the framework with supporting factors and information from different stakeholders • To examine the three pronged approach of DwDN towards mainstreaming disability • To identify positive relationships in facilitating linkages between PWDs and related government and non-government service providers • Access the level of enhancement of socio- economic activities of PWDs through the actions of DwDN • To discuss the “quality of life” enhancement aspects in relation to mobility of PWDs • To discuss the experiences of DwDN in making barrier free physical and social environment in Sri Lanka

7. The framework

9. Actions in each levels

12. Key achievements • National Steering Committee for Developing Barrier Free Environment • Technical Committee on Investigation accessibility issues

13. Over 100 houses are improved as barrier free environment for them to mobility within the house. • More than 20 public placed are improved accessibility facilities. • More than 10 school are improved disabled friendly environment with equipments. • Community hall and religious places are improved accessibility. • Developed few appropriate and tailor-made mobility equipments. • Build the technical capacities of local authorities on developing barrier free environment.

16. Conclusion • Establishment of partnership among government officials, policy makers, development practitioners, researchers, donor agencies and community is vital in achieving overall objective of making barrier free environments. • Networking of stakeholders at every level is must to minimize isolated and duplication of works. Dialogues in every level must be in place and lessons, ideas and experience needs to be considered at national level decision making, designing and project development. • The government, including relevant local authorities responsible for strengthening the legal framework for PWDs, implementation and coordination. • Disseminating information plays a key role of getting public attention and changing attitudes. • Improving or developing other facilities like vocational trainings, employment opportunities, education, health services, cultural activities should be in place in parallel to developing mobility (transport, accessibility) facilities for PWDs.

17. Lack of understanding, lack of capacities and lack of resources are major obstacles of local authorities, administrative body in regards to providing accessibility facilities to PWDs. Donor agencies (development projects), local authorities need to be considered both capacity building & construction (software and hardware) component of providing accessibility facilities. The government cannot allocate finance along. • Private sector participation is to be increased. The government can promote uses CSR programs of private companies to establish accessibility facilities at their premises and changing attitudes of the general public.

18. Development with Disabled Network (DWDN) is a collective of development sector organizations, disability focused organizations and professionals those work towards mainstreaming disability in the process of development. The Network was initiated in 2003 and working as a forum on mutual sharing of expertise and experiences on mainstreaming disability in to development. Thank you … www.dwdnetwork.org