‘Knowledge is power, but power must be shared.’ Disability Awareness in Action

"Mainstreaming of Disability Into Local Policy through the establishment of Local Disability Action Plans" (2008-2009) is a component of Share-SEE linking the knowledge acquired during the training program 2006-2007 with concrete actions on the municipal level. ... learn more

Training program 2006 – 2007
”Advocacy for Mainstreaming Disability into Local Policy”
The aim of this training program is to strengthen capacities of DPOs to become acknowledged partners of local authorities and other stakeholders in the development of inclusive local policies in the field of disability. Some 300 participants from 150 different DPOs throughout the region have completed four connected training modules and carried out two field assignments.
For the purpose of the training program, a new generation of trainers was formed composed of 16 disability activists from the region and who will attend five sessions of training of trainers. ... learn more

Training activities 2003 – 2005
From 2003 to 2005, Share-SEE provided training activities to organizations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) in order to build their organisational capacities. Based on a Disability Awareness in Action training kit, the project provided some 288 training sessions mainly on disability awareness, capacity building, project management and advocacy to approximately 200 DPOs throughout the region... learn more

Consultancy and counselling
Consultancy and counselling sessions provided by core partners’ organisations take place at different stages of DPOs’ activities. The sessions aim at accompanying DPOs in building various capacities including: problem solving, organisational matters, project proposal writing, fundraising, project implementation, identifying crucial issues and addressing needs, etc... learn more

SHARE SEE Training Program 2006-2007: Advocacy for Mainstreaming Disability into Local Policy

ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM

THE TEAM OF TRAINERS

TRAINING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

TRAINING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

CONTENTS OF MODULES

TRAINING SCHEDULE

LIST OF CLUSTERS

LIST OF TRAINERS

CONTACT DETAILS

ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM | top of the page |

SHARE-SEE has launched a new training program 'Advocacy for Mainstreaming Disability into Local Policy' which began in May 2006 and which being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, UN administered province of Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia until the end of 2007. The purpose of this SHARE SEE training program is to strengthen capacities of disability people organizations (DPO) and make them acknowledged partners of local authorities and other stakeholders in the development of inclusive local policies and community disability action plans (CDAP).
The SHARE-SEE Training program has been designed for disability activists and advocates in order to provide them with a specific set of knowledge and skills needed for lobbying and developing CDAPs.
Through the training program, consisting of 4 modules, the participants are expected to:

• Increase knowledge about anti-discrimination legislation and measures for equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities;
• Understand the importance of mainstreaming disability into local policy;
• Gain knowledge on community disability action plans (CDAP) and the skills needed in order to initiate and participate in its development;
• Increase knowledge on advocacy in local community and strengthen advocacy related skills and capacities;
• Improve capacities for networking and building of local DPO coalitions;
• Gain confidence for participation in local decision making processes and raise efficiency of cooperation with local authorities.

The training program is composed of 4 connected/related modules covering different subjects. Each of the four modules lasts 2 days and there are mandatory practical assignments between two modules.

TEAM OF TRAINERS | top of the page |

For the purpose of the training program and in the spirit of the worldwide motto of the disability movement “Nothing about us without us”, SHARE-SEE has set up a local team of trainers, reflecting cross-disability, respecting gender balance and covering a wide geographical area where the program will be implemented. Part of a larger set of criteria, trainers were selected based on their involvement in the disability movement, their experience in community mobilization and advocacy activities at a local level, training experience and informal education. The team of trainers is thereby composed of 17 disability activists – 6 women and 11 men – coming from 15 different organizations, mainly disabled people’s organizations, from 4 countries where the training program is taking place.

Through 5 modules of Training of Trainers (TOT) which are organized within the training program, SHARE SEE trainers will further deepen their knowledge on topics like advocacy, human rights, community disability action planning, etc; and gain relevant skills, knowledge and practice about designing and delivering trainings, training methodology and techniques, presentation skills, group facilitation skills, etc.

The SHARE SEE trainers who fully attend all modules of TOT and deliver at least 8 trainings (two per module) demonstrating and transferring knowledge and skills to participants, will be certified as Trainer in Advocacy for Mainstreaming Disability into Local Policy, at the end of SHARE SEE TOT.

ToT SCHEDULE:

TRAINING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION | top of the page |

In order to better reach activists and advocates in the 4 countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, UN administered province of Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia), 19 sub-regions called clusters have been defined, each consisting of about 4 geographically connected municipalities. From each municipality, 2 DPOs are invited and asked to delegate 2 of their representatives to participate in the Share-SEE training program.

Therefore, each cluster should have groups of approximately 16 participants coming from 4 municipalities and from 8 DPOs. Put in numbers, this means that the 19 clusters in the 4 countries of the SHARE SEE Training Program will involve some 300 activists from 150 DPOs, coming from 75 municipalities.

In each cluster, Share-SEE trainers, in team of 2 people, will deliver the 4 training modules for the same group of participants. DPOs and their representatives should remain the same throughout the 4 modules in order to gain the complete set of knowledge and skills (the first module being an introductory session).

Click here to see the list of clusters with the place and time of delivery of training Module 1.


OUTLINE OF TRAINING SCHEDULES:

TRAINING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS | top of the page |

The objective of the Share-SEE training program is to gather disability movement activists who are interested in improving the present situation of persons with disabilities. The participants should be disability aware representatives of disabled peoples’ organizations which have had experience in community action and small campaign. Participants should be keen to learn about human rights, anti-discrimination practice, lobbying or advocating, about planning direct actions and campaigns, developing local disability action plans, as well as about working with the media and with the representatives of local authorities and institutions.

Each DPO that is involved in Share-SEE training program should delegate two of their members to be participants all along the training program (on all modules) and who will actively participate in each training session. The intention is to have groups of same participants who will pass all four modules and continuously increase their advocacy and disability policy planning capacities.

Participants who attend second, third and fourth Share-SEE training module and carry out mandatory assignments in between training sessions will receive the Handicap International and Share SEE certificates at the end of the training program.

Once the Share-SEE training program is finished (end of 2007) the most successful participants will have the opportunity to continue cooperation through additional grants that will be allocated in 20 municipalities. These grants are a form of scholarship but also an opportunity for DPOs to initiate and develop local disability action plans in cooperation with representatives of local authorities.

Application process
DPOs that were identified as active disability advocates within their community were invited to participate in the first training module (introductory session). The first training session was the occasion to present the training program content and methodology and to distribute application forms. Motivated DPOs applied for the overall training program delegating 2 of their representatives who thereby commit to attend the next modules 2, 3 and 4.

CONTENTS OF THE MODULES | top of the page |

The training modules have been developed by core partners of Share-SEE project, the SHARE SEE training consultant and trainers.

Module 1: Equalizing opportunities and tools against discrimination of PWDs
• Human rights
• Equalizing opportunities for people with disabilities
• Discrimination and the tools against discrimination
• The role of DPOs in implementation of anti-discriminative legislation

Module 2 : Mainstreaming Disability into Local Policy
• Mainstreaming disability into local policy
• CDAP characteristics and preconditions
• Elements of Advocacy
• Coalition building
• Effective communication in coalitions

Assignment A: Set up a local meeting, initiate a coalition.

Module 3 : Community Disability Assessment
• Structure of CDAP
• Development of disability inventory lists
• Advocacy - Communication channels
• Basic on presentation skills and facilitation of meeting

Assignment B: Compile disability inventory lists.

Module 4 : Development of Draft Community Disability Action Plan (CDAP)
• Defining priorities for the Development of CDAP
• Development of draft CDAP
• Certificates

LIST OF TRAINERS| top of the page |

TRAINING PROGRAM CONTACT DETAILS| top of the page |

ORGANISATION OF TRAINING:
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Anes Cehovic: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Serbia: Mimica Zivadinovic: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marica Rakicevic: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Montenegro: Sonja Vasic: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kosovo: Nexhat Shatri: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Sladjana Mandic, SHARE SEE Training Consultant; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

COORDINATION
Anna Perrenoud, HI SEE Regional Operations Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PARTNERS
Centre for Independent Living Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Website: www.cilsrbija.org; Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Information Centre for persons with disabilities “LOTOS”, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: www.ic-lotos.org; Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Handicap International South East Europe
Website: www.hi-see.org; Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mainstreaming of Disability Into Local Policy through the establishment of Local Disability Action Plans

What is a local disability action plan?
The Local Disability Action Plan, LDAP, is a political document that decides how the local community shall mainstream disability into the policy making. It outlines concrete measures that need to be taken to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities, PWDs, in all areas of society. The LDAP should be based on the existing needs of PWDs and looks at how existing resources can be used to ensure their participation in the local community. The LDAP shall analyse how resources can be reallocated and prioritized in order for the municipality to constantly work on the development of its policy on disability and the increased inclusion of the target group. The LDAP needs to contain clear political aims, methods, concrete measurable and realistic aims, a timeframe and a clear sharing of responsibilities.

The Concept of Agenda 22 is the starting point
Agenda 22 is a Swedish concept that enables the 22 UN Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities of PWDs, that were introduced in 1993, to be implemented on the local level. Through this project and based on the Agenda 22 that is worked out by the HSO, the Swedish Disability Alliance, 24 municipalities in Serbia, Kosovo[1244], Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and FYR Macedonia, from 2007 are in the process of either implementing or initiating local disability action plans, LDAP.

Training of Trainers and the formation of local coalitions
During 2006 and 2007 a group of 16 trainers, consisting of disability advocates, was formed after participating at a regional Training of Trainers program called “Mainstreaming of Disability into Local Policy”. The Training of Trainers program was organized in the framework of the Share-SEE project, which is implemented by Handicap International South Eastern Europe in partnership with Center for Independent Living, Serbia, the Association of Students with Disabilities, Serbia, Information Center for PWDs Lotos, BiH, Polioplus, FYR Macedonia, and Shia, Sweden. The trainers passed through five training modules on advocacy, the Agenda 22 concept, local policy making, budgeting etc. The trainers after each module delivered training sessions in a number of clusters, consisting of small groups of municipalities around the region. In this way the training program reached out to some 300 participants from 150 organisations within the disability movement. As a result of the trainings a number of coalitions were formed, consisting mainly of local organizations of people with disabilities. 20 of the coalitions in 2008 were approved for means from the Share-SEE small grant scheme, in place since 2004, which enabled them to start a local advocacy project on the creation of an LDAP.

The coalitions are crucial
The coalitions are local. They consist of disabled people’s organizations, local NGOs, in some cases political parties and local authorities. During 2008 they have implemented a local advocacy project aiming at:
- The formation of an official working group consisting of representatives of authorities, politicians, DPOs and other relevant stakeholders, such as the private sector, at the municipal level.
- A clear political mandate has been given to the working group with defined resources (time, financial, material and human) to draft a local disability action plan.

Prior to the project, in line with the Agenda 22 model the coalitions had to work out an inventory list of needs and local resources. The needs refer to persons with disabilities and the local resources to what there already is in place on the local level in terms of support, service and finances for PWDs. Many coalitions from the very beginning made rather strict priorities in line with what they claim is the most urgent areas in the municipality that need to be changed within the next following years. The areas that are to be found among the priorities in almost all coalitions are accessibility, education, employment, social services, awareness raising and the role of DPOs. This points to the urgent need for action in almost all essential areas and to the fact that the Human Rights of PWDs are violated in many aspects.

The inventory list of needs and resources will form a good basis for an LDAP. During the project the coalitions were encouraged to start the drafting of an LDAP, which is an effective lobby tool. It is easier to put something concrete into the hands of the decision makers and not least the officials. In that way it stands clearer what an LDAP built on the Agenda 22 Concept really is and what is required from the municipality in order to put it in place.

FYR Macedonia is already there
In FYR Macedonia during 2007 a separate training program was organized by Handicap International South Eastern Europe. It aimed at four municipalities: Cair, Veles, Negotino and Prilep. A local working group consisting of representatives of DPOs, NGOs, the business sector, the media and the municipality passed through a number of training modules on the creation process of an LDAP.  In order to spread the knowledge and the feeling of ownership local debates and activities for the public and various stakeholders were organized. As a result all the four municipalities adopted the LDAP until 2008 and are now in the first phase of its implementation.

The results of the project so far
We cannot assume that all DPOs will ever be united around all issues, but the LDAP and the advocacy for it and not least the follow up on it really presents the opportunity for unity and joint efforts among DPOs locally. The coalitions have often included the local civil society and the media in their advocacy efforts in order to make the process as broad and inclusive as possible. The result is a broader understanding of the importance and the function of an Agenda 22 LDAP. Furthermore has the lobby process leading up to the formation of the local working groups layed a good basis for an increased feeling of ownership from the side of the involved local authorities and political leadership.

In concrete terms, out of 20 participating coalitions, we expect that at least 18 or 19 will continue their work. Furthermore we expect that at least 10 to 15 municipalities in the countries involved during next year will have LDAPs in place. Besides this the experiences from FYR Macedonia and the continious development in the four municipalities there will serve as interesting examples for the rest of the region and FYR Macedonia itself.

The future
In 2009 HI SEE and Shia will continue the support to all  24 involved coalitions and working groups. The expected results on the local level are:
- The role of the local working group initiated as a result of the advocacy activities during 2008 is defined through terms of references, timeframes and mandate for at least one year;
- The working group elaborates an official version of the LDAP based on the already existing drafts or existing lists of needs and resources, including priorities, timeframes and goals for a period of at least one year;
- The municipality officially adopts the LDAP
- The implementation process starts, including the identification and starting of concrete activities in the LDAP, including the active participation of the coalition.
- In FYR Macedonia the implementation will continue, with strong local involvement,  and serve as an example for the rest of the country and the region.

Involved municipalities/local communities in 2008
Serbia :
Aleksandrovac, Velika Plana, Smederevo, Bor, Valjevo, Vranje, Uzice and Majdanpek
Kosovo[1244]:
Pristina, Gracanica, Gjakove and Ferizaj
BiH:
Sarajevo, Tuzla, Bijeljina and Doboj
Montenegro :
Berane, Kotor, Niksic and Herceg Novi
FYR Macedonia :
Veles, Prilep, Negotino and Cair