THE collaboration of governments, international agencies, non-government organisations, communities and people with disabilities is essential to creating an inclusive “society for all” that embraces the disabled, said a senior official from the Japan-based NGO, Association for Aid and Relief.

Ms Yuko Yokotobi, the resident representative of the organisation’s Myanmar office, said such collaboration was necessary to help disabled people – whom the association labels “persons with disabilities” – overcome the barriers they face in their lives.

“There have been changes but we still have a lot to do to overcome various barriers – such as transportation, buildings, systems, attitudes and information – that exist in Myanmar,” she said.

Since it opened its Myanmar office in 1999 the association has operated a vocational training centre in Mayangone township where tailoring and hairstyling courses are held for people with disabilities.

Daw Hnin War War Win, the association’s project officer, said each course is offered three times a year and provides general knowledge as well as information about communication and business techniques.

“We are now accepting the applications for 2008,” she said, adding that trainees are provided with accommodation at the centre.

The association has offered each course 23 times since 2000, covering 597 students between the ages of 18 and 40, she said.

Daw Hnin War War Win said the association hopes the trainees will be able to earn their living with the skills they have learned at the centre.

“The trainees need to be able to prove that they have the ability to succeed, which will in turn change the attitude of the community towards them,” she said.

With the aim of raising public awareness and providing a chance for the graduates of its vocational centres to improve their skills and generate income, the association has helped former students open two tailoring shops and one hairstyling salon in Yangon.

Ms Yokotobi said people first came to shops as a charitable gesture but their ideas changed when they recognised the quality of the services offered.
“They came back repeatedly because they liked the abilities, skills and services of the shop staff,” she said.

“The good signs are that Myanmar people are kind and accept the idea if we explain and share information on why we need to collaborate,” Ms Yokotobi said.

She said the conception of the disabled issue around the world has shifted from the individual model to the social model, meaning that the problem is rooted in society rather than with the disabled themselves.

“For example, a person with a physical disability who uses a wheelchair can’t go to see a movie, not because the person is physically incapable of going up the stairs of the movie theatre but because the theatre has not been equipped with a wheelchair ramp – so the problem lies with society,” she said.

She said if there were no societal barriers there would be no more disabled people.

“Understanding about persons with disabilities is important. People just don’t know much about disabilities because of lack of information or any chance to meet them,” Ms Yokotobi said.

She said the association will organise a workshop to educate professionals who work for development organisations on disability issues, with the aim of promoting consideration of the disabled when planning development projects.

Ms Yokotobi said capacity-building training programs on disabilities and development will also be organised for government officials from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam in their respective countries and in Thailand in the near future.