Pakistan Disabled Foundation Confers with AAPD

From AAPD (8.25.10):

Pakistan Disabled Foundation Confers with AAPD

By Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director for Government Affairs

Jenifer Simpson (center) with Shahid Ahmed Memon (right), who is Chairman of the Pakistan Disabled Foundation, and his son Hassan Ahmed

On August 25th, 2010, representatives from the Pakistan Disabled Foundation met with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to discuss general disability policy and approaches to civil rights. Shahid Ahmed Memon, who is Chairman of the Pakistan Disabled Foundation, a private organization, is also a Member of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, a government sponsored services entity, both entities located in Karachi, Pakistan. He was accompanied by his son, Hassan Ahmed, a volunteer for the Foundation and who is studying Economics at the Master’s level in Pakistan and who acted as a guide for Mr. Memon, who is blind, during this U.S. visit.

Similar to AAPD, the Pakistan Disabled Foundation (PDF), founded in 1997, is a cross disability organization that is a national support organization for people with disabilities and other conditions. Mr. Memon explained these disabling conditions may be “hidden, intellectual, mental health, physical, sensory, or emotional.” The Ahmeds met with Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director for Government Affairs, Ginny Thornburgh, Director of AAPD’s Interfaith Initiative, and Rebecca Panoff, Director of Communications.

PDF administers a Resource, Training and Educational Center that includes programs such as regular educational classes for children with disabilities, counseling, guidance, and resource information and equipment for people who acquire disability through accident or disease, such as due to the current flood crisis where 20 percent of the nation is under water. PDF also provides space for training of people with disabilities that is used by local, provincial, national and international organizations for disability-focused seminars, trainings and similar events. Other PDF activities include organizing cultural, recreational and social activities for people with disabilities, their families and associates. These may include provision of relief, services for wedding ceremonies, medical help, and clothing and support to needy persons.

Mr. Memon specifically noted the shortage of accessible equipment for people who are blind and with physical disabilities, such as the need for JAWS and wheelchairs, stating how people “cannot move forward without these simple needs met.” While Pakistan has a 2% affirmative employment requirement for businesses, he noted that deep stereotypes remain about the workforce capabilities of people with disabilities, including for women with disabilities who are often perceived as unmarriageable on the basis of disability;  he affirmed that most people with disabilities remain dependent on their families for sustenance and housing.  PDF’s recent employment policy success was to ensure that people hired under the 2% quota cannot be let go when there is a general staff reduction across the employing organization.

PDF was founded in 1997 for the purpose of collective action by people with disabilities in Pakistan to strive for full rights and privileges.  Their recent annual report (2007) indicates income (“charity and donations”) of about $43,000 or about 3.7M Pakistani rupees. The largest amount of support goes to “Conferences, Seminars & Courses” with “Training” as the next largest expenditure and “Aid to Beneficiaries” next.

Pakistan is located between Afghanistan and India and Karachi is on the Arabian seacoast. Mr. Memon invited all AAPD members, and anyone in the disability community, to contact him and visit PDF in Karachi, Pakistan. He offered food and housing for anyone willing to visit, emphasizing that transportation costs would be the onus of the visitor. Note that English is the language of educated Pakistani people and in most government ministries.  To arrange a visit, or to learn more about people with disabilities and advocacy in Pakistan, contact the Ahmeds as follows:

Mr. Shahid Ahmed Memon, Chairman, Pakistan Disabled Foundation
Address: Block-14, Naseerabad, Federal B Area, Karachi, Pakistan.
Email info@pdf.org.pk
Tel 0092-21-36313317
Fax 0092-21-36319787
Mobile 0092-30023160661
Mr. Hassan Ahmed
Email mr.poonawala@yahoo.com
Mobile 92-333-3889482

>>> For The Website of the Pakistan Disabled Foundation

>>> For Photographs illustrating the PDF’s work and activities

>>> To Learn more about Pakistan

Comments

[Darrell Shandrow]

It's too bad a basic misunderstanding of the technology access needs of blind people is demonstrated in this article, but too often that's a sad result of many cross-disability efforts. From this post, does anybody know what "JAWS" means or why blind people need them? How about instead explain that blind people need screen readers, pieces of software that interpret and Braille or verbalize computer screens, and describe JAWS as just one of several possibilities? How about the availability of free, open-source screen readers? How disappointing. :-(

[Jim Tobias]

Amen, Darrell -- point him to NVDA before he goes home! http://www.nvda-project.org/

[Jim Tobias]

And they may already know about Whirlwind Wheelchair Intl., but just in case: http://www.whirlwindwheelchair.org/index.htm

[Ferrari sunglasses]

oh cool, this information is really useful and definately is comment worthy! hehe.

[saqib Imtiaz]

I am a disabled guy. I belong from Islamabad Pakistan. i am doing MBA and also working in Govt sector. A request to you that a lot of problems for me to travel, if you buy me a disabled car, i will be very thankful to you.

Saqib Imtiaz
Islamabad, Pakistan