Disability News Asia - May 2012

SEOUL, May 17: South Korea’s blind people have a unique privilege. For much of the past century they have held the constitutional right as the only people allowed to work as masseurs.

May 17: New Zealand's most silent minority - deaf parents of hearing children - are seeking help to communicate with their children's teachers and other hearing people.

AMMAN, May 16: King Abdullah II on Monday instructed Jordan's government to probe reports of abuse at homes for children with physical and mental disabilities.

ISLAMABAD, May 16: Directorate General of Special Education and Social Welfare (DGSESW) will organise a festival for the children with disabilities at Fatima Jinnah Park on May 17.

May 16: A report to the Australian Network on Disability (AND) National Conference shows that increased employment participation by Australians with disability would more than cover the costs for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

May 15: The Government will direct $143.7 million over the next four years to disability support services. Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia said the funding is made up of $132.7m in new investment and $11m in savings.

TAIPEI, May 14: Parents of blind children in remote areas urged the government to create better educational opportunities for such students at a public hearing in Taipei earlier this week.

May 14: Afghan teenager Malek Mohammad balances on his hands, readies his stumps, then dives perilously into the water. The 18-year-old, whose legs were blown off by a Soviet land mine, dreams of swimming for Afghanistan in the London Paralympics.

JAIPUR, INDIA, May 12: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directed officials concerned to ensure facilities for persons with disabilities in all public building across the state. For this purpose, the government would take a loan of Rs 115 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation, an official said.

TAIWAN, May 11: Standard Chartered Bank Taiwan, Taipei 101, and the Taipei City Government yesterday kicked off the “2012 Standard Chartered Taipei 101 Run-up” event and invited people to “Run for a Reason,” challenge themselves and always progress.