Caritas Goa holds a Stakeholder’s State Advocacy Meeting for Deafblind Inclusion and Rehabilitation
Caritas Goa in collaboration with Sense International India, Kamal Udwadia Foundation and Kamal India Foundation organized the Goa State Stakeholder’s Advocacy meeting recently at the Instituto Senhora Nossa de Piedade Hall, Panaji Goa on 14th July 2023. The advocacy meeting aimed to converge initiatives of relevant state government departments, skill development agencies and civil society organizations for inclusion of persons with Deafblindness in the state of Goa in all sectors of society.
Shrutilata Singh, Officer-Advocacy, Sense International India, a person with Deafblindness stated at the meeting that, “Many people with Deafblindness need to be included in all spheres of life right from inclusion in education, sports and even employment. Government should mandatorily consider accessibility of buildings in public areas even for persons with deafblindness as now it is recognised as a disability in the RPwd Act, 2016”.
Dr. Vibha Parsekar, Nodal Officer at the District Early Intervention Centre, North Goa shared about the numerous services provided at the DEICs and about the process involved for multiple disability certification.
Dr. Gargi P Sinha, Principal at the Dyanvardini Divyang Training College, Vasco spoke about how the Deafblind program of Caritas Goa helped their college students to understand issues and challenges concerning inclusion in education of persons with deafblindness in schools. Dr. Singh fervently insisted on the significance of recognising persons with disability as human being requiring help rather than branding them as per their disability.
Shri Guruprasad Pawaskar, the Commissioner for Persons with Disability of the State of Goa, highlighted about the improvement in the mindset of people towards disability. Referring to the Purple Fest and mentioning about the advocacy meeting, he said, such type of programs help the government officials and civil society to be sensitized about the different aspects of inclusion and rehabilitation.
Mr. Gabel Mascarenhas, Coordinator of the Deafblind, North Goa appreciated profusely the North and South District Early Intervention Centres for their outstanding initiatives. He said, “Goa is among the few states to have begun issuing certification for multiple disabilities so that proper record and intervention is offered to children with disabilities, including deafblindness”.
In his welcome address, Fr Maverick Fernandes, Director, Caritas Goa called for empathy not sympathy for successful inclusion of persons with disability so that they can live with dignity in the society. Goa has the potential to be a model state in accessibility and inclusion for persons with deafblindness, Fr. Fernandes asserted. The State Advocacy meeting highlighted the issues of quicker disability certification; accessibility of public spaces; inclusion in schools; accessible transportation and places of recreation like beaches, parks, etc as well as issues about the future of children after passing away of parents. Besides the children and young adults with deafblindness and their parents , officials from the Directorate of Education, Directorate of Transport, Goa Human Rights Commission, Labour Commissionerate, Goa Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, doctors from Goa Medical College (GMC), District Early Intervention Centres, Paediatric Neuro Rehabilitation Centres, members of Disability based organisations actively participated in a common platform to find solution for the inclusion and rehabilitation needs of persons with Deafblindness.