No national data on HIV/AIDS among disabled, reveals RTI

I earlier shared my article published in RHiME highlighting people with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS as the missing voices in National AIDS response. I backed it up with RTI's and than complained to the Court of Commissioner, Disabilities GNCTD. The Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) took my suggestions in positive light and now has written to NACO. The later, however, doesn't have any national data on people with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS.

No national data on HIV/AIDS among differently-abled, reveals RTI

THE HINDU, NEW DELHI, May 10, 2015

The Capital has nine antiretroviral treatment centres, but none of them has information on the alternate format for blind or sign language interpreters for deaf people, who are living with HIV.

This is as per a Right to Information reply obtained by disability rights activist Satendra Singh from University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi.

Stating that persons with disabilities are the missing voices in India’s national AIDS response, the physician noted that in the first report of its kind, UNAIDS Gap report 2014 had identified 12 populations at higher risk of HIV (of which people with physical disability is one) and emphasised covering these to close the gap.

This Gap report estimates that India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world and accounts for about 4 out of 10 people living with HIV in the region.

“The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in its response to an RTI had noted that they do not have any national data on HIV/AIDS prevalence among people with disabilities,’’ said Dr. Singh.

He added that the NACO annual report of 2013-14 too does not feature a single word with ‘disability’ or ‘persons with disabilities’. Disability is also not mentioned in the HIV/AIDS (Prevention & Control) Bill 2014 as introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

“The Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) has accepted the lacunae and responded stating that suggestions have been conveyed to NACO to include people with disabilities living with HIV in national response, convert all info on sexual and reproductive services AIDS/HIV in accessible format, prevalence among disabled to be included in next survey, disability questions to be used in existing survey,” said Dr. Singh.

“We have also suggested that State Commissioner of Disabilities be part of State AIDS Control & Prevention Societies. Also, the Medical Council of India has written to include disability studies to be part of the MBBS curriculum and Delhi Medical Council to issue instructions to Hospitals and Clinics to be disabled friendly,” he added.

People living with disability (PWD) are world’s largest minority and hence part of every social group included as vulnerable and risk group in UNAIDS Gap report.

“There is also low awareness of HIV among PWDs. The 2007 survey done in rural areas of India revealed the fact that one-fifth of people interviewed had never heard of HIV and is a cause for great concern. People with mental or developmental disabilities generally lack the ability to develop the social skills to recognise predatory behaviour and avoid vulnerable situation. The situation is same for wheelchair users isolated in homes and restricted from communicating with society,” noted Dr. Singh.

Singh S. India’s AIDS response: the missing voices of persons with disabilities. RHiME [Internet]. 2015 Jan 12 [cited 2015 Feb 14];1:[about 8p.].

People with disabilities: The missing voices in India's HIV/AIDS response

The open access, peer reviewed online journal 'Research & Humanities in Medical Education' (RHiME) published my review article on people with disabilities and India's HIV response. Here's the abstract:

India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world. The UNAIDS Gap report has identified twelve risk groups that are especially vulnerable and have been left behind from the national AIDS response. Of these twelve, one is persons with disabilities. Disability is both a public health issue and a human rights issue; persons with disabilities are the world’s largest minority. Low awareness, sexual abuse, and lack of access to health services are the major reasons for people with disabilities being vulnerable. While the gap report is a landmark report, in that it compartmentalizes the risk groups, disability cannot be looked at in isolation. Since any of the other risk groups may include persons with disabilities, the issue is a complex one meriting greater attention. The National AIDS Control Organization has completely ignored this group of persons. To efficiently close the gap, an integrated and disability-inclusive HIV response is needed so that people with different types of disabilities, their caretakers, healthcare professionals and society are empowered to fight the collective battle against HIV/AIDS.

Full article can be read at the following link:

Singh S. India’s AIDS response: the missing voices of persons with disabilities. RHiME [Internet]. 2015 Jan 12 [cited 2015 Feb 14];1:[about 8p.].

Voices of Courage Awards 2013

Voices of Courage Awards 2013

“Refugees and Displaced Persons with Disabilities”

Accepting Nominations for Honorees

Deadline: October 31, 2012

Each year, the Women’s Refugee Commission honors individuals who are working on behalf of refugee, internally displaced, asylum-seeking and resettled women and young people. We are now seeking candidates to be honored at our Voices of Courage Awards luncheon on May 2, 2013.

In 2013, we will honor individuals who are developing or leading programs that benefit and include refugee, internally displaced, asylum-seeking, returnee or resettled people with disabilities.

People living with disabilities are among the most vulnerable and socially excluded of all displaced people. They may be hidden in their shelters, and subsequently not identified in data collection or included in needs assessments by humanitarian agencies. As a result, they are excluded from or unable to access most aid programs because of physical and social barriers, including negative attitudes. They rarely have the opportunity to engage meaningfully in community decisions and are rarely consulted directly on their own needs — with agencies frequently deferring to community leaders, family members or caregivers for even the most personal concerns, like access to reproductive health care or protection from violence. Often, refugees with disabilities are more isolated following their displacement than when they were in their home communities.

The Women’s Refugee Commission is working to advance the rights and dignity of refugees and displaced persons with disabilities through research, advocacy and training initiatives that develop the capacity of humanitarian agencies to ensure non-discrimination and of persons with disabilities to lead full lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Our Voices of Courage Awards luncheon will help shine a spotlight on this critical issue and highlight the skills and capacities of persons with disabilities.

The Women’s Refugee Commission wishes to recognize outstanding individuals supporting this often-neglected population. Some examples of projects honorees might be undertaking:

• Developing and supporting refugees and displaced persons with disabilities to form representative organizations or groups in refugee and displaced communities.
• Working with communities to protect persons with disabilities from violence in humanitarian settings.
• Supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in child protection programs in refugee and displaced contexts, including child friendly spaces, mentorship and peer support.
• Providing sexual and reproductive health education to young persons with disabilities who are refugees.
• Bridging the gap between disabled and non-disabled youth in refugee settings.
• Ensuring access to information and services through innovative approaches, outreach and awareness raising.
• Your nominee’s project here!

We encourage organizations to nominate persons with disabilities working in their projects, who are positive role models for refugees and displaced persons with disabilities, or making a significant contribution to promoting the rights of this marginalized group.

Two individuals will be selected to receive the Voices of Courage Award. The two 2013 Voices of Courage honorees will each nominate an organization to receive a $5,000 grant from the Women’s Refugee Commission to further their critical work to benefit displaced people in their communities. We will feature descriptions of the honorees’ selected programs in our luncheon journal.

Candidate criteria:

• Candidates may live in the United States or overseas.
• Candidates should be individuals who have developed or implemented successful programs that serve people with disabilities who are currently or were previously displaced by conflict or natural disasters, or who are seeking or have been granted asylum.
• Candidates should be passionate advocates for improving the lives and protecting the rights of refugees, internally displaced people or asylum-seekers with disabilities.
• Candidates must be able to travel to New York for a week in May (the luncheon is Thursday, May 2, 2013) to accept their award (all travel and housing expenses will be paid).
• Candidates must be willing to participate in media interviews.
• The ability to speak English is preferred.

To nominate a candidate for a Voices of Courage award, please send: 1) a letter of nomination that details the program and tells the story of the nominee; 2) the curriculum vitae, résumé or biography of the nominee; and 3) the names and email/phone/fax of three references. If you email your nomination, please include all the information in a single attachment or include it in the body of the email. Include the name of the nominee in the subject of the email. Please do not send any additional materials (photos, etc.) as they will not be considered.

Please email your nomination by October 31, 2012 to luncheon@wrcommission.org. You may also fax the nomination to +1.212.551.3180, attention Nicole Rajani, or mail to: Women’s Refugee Commission, Attn: Voices of Courage Nominees, 122 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10168-1289, USA.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider nominations that are written in English.

Thank you for your help. For more information on the luncheon, contact us at the above address

Disability Related Calls for Proposals

1. "Eighteenth-Century Disability Studies: Past, Present and Future (Roundtable)" at the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
   Abstract Submission Due: September 15, 2012
   http://www.researchraven.com/call-for-papers-conference/2012/9/15/call-for-papers-for-a-session-entitled-eighteenth-century-disability-studies-past-present-and-future-roundtable-at-the-44th-annual-meeting-of-the-american-society-for-eighteenth-century-studies-asecs.aspx
2. Disability and its Discontents
   Abstract Submission Deadline: September 30, 2012
   http://www.researchraven.com/call-for-papers-conference/2012/9/30/call-for-papers-disability-and-its-discontents-seminar.aspx
3. Ethics and Information Technology: Ethics of Social Networks for Special Needs Users
   Abstract Submission Deadline: September 30, 2012
   http://ethicalpait.blogspot.com/2012/06/call-for-papers-ethics-of-social.html
4. 2013 Third International Conference on Health, Wellness and Society
   Abstract Submission Due: October 11, 2012
   http://healthandsociety.com/conference-2013/call-for-papers/
5. Journal of Interpersonal Violence: Violence and Disability
   Abstract Submission Due: November 2, 2012
   http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/media/news/2012/26_06/en/index.html
6. Commemorating the Disabled Soldier: Comparative Approaches to the History of War, Disability and Remembrance, 1914-1940
   Abstract Submission Due: December 1, 2012
   http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/logbrowse.pl?trx=vx&list=H-Disability&month=1207&week=c&msg=7IT5zkoLZkO2M3XYqrGocw
7. Eighth International Conference on Higher Education and Disability
   Abstract Submission Due: December 1, 2012
   http://www.trac.uno.edu/conf/
8. Family Relations: Families and Disabilities: Implications for Policy and Practice
   Abstract Submission Due: December 15, 2012
   http://www.researchraven.com/call-for-papers-publication/2012/12/15/call-for-papers-for-a-special-edition-of-family-relations-families-and-disabilities-implications-for-policy-and-practice.aspx
9. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics: Human Rights and Disability
   Abstract Submission Due: April 1, 2013
   http://blog.johnstewartgordon.com/human-rights-and-disability/