The three deaf Nobel Laureates

Alfred Bernard Nobel (1833-1896), the Swedish chemist and inventor of dynamite, donated a fund of about $ 9.0 million for awarding Nobel Prizes annually to the persons who make significant contributions in any of the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics. The prizes in the first five fields have been given since 1901. The Economics prize was introduced in 1969.

The winners of Physics, Chemistry and Economics are chosen by the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm, Physiology or Medicine, by the Caroline Institute and the faculty of medicine in Stockholm. The winners of Literature are selected by the Swedish Academy of Literature in Stockholm. The Peace prize is awarded by a Norwegian Nobel Committee of five elected members from Norwegian Parliament.

The first deaf Nobel laureate was Charles Jules Henry Nicolle (1866-1936), a French bacteriologist who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1928 for identifying lice as a transmitter of epidemic typhus.

Nicolle became deaf at the age of 20 while studying medicine. In 1893, he earned M.D. from the Pasteur Institute, the French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms and vaccines. In 1895, Nicolle married Alice Avice and had two children.

Nicolle became the Director of Pasteur Institute in Tunis, Tunisia in 1903 where he did his Nobel Prize winning work on typhus. In 1936, he died there as the Director. Later Nicolle was honoured on French and Tunisian postage stamps.

The second deaf Nobel laureate was Sir Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952), an English physician who shared the Noble Prize in Medicine in 1932 with Edgar D. Adrian (British) for discovering the function of neurons.

Sir Sherrington became deaf late in life. In 1920, he was the President of Royal Society and a member of Order of Merit. He was knighted by the King of England.

The third deaf Nobel laureate was Sir John Warcup Cornforth. Born in Sydney, Australia in 1917 he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 with Vladimir Prelog (Swiss) for their work on the chemical synthesis of important organic compounds.

Sir Cornforth had been a profound deaf man since his teens. His mother Hilda Eipper (1887-1969) was the granddaughter of Christopher Eipper (1813-1894), a pioneer missionary and Presbyterian minister in Australia. He earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in 1937 and 1938 respectively from the University of Sydney and D. Phil. in 1941 from the University of Oxford. He is a member of Royal Society and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He is now 92.

Written by Iftu Ahmed, Aurora, IL, USA

DPO Leaders met Speaker of the Parliament

A team of DPO Leaders met Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament Advocate Abdul Hamid at his office at Dhaka, on 24 August 2009. The team led by Md. Abdus Sattar Dulal a physically disabled person who is also the Secretary of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI), President of NADPO, a national DPO network and Executive Director of Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) a leading DPO in the country.

Discussion between the honorable Speaker and DPO leaders includes the issues of rights, development and improvement in the quality of lives of people with disabilities in Bangladesh. The meeting focused on the needs for inclusion of disability issues in the national policy documents, amendment in the Rules of Business of the ministries, diversification of disability issues from Ministry of Social Welfare to others, ratified UNCRPD other relevant issues.

Appreciating the role of Speaker in the Parliament the team placed a set of demands for physical accessibility facilities of disabled persons in the parliament building, two reserved seats of MPs for PWDs from each division, inclusion of NADPO in the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committees and recruiting PWD employees in the Parliament Secretariat. The honorable Speaker expressed his same feelings on the issues raised. He suggested that the issues could be raised in the parliament sessons by MPs and then, he committed to do the needful at his level best in support to people with disabilities of the country. This meeting in a congenial environment created a hope for better future of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

AWDP-Bangladesh congratulates Md. Abdus Sattar Dulal and his team of delegation for such an advocacy meeting with the top level policy maker of the country on the rights of people with disabilities and their issues.

Sarower's Urge for an employment
Mohammad Sarower Hossen Khan is the first person with disability in Bangladesh who got M. Phil Degree from Dhaka University . Sarower is a person with full blindness who set a most encouraging instance of success by achieving his M. Phil Degreein September 2008. So far this is the highest academic accomplishment by a person with disability in the country.

AWDP-Bangladesh published a blogpost on 23 September 2008. Link http://awdpbd.blogspot.com/2008/09/countrys-first-person-with-disability.html

After that Sarower received remarks of appreciation from over the country and abroad for his big achievement. National newspapers and journals published 15 features on his exemplary achievement. Most leading NGOs working for the promotion of rights of people with disabilities highly appreciated him. Sarower is greatly indebted to all and expressed his gratitude to all organizations and individuals who made their kind remarks of appreciation.

After a long interval, in July 2009 following Remarks of Appreciation were made by leading disability rights NGOs and Donors.

One of our member named Mr. Mohammad Sarwar Hossain Khan secured his M..Phil degree from the University of Dhaka and the news is published in the issue of daily "Prothom Alo" today (link given below). Congratulations to him! He proved his ability and urged to the Govt of Bangladesh for necessary support to achieve his Ph.d degree. We wish him all the success. http://www.prothom-alo.com/mcat.news.details.php?nid=MTY0OTQw&mid=NQ
Anam, Coordinator, BVIPS
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Congratulation to Sarwar Bhai! A sparkling person can’t be visual impaired anymore. I salute you Sawar Bhai.
Regards,
Rabeya Sultana
Head, Rights & Social Justice Sector
ActionAid Bangladesh
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I would like to add few words with Rabeya Apa. Sarwar is a change maker who takes initiative on his own. I worked with him in Election Monitoring of Parliamentary Election 2001. He worked as a role model. He created another instance through completing the M. Phil degree. Congratulation to you, Sarwar. We need more capable people in our country.
Thank you,
Mosharraf HossainCountry Director, ADD
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Congratulations Sarwar Bhai.We deeply acknowledge the encouragement from your wife Ms. Mazeda Moon and your supervisor Professor Dil Rowson Jinnat Ara to achieve it.

Waiting to congratulate you for your PhD. Good Luck.

Zahid, NFOWD
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It is a Great wave in the field of the disability and development. Go a head Sarwar your success shows it is possible only needs strong will. Hope your inner force will take you long what will bring positive change in the society for those are till in depressed.

Shahidul Haque
Chief Executive, SARPV-Bangladesh
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I would like to convey my heartiest gratitude to Sarwar and his family and also his supervisor to support him to achieve the degree. A person who can achieve Mphil degree or any higher degree from any university can contribute in any sector of the society. However, it is unfortunate that many of them after completion of high-education are not getting employment opportunities. All our encouragement I believe would stimulate educated disabled youth but if we cannot create opportunities for them to apply their skills and wisdom to contribute in wider development they might loose the steam and frustrated soon.

I appeal all of you to start talking how we can be more effective to ensure their employment in different sectors including our own. I believe doing so, will not only enable disabled youth to remove their frustration but will definitely contribute in reaching our wider goal of inclusive society…

In solidarity,
Mozammel HaqueAction on Disability and Development (ADD)
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We also feel happy and heartily congratulate Mr. Sarwar Hossain Khan’s achievement as the country’s first person with disability who attained M. Phil degree from Dhaka University. This is a milestone for all persons with disabilities in Bangladesh who are challenging lots of barriers and discrimination to attain higher education. We take this opportunity to inform that Disability Friends Club of Jahangirnagor University (DFC-JU) recognized this exceptional achievement by organizing a special event at Jahangirnagar University Auditorium on the eve of International Disability Day, 2008. In that event Professor Dr. Muniruzzaman, Pro-VC and then Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University was present as the chief guest and handed over the appreciations to Mr. Sarwar Hossain Khan and other two awardees.

We once again congratulate Mr. Sarowar Hossian Khan and we believe that his remarkable achievement will inspire all of us.

Thanks and Best Regards,
Rakhi Barua
Project Coordinator, Promoting Rights for the Persons with
Disabilities (PRPD), CDD-MJF
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Thanks. Last year I remember I was with all of you at that program so congratulate again. That was nice program there four person received award from us.
Nazrana Yesmin, MJF
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Congratulations Sarwar bhai! I believe you will have good opportunities and scopes to utilize your learning and experiences. We are highly encouraged from your success.

Jibon William Gomes
Project Manager, Cooperation Program with Abilis Handicap International, Bangladesh
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Despite all those remarks of appreciation there is a great irony in the real life experience of Sarower. Even after accomplishment of his M.phil Degree and being the only person with disability having highest academic qualification in the country Sarower couldn’t manage a job for his own survival within one year. Over the year Sarower put his every efforts to get a job, but yet to get any positive response. As such, Sarower has made an urge to all concerns for providing him a job so that he can survive with dignity and to utilize his learning and experiences for empowerment of other people with disabilities in the country and can move forward towards his vision of achieving Ph.D Degree.

AWDP-Bangladesh believes Sarower will be able to get a suitable job and his achievement will be rewarded not only by words but also in action.

Get-Together of CRP Friends
Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed CRP-Bangladesh organized a get-together of its friend NGOs working with disabilities on 1 August 2009 on celebrating its year long 30th anniversary program. In Bangladesh CRP is the only organization that provides treatment, training and rehabilitation services to people with spinal injury and paraplegia. A good number of senior level representatives from different NGOs attended the event.
Valerie Taylor, Founder and Co-coordinator of CRP recalled many people with disabilities who have got services from CRP and got new dimension in their lives with different ability and confidence in her welcome speech. She added many of them are now making good contribution to support other people with disabilities through their services at different workplaces and through their own organizations.
This get together included CRP presentation on its speech therapy services, video show and open discussion. In the videos, developed by people with disabilities team focused on different abilities of persons with disabilities and sufferings of wheelchair users in their day to day mobility and accessibility.
Participants of this program strongly felt for a united effort to build a barrier-free and accessible environment for all. They also stretched on an effective law base on the rights of people with disabilities. CRP Executive Director Mr. Emdad Moslem facilitated the whole program.
AWDP-Bangladesh expresses its sincere thanks and gratitude to CRP and Valerie Taylor who shown light to Md. Mahbubul Ashraf, Secretary & Coordinator of AWDP towards living a life with disability and dignity.

DBBL's support for Club Foot Operation

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program arranges free surgical operation for children and adolescents with club-feet. DBBL is one of the large and reputed private bank and is well-known for its good contribution to the social causes in Bangladesh.

At present Dutch Bangla Bank Foundation invites applications from people with club feet and relevant stakeholders from around the country by September 30, 2009. Click on the newspaper advertisement in Bangla. For further information and assistance Mr. Tufael Ahmed, Senior Officer, DBBL could be contacted at ‘Dutch Bangla Bank Foundation, Sena Kallyan Bhaban (5^th Floor), 195 Motijheel Commercial Area, Dhaka 1000 or through Tel: 7176390-93, Fax: 9561889.

Previously DBBL, under its Smile-Brighter Programme has organised a four-day long plastic surgery operation camp at the bank's own cost at Popular General Hospital in Pabna district town from April 11 through 14. A plastic surgery team consisting of 10 members headed by the eminent plastic surgeon Dr AJM Salek has conducted the operation.

AWDP highly appreciates DBBL for all its efforts for people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Resource Mobilization Roundtable for DPOs in Bangladesh

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organized a National Roundtable on ‘Donors’ Support to DPOs in Bangladesh’ at BIAM Auditorium on 12 July 2009.

A good number of representatives from Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) and leaders with disabilities from around the country participated in the discussion. This discussion was unique in a sense that it created an opportunity for direct sharing of small NGOs, DPOs and grassroots organizations with the representatives of three donor agencies DRF, ABILIS and ADD.

It was a very useful and time-worthy effort by ADD on the eve of DRF Grant Making Announcement. This discussion session included information sharing on resource mobilization for DPOs in Bangladesh and capacity building. Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk in this discussion was significant. He shared the key issues of grant application process for Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh.

Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk was significant. He shared many important issues on grant application process of Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh. Michael informed that the DRF Call for Proposal will be opened on 15 July 2009 and ends on 15 September 2009. He mentioned DRF provides funding as well as technical support to the applicants and strictly follows the time line. All relevant information will available on DRF website. He requested ADD to facilitate interested organizations in this regard.

The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid MP was the Chief Guest of the program while ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD presided over the discussion. The Chief Guest in his speech emphasized on donor support to disabled peoples’ organizations and to disseminate proper information on resource mobilization, rights and development to people with disabilities and all relevant stakeholders. He mentioned that the government is keen to take special measures for employment of people with disabilities. It has already doubled the budget for the development of the people with disabilities in the fiscal year 2009-10. He also urged for a public private partnership and coordinated efforts for a meaningful advancement of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD and Chair of this session stressed on a participatory process of development including drafting of the law for people with disabilities in Bangladesh. Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP), on behalf of its members and Executive Council conveys it’s thanks to ADD management to organize such an useful and time-worthy initiative when DRF representative Michael Szpurluk was on a monitoring visit to Bangladesh.

Manju's Publications on Disability

Publication Ceremony of Fahmida Manju Majid's short story 'Se Bari Nei' and a children's poetry`Chorano Chora' was held at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka on 3 July 2009.

The short story 'Se Bari Nei' is a children's story on Autism. The whole story is composed on a growing child having autism. It also focused on misunderstandings, difficulties and struggle of the family during rearing up such children.

The other book `Chorano Chora' is its 3rd edition, a poetry of fifty poems for children. The writer focused on strong awareness and motivational messages on all categories of children with disabilities through these poems. She viewed children, adolescents and girls with disabilities from the dimension of challenge, ability and success.

Leftist politician Haider Akbor Khan Rono, renowned Educationalist and pioneer Environment Activist Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of GK and social change activist Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, educationalist Principal Shamse Ara Hossen, writer Ahmed Mazhar, poet Maruf Raihan and Sabina Hossen, Principal of SWAC spoke on the occasion while Dr. Shamim F Karim, Chairman, Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka presided over the ceremony. Celebrity Drama actress Shirin Bakul recited from one of the publications in her melodious voice in the ceremony.

Fahmida Manju Majid is the foremost writer in Bangladesh who has written a good number books of poems and short stories on multi-dimensional interactions of disability at individual, familial and social contexts.

Fahmida Manju is a psychologist, creative therapist, writer and a renowned storyteller of both hemispheres. Manju Majid is well known in Bangladesh as a media personality. She introduced disability program series in Bangladesh Television titled 'Sobar Shathe' and continued for about six years. She spent a long time in UK working for children with Down's Syndrom and Autism. She got British Nationality and worked for children with disability and BBC Bangla Service for a long durarion.

Fahmida Manju Majid is a caring lady with strong feelings for children and persons with disabilities. She has a close observation on the difficulties and impact of disability on the family, parents, neighbours and others in the society.

AWDP Treasurer Antora Ahmed and Coordinator
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf facilitated the program. AWDP wishes for a wider circulation of both the publications and good health to the writer.