Friday, May 9, 2008

AWDP-Bangladesh
Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP) is a non-governmental voluntary organization in Bangladesh, working for improving the ultimate status of persons, women and children with disabilities in the country since April 1996.

AWDP is focused on information communication, training, education, accessibility, participation, rights and dignity of the people with disabilities.

This organization has been comprised of all categories of disabled people, their parents and relevant resource persons.

Mission of this organization is to contribute for improving the socio-economic and cultural condition of people with disabilities through the promotion of information, knowledge, skill, awareness and advocacy.

AWDP has been registered with the Directorate of Social Services, Ministry of Social Welfare and with the NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh. It’s a member organization of National Disability Forum (NFOWD).

AWDP has had program collaboration with National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (NFDDP) and National Social Welfare Council of the Government, Gram Sampad Unnyan Kendro (GRASUK), Unitarian Service Committee Canada-Bangladesh USCCB, Save the Children-Sweden, Centre for Disability inDevelopment (CDD), Action on Disability and Development (ADD), Lepra-Bangladesh and National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD).

AWDP actively contributed in organizing `2nd Regional Conference of CBR Network’ held in Bangladesh in 1997.

AWDP has published Biwako Millennium Framework for Action (BMF) towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific in Bangla and extended its expertise support to theDepartment of Social Services of the government of Bangladesh in the process of mid term review on implementation of the BMF.

AWDP has been well recognized for its universal information communication on disability issues. It publishes a quarterly newsletter `Spondon’



Contact:
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf
Secretary and Coordinator
220/1, Free School Street Kathal Bagan,
Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
Tel: 880 2 8650528, Mob: 880 1712184642
E-mail:
awdpbd@gmail.com

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Resource Centre for visually impaired students launched at Central Library of Dhaka University in Bangladesh

A Resource Centre for visually impaired students was launched at the Central Library of Dhaka University (DU) on 16th August 2007. A large number of Teachers of Dhaka University, Students with Visual Impairment, and leaders and activists of disability movement in Bangladesh were present at the launching ceremony. The Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz said such centre is essential to ensure the access of visually impaired students to quality education while inaugurating the Centre.

Initially the resource centre included 72 selected braille books on the requirements of visually impaired students studying in 12 departments and one institute. This resource centre has been established with the financial support of Sightsavers International an UK-based support agency that has been working in Bangladesh since 1973 for the prevention of blindness and promotion of the rights of the blind people. The inaugural function was also addressed by Dr Nazma Kabir, Regional Director of South Asia and Caribbean Unit, Dr Caroline Harper, Chief Executive of Sightsaver International and Prof Iqbal Aziz Muktadir, Director of the Institute of Education and Research.

Launching of this Resource Centre created a strong enthusiasm among all students with Visual Impairment. AWDP-Bangladesh is committed to extend every possible support towards strengthening this Centre.

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Other useful links
http://dpobd.blogspot.com/