Case stories on capacity development and sustainable results

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC5training participantworked closely withthe president of a privatecompany operatingin the finance,banking, and realestate sectors to promotethe constructionof facilities includingshopping malls accessibleto people withdisabilities. The companyalso trained its250,000 employees inbarrier-free environments,and trained itsguards and parkinglot attendants in helpingpeople with disabilities.In Thailand APCD piloted a project inthe Khon Kaen province, where it workedwith communities to strengthen their collaborationwith local authorities to transforma wide range of community facilitiesand initiatives to make them friendlier topeople with disabilities.Enhanced performanceAPCD was established as a platform toempower people with disabilities to advocatefor barrier-free societies and to sensitisepolicy makers and administratorsto the needs of people with disabilities.Its human resource development componentcomprises training to governmentofficers and to leaders and members ofassociations of persons with disabilities.APCD also played a facilitator role, offeringadvice and recommendations tobeneficiaries who spearheaded initiativespromoting barrier-free environments intheir respective countries. APCD leveragedits facilitating position to strengthenRegional networks, support the transferof resources from one country to another,and provide a platform for sharing knowledgeand experiences.APCD has invited policy-makers fromparticipating countries to its seminars,where government representatives haveshared their experiences and good practices.This knowledge sharing initiativehas allowed policy makers to gain an understandingof how improvements canbe made in their own countries, comparetheir countries’ performances againsttargets, assess the gaps, and identify opportunitiesfor improvement. The learningprocesses have helped senior officialsbecome more understanding of the needsCapacity development investmentsThe Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disabilityproject has been established as a platform toempower people with disabilities to advocatefor barrier-free societies and to sensitise policymakers and administrators to the needs of peoplewith disabilities.The Center has trained public administrators onthe needs of people with disabilities and solutionsto address them.A knowledge sharing platform allows publicadministrators to share experiences and goodpractices/lessons on how to develop barrier-freesocieties.