Leonard Cheshire Disability/UNESCAP Conference on Disability: A Global Perspective on Rights to Education and Livelihoods
Leonard Cheshire Disability and UNESCAP jointly hosted this conference in Bangkok from 17-18 October 2005. The first day focused on education with keynote speakers from the World Bank and the UK Department for International Development. Lively panel and workshop discussions covered themes ranging from early education, policy and practice for inclusive schools to programmes for children with multiple learning disabilities.
The second day focused on panel and workshop discussions on aspects of economic empowerment that covered policy and practice from the perspective of employers, activists, policy makers and practictioners. Specific themes focused on micro-credit, promotion of entreprenuership, removing barriers in the workplace and mainstreaming disability in economic development in post-conflict countries.
The conference provided an excellent forum for debate on the two themes. By creating a platform for the development of key partnerships, it also afforded opportunities for strengthening understanding between people with disabilities, researchers, policy-makers and implementers. The outcome, the Bangkok Statement, can be accessed below and can serve as an effective tool for lobbying for changes in policy and practice. A report of the conference has been produced and is also available, along with the conference papers, below.
Over 270 participants from 50 countries attended the conference. To contact participants, please view the participants contacts list below.
For accessible versions of the materials or more information on the conference, please contact Anni He, International Departmental Administrator on
anni.he@lcdisability.org.
