by: Macky Calbay
High energy was evident at the opening of the highly anticipated IDPP Annual Meeting and inaugural two-week residency for the Master’s of International Affairs in Comparative and International Disability Policy (CIDP). Ten participants composed of 6 Filipinos (2 mobility, 2 visual, 2 Deaf persons), 2 Vietnamese (1 mobility and 1 visual), 1 Cambodian (visual), 1 Singaporean (Deaf person) were accepted in Masters in Comparative and International Disability Policy (CIDP) in the American University.
The Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) aims to contribute to the overall vision of an ASEAN Region that is inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based, where people who are disabled are leaders in the determination of their own destinies.
The CIDP Program, offered by American University’s School of International Service and directed by AU Associate Professor Dr. Derrick L. Cogburn, is a completely virtual graduate program, but has a two-week face-to-face residency that started last July 18 in Bangkok, Thailand. The residency introduced the first cohort of CIDP graduate students to the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) for the ASEAN Region, its university and outreach partners, and to key concepts that will be developed further in classes and seminars during the year-long CIDP program. Source: http://aseanidpp.org/
Raphy Domingo, Ms. Techie Dela Torre and I attended the Master’s Degree Program Orientation from July 18 to 29, 2011. We are staying at the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disabilities Training Center (APCD). We met a lot of great people. Raphy and I went to Mahidol University for training on using backboard in collaboration with virtual web conferencing. We learned about ASEAN Issues, Policy Exercises and Case Studies, Faculty Chat, Accessibilty Roundtable, Technology Overview, Human Rights of Persons with Disability Issues, Disabled People’s International Bangkok. We also toured Mahidol Campus. We are overwhelmed with the wealth of information but we are happy to be learning a new things and meet on this challenge as an opportunity.
Before we thought that everything would be completely accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) but when we started the Master Orientation, we realized that we will have a difficult time with the technology access especially virtual Blackboard collaboration since they just test period with audio and closed caption. We suggested to IDPP to find another way to get a service support like interpreter on cam and note taker to understand the full of information and lectures before the class starts on August 2011.
Last weekend we toured the National Discovery Museum Institute and The Rose Garden. There are many beautiful places and delicious Thai food. We enjoyed getting to know our classmates and taking pictures.
When we come back to Manila, we have a lot of work on including new projects and policy improvements. We plan to share what we learned to other pople while we are working on our Masters. We will help and support the Deaf and Person with Disabilities ; work together and build a bridge to a better and bright future.
Nippon Foundation of Japan supported us for the accommodation, flight and meals while in Bangkok, Thailand and also tuition fees.
Macky Calbay is the new Deaf Advocacy Coordinator for the Center of Partnership and Development (CPD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS).
Together with Raphy Domingo, new Education Access for the Deaf coordinator under CEAD, they will be going through the Masters Program.
Techie de la Torre, Director of DLS-CSB's Center for Educational Access and Development (CEAD), and Nora Shannon of PEN International also attended the orientation in Bangkok.
To know more about the program : http://www.american.edu/americantoday/campus-news/20110719-COTELCO-Disability-Policy-Program.cfm
Expect more stories and photos when they come back.
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