Building Inclusive Society and Participatory Democracy through Empowering People with Disabilities and their Organizations

Human Dignity and Peace Foundation

Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii (ATRC) Honolulu, Hawaii

1. 
   Introduction: Project goals and objectives ................................................................3
   
2. 
   Project implementation .............................................................................................4
   
3. 
   Final Program ……………………………………………………………………..15
   

Mrs. Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong's visit became true and was funded by the USA State Department within the «Professional Fellows Program». The aim of the visit was to learn issues and state policy concerning people with disabilities in Armenia, programs being implemented by local and international organizations as well as to present and share the experience in problem solving and regulating processes in the USA.

The main goals and objectives of the project are the following:

Project Goals

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  To improve the Armenian Disability NGOs and NPOs staff and members capacities in Advocacy.
  
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  To empower the Armenian Disability NGOs and NPOs staff for active participation in social and decision-making process.
  
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  To encourage the Governmental sector to be more open and inclusive in policymaking process in order to promote civil society and participatory democracy.
  

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  To raise awareness of NGOs and NPOs staff and members on their rights and opportunities.
  
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  To provide practical information and skills to NGOs and NPOs staff and members for analyzing and monitoring the policy making processes.
  
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  To make presentations on assistive technology on the importance of disabled people to be fully included in society.
  
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  To provide information and examples on how the assistive technology could help persons with disabilities in a fully inclusive in society.
  
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  To make presentations of successful cooperation of Governmental and Non Governmental organizations.
  
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  To stress importance of this cooperation in order to include all possible suggestions and find the best solution.
  
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  To provide information on the law making process, to make practical suggestions about the Disability Draft Law according to Americans with Disability Act.
  

It was a great pleasure for me to host Mrs Fischlowitz-Leong in Armenia for two weeks first of all as an Experienced US Proffesional and of course as a special guest for our family. During the 2 active working weeks in Armenia a number of meetings were organized. Among them meetings with American Councils Armenia, Save the Children LIFE team and implementing partners "Unison" and "Full Life" NGOs and "Human Dignity and Peace" foundation staff, deputy minister of Labour and Social Issues, representatives of Ministry of Education and Science, Employment Agency and centers, NGOs, Yerevan State University students, as well as meeting with staff and students of special school number 14. Among the important meetings was the meeting with the USA deputy ambassador Price Woodford and press attaché John Goshert during which the importance of usage of assistive technologies in independent life of individuals with disabilities was discussed.

Before start the program we had an important introductory meeting in American Councils Office in Yerevan with Karen Smith, Country Director, and Nane Abrahamyan, PFP Coordinator. During the meeting we discussed the goals and objectives of the program as well as the schedule of program activities. Mrs Fischlowitz-Leong told about her experience and expressed her readiness to cooperate with governmental and nongovernmental organizations within the framework of the PFP. The continuation of the day was just as exciting as the beginning since we were invited to the PFP Pre-Departure dinner, where my guest had an opportunity to get acquainted with PFP alumni group. And fellows who were going to leave for USA had a chance to get first hand information about the country, culture and other issues of interest from Mrs Fischlowitz-Leong.

The second day started with travelling to the Shirak region, particularly to the second largest city in Armenia called Gyumri, where were held a number of meetings with governmental and nongovernmental organizations.

First of all we visited Lentex Factory, an enterprise specializing in socks and knitwear manufacturing, where a large number of people with disabilities were employed. We had a productive meeting with head of Lentex Factory staff Susanna Astoyan. During the meeting there was discussed the importance of using disabled people working potential and abilities. Mrs Fischlowitz-Leong presented her experience in this field especially the using assistive technologies during working process. There was organized a guided tour in the factory for Mrs Fischlowitz-Leong and she spend a pleasant time with employees who had disabilities.

In the afternoon we took part in Employers Forum which was organized by Gyumri employment center. Almost 35 employers, local municipality’s and different nongovernmental organizations’ representatives participated in that forum, where a special part was devoted to employment issues of persons with disabilities. During the meeting a number of interesting issues were discussed as well as questions were asked about international experience, especially US best practices.

The continuation of the working day was also spectacular as we visited to “Prkutyun” Salvation NGO, center for children and youth with intellectual challenges. We met with Mrs. Arpine Abrahamyan, head of the NGO and Ms Anush Eghiazaryan, project manager. The discussion was about problems and obstacles that people with intellecual challenges faced with in Armenia, as well as about state policy and projects that are not enough to integrate that people into society. Ms Eghiazaryan kindely orginesed a tour whithin the “Prkutyun” Salvation NGO, during which we met with children and youth with intellectual challenges, their families and trainers. And we also got acquainted with projects that NGO were implementing. Moreover we took part in some of their trainings.

Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong was so impressed with the NGO's projects, qualified employees and warm and professional atmosphere in the organization that donated some money to them.


Day 5

02 Ocotber, 2015
Friday was quite busy as well. We visited to Artashat employment center, which was in Ararat Region. The meeting was with Vachik Avetisyan, head of employment center. During the meeting a discussion was held about employment issues of people with disabilities, current employment situation and labor market in Armenia. Mr. Avetisyan did a detaled presentation on state employment projects for job seekers with disabilities and employers. He mentioned that in addition to the employers' attitude and stereotypical way of thinking issues in Armenia we had also lack of motivation of working or fighting for their own rights among people with disabilities. Furthermore Mr. Avetisyan presented MAST Test equipment, which was an efficient tool for assessing the physical capacity of people with disabilities. The opportunity to have such equipment became true within the framework of “Livelihood Improvement tհrough Fostered Employment (LIFE) for People with Disabilities Program” which was financed by USAID. Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong had an opportunity to be tested through this equipment. She mentioned that it was a great tool which would let employment centers' specialists to have an objective picture of persons’ abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Moreover it would let the specialist to guide job seekers to labor market and job places in more targeted way. And in the end of the meeting both interlocators shared visit cards and souvenirs and express their readiness to cooperate.

And the end of the Friday we spent our time in a cozy restaurant with my beloved friends and best Armenian wines.

After a hard working day we headed to Etchmiadzin, the center of Armenian spirituality.

During the meeting we were invited to be part of a wonderful performance in the theater named after Hakob Paronyan in the same evening. “Girl on the Moon” was a great show and touching dance performance highlighting the strength of people with disabilities and the importance of inclusion. In honor of the performance a reception was organized in Armenia Marriot hotel, where we had chance to met the USA deputy ambassador Price Woodford, with whom we had discussion about our project and planned meeting with Microsoft innovation Center in Armenia.

With the great support of US Embassy we had a productive meeting in Microsoft Innovation Center in the afternoon. The project manager Sona Martrosyan briefly presented the vision and strategy of Microsoft Innovation Center in Yerevan. It was quite interesting to realize that among 120 Innovative Centers in all over the world Yerevan Center was in top five. Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong promote the idea of using Microsoft accessible programs for providing job opportunities and independent living conditions. Ms. Martirosyan assured that Microsoft’s policy is non-discriminatory so they are open to discuss all possibilities and opportunities of using Microsoft programs in order to provide equal access to assistive technologies. So we get an agreement on further cooporation.

And the completion of the wonderful day was a spectacular dinner with PFP Fellows who completed internships in Hawaii. Moreover, Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong was host mom of Arshak Gasparyan, who spent a month in Hawaii in 2013.


Day 11-12

08-09 Ocotber, 2015
The last two working days were as busy as the all period of the project. We had a number of meetings with nongovernmental and international organizations such as “Unison” and “Voice of Silent” NGOs, “Full Life” DPO, “HDP” Foundation, “Save the Children International”-s LIFE team and Yerevan State University's Social Work Department. During meetings Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong provided a brief introductory about their rights and responsibilities, as well about monitoring and analyzing mechanisms. She empowered them to be more active in public processing in order to be able to raise the voice of persons with disabilities. She encouraged them to take active participation in decision-making process. Moreover US Professional presented the importance and opportunities of using the assistive technologies in daily life, educational process and employment field.

Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong had half-day training on Assistive Technologies for Social Work Department students and lecturers in Yerevan State University.

In addition to the formal meeting we had many other non-formal, entertaining and familiarization meetings and events. We visited to the Matenadaran, National Gallery of Armenia, National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet after A. Spendiaryan, Armenian traditional restaurants and etc. On the very last morning I took Mrs. Fischlowitz-Leong to the place called Vernisaj, which is one of the tourists favorite places. She enjoyed walking and watching around and buying typical Armenian souvenirs for the family and friends.