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| A unique two-week study tour of Mongolian DPOs to the United States. |
December 3 marks International Day for People with Disabilities, an event observed around the world since it was first established by the United Nations back in 1981. It also provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on the ways in which the international community can interact with Mongolia's disabled population. For the US embassy, this interaction takes many forms:
Last year, the alumni association for Mongolians who have participated in US government exchange and scholarship programs organized two English language learning camps for disabled Mongolians, one focused on youth and the other involving adults. The camps, held at Nairamdal north of Ulaanbaatar and in the city at a National University of Mongolia dormitory, each lasted three weeks and involved 34 participants. The group has also come together for several follow up activities over the past year, including a project to support physical therapy for some of the participants.
This past August, the US Embassy arranged for Andrew Imparato - President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities based in Washington, DC - to visit Mongolia. His conversations with Mongolian officials and NGO representatives focused on the ways in which his organization educates the public, advocates for disability rights and helps realize the promise of the American Disabilities Act, important legislation that enshrines into law disabled rights across America.
In November, our Embassy joined with the Mongolian NGO "Wind Bird" to sponsor a unique two-week study tour to the United States. Ten Mongolians participated, seven of them disabled. Their two-week journey included meetings with White House Adviser on Disability Rights Kareem Dale and State Department Adviser on Disability rights Judith Heumann. In addition, the group saw at first hand US approaches to disability issues in Washington DC, Seattle, Baltimore and elsewhere. In their own words, participants returned "inspired" and "motivated" to adapt some of the "lessons learned" from their trip to Mongolia.
Over the past two years, USAID through Mercy Corps has implemented the $200,000 "FIELD" project focused entirely on disability concerns. The initiative is designed to advance goals of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, a 2007 protocol to which Mongolia is a signatory. Activities so far have included outreach to the Mongolian public and training for local officials. In addition, FIELD funds Mongolian NGOs working on disability issues in Ulaanbaatar, Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai and Dundgobi.
Virtually every US-sponsored cultural event over the past year -- including the well received concert tour by the Grammy award-winning band Ozomotli from Los Angeles in July and visits by the Ari Roland Jazz Quartet from New York last winter and again this fall -- has included outreach to Mongolia's disabled community.
At a more personal level, I have been honored to meet a number of disabled Mongolians with amazing personal stories:
- Journalist and media commentator Badamkhand Dologorsuren, founder and head of "Wind Bird," edits "One of Us," a pioneering program on Educational TV that focuses on issues especially relevant to Mongolia's disabled population.
- Entrepreneurs such as Bat-Erdene Dulmaa, Chuluunchimeg Chuluunbaatar and Bayanaa Bataakhuu run home businesses that produce high quality leather, cashmere and felt products.
- Physical therapist Enkhtuya Tserendash, founder of the Takhilt rehabiliation center, has so far provided medical and life skills training to more than 5,000 Mongolians.
- Although not himself disabled, Tseren-Ochir as the father of a severely disabled child founded an NGO in Baiganuur called “Children of the Sun” to assist families with disabled children and is now working hard to establish a place for them to meet on a regular basis.
- Youth leader Undrakhbayar Chuluundavaa, a board member of the Association of Wheelchair Users of Mongolia, studied for a year in Japan and is now making disabled Mongolians more aware of various scholarship opportunities.
- Youth leader Oidov Vaanchig, having received lengthy medical attention several years ago at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital, worked for the Mercy Corps "FIELD" program while also inspiring other disabled Mongolians to explore opportunities in education, training and other areas.
- Altantsetseg Choi and Begzsuren Jamsranjav of the Ulaanbaatar Public Library, in cooperation with the Mongolian Federation for the Blind, are leading the way to bring books and cutting edge information technology to the Mongolian blind community. Their proposal was chosen among 324 applications worldwide by the Public Library Innovation Program organized by the Gates Foundation to establish a DAISY talking books center for training and development of blind and partially blind citizens throughout the country.
- Erdenebold Uyanga, her sight impaired from an early age, received a Fulbright scholarship to study in the United States; she returned to Mongolia with Gladys, Mongolia's first "guide dog" - and now heads up the alumni outreach program at the US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.
While these and many other disabled Mongolians deserve special recognition on December 3, their work continues throughout the year. As an Ambassador and former aid worker, it is inspiring to see the level of interest and commitment that is demonstrated by such individuals on a regular basis. And, speaking for the entire US Embassy, it is gratifying to play even a small part in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of Mongolia.
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2 comments:
Well done Oidov!!!
Thanks :)
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