Activity Report of Philippines on Independent Living Presented by: Abner N. Manlapaz Songdo Convensia, Incheon, South Korea October 26, 2012,
Luzon Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, Inc. and Life Haven, Inc. in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Batangas and APNIL and in cooperation with 4 th District Representative of Batangas, is propagating the IL philosophy.
Luzon In region 3 at central Luzon, the Regional Federation of Persons with Disabilities with the support of the Department of Health continuously organizes peer counseling seminars.
Visayas The IL group from Cebu is currently focusing training and building pool of Personal Assistants.
Visayas In Iloilo, one of the former Duskin trainee is spearheading independent living & peer counseling seminars in collaboration with Life Haven.
Mindanao Lead by HACI de Oro, the group organizes Peer Counseling Workshop (for persons with disabilities affected by the typhoon that hit the area December 2011). In coordination with the barangay health workers, they conducted stress release debriefing and distribution of relief goods Organizing training on personal assistance service
Key Activities of Life Haven Independent Living Center Continuously organizing seminars Supported the initiatives of other group to propagate the Independent Living movement Pilot personal assistance service Joins the Philippine Coalition on UNCRPD Joins the Mainstream Civil Society Organization Pushed for disability-related budget appropriation
Peer counseling seminars & workshop
Establishing Personal Assistance service system
At Life Haven Independent Living center
Peer visit
Organizing support group meeting
Facilitating provision of assistive devices
Getting involved in the budget process at national and local government
Issue on transportation accessibility
Access audit
Meetings with the Department of Social Welfare & Development
Managing bank finances
Group in action
Result of the Key Activities Inclusion in the General Appropriation Act of 2012 to support specific independent living programs and projects The Department of Social Welfare & Development is now considering the development of support services such as personal assistance service & sign language interpreters
Result of the Key Activities Mainstreaming of disability issue Wider and larger network from other civil society organization Building of the capacity
Challenges Resources to continuously be felt in the community for mobilization Attitude of government
Maraming salamat po! Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. - George Bernard Shaw