The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the Association of South East Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Training of Trainers on the Development and Management of Inclusive Programs and Services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) on October 28 to 30 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila.

The three-day conference is supported by Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).  It will gather various social workers and professionals from government and recognized non-government agencies from Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano- Soliman said that the Philippines fully supports an inclusive, barrier-free, and rights-based society for PWDs, and provision of auxiliary social services is a means of restoring their social functioning and participation in community affairs.

Auxiliary social services are supportive interventions that include the acquisition of mobility and assistive devices,  assistance and provision of medical intervention on specialty services, and promotion of positive attitude towards PWDs.

“It reduces the hindering effects of disability through provision of programs and services that will enhance their capability to attain a more meaningful, productive and satisfying way of life and ultimately become self-reliant and contributing members of society,” Sec. Soliman explained.

Topics to be discussed include Global Trends for PWDs by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), New Programs and Strategies for PWDs in the Philippines by Asia Pacific Development Center (APCD), and Community-Based Rehabilitation for PWDs by KASAMAKA-Community Based Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc.

ASEAN member-countries will also present their country papers on best practices focusing on the different auxiliary programs and services for PWDs, and advocacy strategies.

“We are happy to host this international event.  We hope that through this capability building training for program implementers,  we can strengthen and improve our service delivery for PWDs in the region,” Sec. Soliman enthused. ###