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INTENTION : |
We pray that people living with disabilities may be at the centre of attention in society, and that institutions may offer inclusive programmes which value their active participation.
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Making the future of work inclusive of people with disabilities
The future will bring significant challenges for society in general and the world of work in particular. These challenges must be addressed before they arise to ensure no one is left behind, especially those most vulnerable, including persons with disabilities.
Ensuring an inclusive future of work is part of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others.
Employability data of persons with disabilities are hard to obtain; however, where data are available, the labour market participation rate of persons with disabilities is lower than that of persons without disabilities.
The situation of women with disabilities is worse. With the foreseeable changes in the future labour market, this gap could widen further, and action must be taken to ensure this is not the case.
The megatrends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will shape the future of work.
The Technological Revolution:
* the new skills that will be required,
* the cultural changes being witnessed in society;
* demographic shifts and
* climate change mitigation.
All of these trends are closely interconnected. These key trends are analysed from the perspective of disability, and specific actions are identified that are required to design a roadmap toward the desired future of work.
This exercise has been carried out in terms of the diversity within the population with disabilities, not only considering the different types of disabilities themselves but also other factors such as gender, age, or economic context.
The following five key objectives for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the future of work have been identified:
1. New forms of employment and employment relations integrate disability inclusion
2. Skills development and life-long learning made inclusive of persons with disabilities
3. Universal Design embedded in the development of all new infrastructure, products and services
4. Assistive technologies, existing and newly developed, to be made affordable and available
5. Measures to include persons with disabilities in growing and developing areas of the economy
Governments, companies, disability NGOs, trade unions and academia must be encouraged to commit and contribute towards achieving these objectives through different actions. An inclusive future of work can be reached through coordination and alliances among the different stakeholders.
From Courtesy of DISABILITY Hubeuropa.
Prayer for children with disabilities
Every child deserves the chance to reach their God-given potential. More than 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability - many of them children. Some have been affected by congenital diseases or malnutrition. Others have been disabled by war or conflict and other dangers such as infectious diseases. Join us in prayer for children with disabilities around the world.
In developing countries, children with disabilities often cannot attend school, play outside, communicate, be included in the community, or access specialised resources and care.
Negative stigma or superstition among their parents, neighbours, and community leaders cause or reinforce these barriers. Children in these situations can become isolated, lonely and may have little hope for the future.
Boniface and Winfred were away from their home in Mwala, Kenya when Winfred went into labour. After eight hours, she gave birth to him in a bush. Then, they walked for two days to get to the nearest hospital, where they learned that Dennis had cerebral palsy.
Boniface says that when he heard about Dennis' disabilities, his faith faded. He says. "I felt like God hated me - that it was a curse."
Dennis spent the first five of his eight years mostly sitting on the rocky soil at his home, unable to move from place to place. But in 2011, World Vision started working in Mwala and registered Dennis for sponsorship.
Dennis received a proper fitting for the wheelchair; then, his parents learned how to clean and care for it. World Vision trainers also worked with families to help them understand the often-overlooked potential of children with disabilities.
Key to the project's success was transforming people's attitudes in the community. That change began at home for Dennis.
Boniface went from feeling cursed to seeing Dennis as a gift from God. Now, Boniface says. "For a parent with a special [needs] child, I would encourage them to take good care of their children and to love them because that is God's plan," he says. "[I would] encourage them to feel like they have a child with all potential. They could even be the light to the family."
And when the little warrior smiles as he sits in his wheelchair, that smile is a light of love to the world.
Join us in prayer for children with disabilities around the world.
Pray for children with disabilities to be included.
Children with disabilities often face discrimination, bullying, neglect, abuse, and violence. But they have God-given gifts that are often overlooked. World Vision's work in disability inclusion spans everything we do.
Lord, help children with disabilities know they are loved and matter to You and the world. Through Your Spirit, help workers train parents and community leaders to walk humbly to eliminate destructive stigma towards people with disabilities. May children with disabilities be afforded improved access to basic services, healthcare, and education.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs?to such as these." -Matthew 19:14 (NIV).
Courtesy of World Vision
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