We are pleased to share with you UNESCO’s newly launched project titled "Story for Development" which invites persons with disabilities from all over the world to tell and share their stories in order to identify and to explore the enabling factors and facilitators for persons with disabilities around the world to be empowered and what supported them in their efforts.
This project aims to demonstrate before government authorities, legislators, decision-makers, and key stakeholders that persons with disabilities from all age groups and backgrounds can be and are ‘empowered,’ act as active agents, and contributing members to the creation of wealth in our societies. In other words, the online platform aims to mainstream a shift of perspective on disability-issues, demonstrating that removing barriers to participation can enable persons with disabilities to achieve their potential and contribute to development. The collection of stories will constitute an essential set of case studies and data from persons with disabilities to develop informed policies and encourage community action. The platform has a forum tool and promotes the creation of an online community of collaboration identifying common barriers and facilitators for inclusion.
We kindly invite you to share your inspiring Story using the following website: https://story4development.org/our-stories and disseminate information about this project with your colleagues and partners.
Evaluating and defining what ‘empowerment’ involves varies contextually and in connection to multiple factors, UNESCO developed a comprehensive methodology to identify and to explore the enabling factors for persons with disabilities to be empowered, as well as the common barriers encountered. Different ‘Categories of achievements’ have been identified, including education, laws, policies, institutions, accessible communication, healthcare, and rehabilitative services, advocacy, etc., to gather statistical information for the consideration of governments, policy-makers, and other decision-makers.
Further, we would like to share with you the Call for Nominations - 2020/2021 UNESCO/Emir Jaber al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The aim of the Prize is to reward the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations that promote inclusion and the enhancement of the lives of persons with disabilities in society through the effective, innovative and inclusive application of digital solutions, including an immediate response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Please find all information about the Prize here: https://en.unesco.org/news/call-nominations-2020-2021-unescoemir-jaber-al-ahmad-al-jaber-al-sabah-prize-digital
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
ict-pwd@unesco.org .
We hope to publish and share as many stories as possible from all over the world, helping UNESCO and all relevant stakeholders, including decision-makers to build new data for more inclusive public policies as well as mainstream a shift of perspective on disability-issues.