Lao Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit organized the annual meeting to present about their activities and future plan; the meeting was held at National Rehabilitation Center on 2 November 2010 with more than 40 participants from governments agencies, representative from World Federation of the Deaf, Swedish National Association of the Deaf, Swedish association of hard of hearing people, NGOs, disabled organizations, deaf members and their parents.
The meeting was started with the presentation of Mr. Bountem Chantalivong - director of DHHU- about what have they done for seven year from 2003 - 2010under the financial support form SHIA. some of the key success include: the expansion of members net work and special school for the deaf and hard of hearing children in two provinces namely Luangprabang and Savannakhet. Latest data shown that there are 278 members in three provinces with the highest number of 218 members in Vientiane Capital. The other successful stories is the strengthening the capacity of DHHU
board members and other members through many trainings, for instance:
leadership training, sign language training, writing project proposal
training, and advocacy training.
Then the future plans was introduced which include the development of Lao Sign Language Dictionary project, preparing to register as NPA, public awareness raising, increase number of SL interpreter, and teaching Lao sign Language for deaf children who are not able to access school.
After the presentation there was a active discussion and many comments were raise:
- upgrade the sign language interpreter both in term of quantity and quality
- public awareness raising about disability rights and the important of Sign Language
- upgrade teachers at deaf schools
- expansion of deaf school
- sign languages training for government officer, employers and parents
- expansion of member net work to every district in Vientiane Capital
Mr. Ichiro Miyamoto - director of regional secretariat in Asia/ Pacific - suggested the following issue:
- should advocate for sign language interpreting services on national television
- should advocate for deaf members to have driving license
- should strengthen the capacity of deaf members to be self-advocate
- should strengthen international cooperation especially within the region
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| Mr. Bounvien Luangyoth, president of Lao Disable People Association gave key note speech |
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| Self-introduction section |
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| all participants |
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| Mr. Bountem Chantavivong, director of DHHU, explain the meaning of the Logo |
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| Phanita, DHHU board member share ideas for future plans |
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| Bountem, presented about activities that have done from 2003 - 2010 and DHHU future plan |
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| Soulideth, DHHU member sharing ideas to future plans |
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| Richard shared experience on deaf development in Thailand |
Truly, this meeting had been organized amazingly. I am so glad that it turned out to be a successful event. At the local meeting space San Francisco we also organized the annual business party and had hired a talented planner for arrangements. He really did a nice work.
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