Fully Abled Nation Knowledge Sharing Session and Book Launch in Cebu

Persons with disabilities tell stories of exercising their right to vote in 2014 elections The Asia Foundation together with GVSP Philippines VSO Bahaginan, Upholding Life and Nature (ULAN), with support from the Australian Government, is celebrating the success of the phase one of the Fully Abled Nation through a Knowledge Sharing Session which will be highlighted by the Cebu book launch of VERA Files, Inc. “The Right to Vote: Filipinos with Disabilities and the 2014 Elections”, a publication that tells the stories of people with disabilities (PWDs) in exercising their right to vote during the 2013 Midterm elections.

There will be a project highlight presentation on Volunteering for Inclusive Disability Midterm Elections by VSO Bahaginan and the milestones of the Enhancing Skills Access and Opportunities of Filipino Sign Language in regional TV broadcast, voter registration, education in Baguio City, Cebu City, Davao City and Iloilo City by GVSP Philippines. The presentation of audit results of the accessible polling places will be featured Upholding Life and Nature (ULAN).

The publication examines the gains and challenges of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) and its Inter‐Agency and NGO Network on the Empowerment of PWDs and of the Fully Abled Nation project to enable people with disabilities to fully enjoy their right to suffrage. The publication is a product of rigorous and intensive research, interviews and analysis conducted over the past months throughout the country.

The Right to Vote chronicles the journey of the government and civil society to make the 2013 midterm elections disability‐inclusive.

The Fully Abled Nation project, supported by a Php52 million (A$1.3 million) funding from the Australian Government and implemented by The Asia Foundation, led a campaign to increase participation of people with disabilities during the 2013 midterm elections.

The project also collaborated with people with disabilities, disabled persons organizations, the COMELEC, the National Council on Disability Affairs, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Cebu‐Citizens Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation Foundation Inc. (C‐CIMPEL) and other elections‐focused NGOs and federation of persons with disabilities in Cebu province to increase awareness of the public on the importance of right to suffrage of people with disabilities and to participate in other democratic processes.

The book launch, which is being held at Cebu Parklane International Hotel on Thursday, 5th June 2014 at 2pm‐ 6pm onwards will also be attended by The Australian Ambassador H.E Bill Tweddell , Mr. Ky Johnson , Country director of The Asia Foundation, Yvonne Chua, of Vera Files Inc., former COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, and representatives from the sector of people with disabilities, and other partners of the Fully Abled Nation project.