Consultancy Service for Developing an Illustrated Easy-to-Read Booklet and Self-Identification Guide in Nepali

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

1.   Background and Rationale

Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN) is a youth-led, rights-based organization established in 2012, led by and working for and with children and youth with disabilities in Nepal. With a nationwide presence through 10 dedicated chapters, BYAN promotes the rights, inclusion, leadership and meaningful participation of children and young people with disabilities.

BYAN works through advocacy, capacity strengthening, research, community engagement, partnerships and policy dialogue, with a focus on inclusive education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, employment and livelihoods, leadership and civic participation, climate and disaster resilience, and disability-inclusive development. BYAN works with government, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, youth networks and development partners to build an inclusive and equitable society where children and young people with disabilities can exercise their rights and lead change.

In partnership with CBM Global Disability Inclusion, BYAN is implementing the YATRA Project (2026–2029) in Bagmati and Madhesh Provinces to strengthen grassroots, youth-led Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).

Currently, persons with intellectual disabilities in Nepal face acute systemic exclusion due to the absence of a foundational, cognitively accessible reference document to identify and communicate their disability. Existing legal frameworks and medical disability identity cards rely heavily on complex clinical and administrative jargon that individuals cannot use independently. Consequently, they experience confusion regarding their identity, societal stigma, and discrimination or mistreatment in daily public interfaces (e.g., municipal/ward offices, banking institutions, healthcare facilities, and public transport), alongside significant barriers when requesting necessary accommodations.

To directly address these barriers, BYAN is commissioning the development of an illustrated, culturally contextualized Easy-to-Read Booklet and Self-Identification Guide in Nepali. This booklet serves as an empowering self-advocacy and communication tool, enabling persons with intellectual disabilities to assert their personal identity, navigate public spheres, and articulate their support needs with dignity and independence.

The consultant and development team will reference and align the development process with:

• Easy-to-Read Guidelines developed by Parents Federation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PFPID).
• Easy-to-Read Development and Validation Checklist developed collaboratively by the National Federation of Disabled - Nepal (NFDN), PFPID, and self-advocacy groups.
• International Easy-to-Read benchmarks, including European standards for making information easy to read and understand (Inclusion Europe).

2. Objective of the Consultancy

The primary objective of this assignment is to develop, illustrate, field-test, validate, and deliver a print-ready and digitally accessible Easy-to-Read Booklet and Self-Identification Guide in Nepali. The booklet will enable persons with intellectual disabilities to:

1. Understand their personal identity, rights, and strengths within a positive, empowering human rights framework.
2. Present themselves clearly and independently across public services and community settings using point-and-show visual communication aids.
3. Communicate everyday needs for accessibility and reasonable accommodations effectively.

3. Scope of Work and Key Technical Frameworks

The consultant/team shall execute the assignment adhering to a participatory, human-rights-based co-design approach involving self-advocates throughout every development phase.

A. In-Depth Desk Review & Contextual Alignment

• Review national and international legal and policy frameworks: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), Nepal's Disability Rights Act (2017) and its 2020 Regulations, and the National Disability Identity Card system.
• Review and integrate core principles from the Easy-to-Read Guideline (PFPID) and Easy-to-Read Development Checklist (NFDN, PFPID, and self-advocates).
• Operationalize CBM Global’s "Accessibility, GO! An Action Guide: Fulfilling the Seven Commitments to Accessibility" (developed jointly with the World Blind Union), ensuring accessibility principles are embedded across physical environments, information/communication, and service interaction.

B. Content Architecture & Modular Structure

The booklet will be structured into four main modules:

• Section 1: My Identity and My Rights: Clear, empowering conceptualization of intellectual disability in simple Nepali; dispelling common misconceptions and myths; grounding in dignity, autonomy, and equality under the UNCRPD and Disability Rights Act.
• Section 2: Self-Identification and Point-and-Show Communication Tool: Practical point-and-show visual cues and customizable communication cards allowing users to express personal identity, emergency contacts, essential health information, and immediate needs in public spaces (e.g., transit, banks, ward offices, clinics).
• Section 3: Accessibility in Daily Life: Identification of physical, communication, and informational barriers in public spaces, transit, schools, and offices, along with rights to universal design and barrier-free access.
• Section 4: Reasonable Accommodation: Practical, contextual examples of tailored individual support measures (e.g., extra time, simplified verbal explanations, quiet spaces, assisted paperwork, pictorial instructions).

C. Accessible Drafting & Contextual Visual Illustration

• Draft short, active-voice, single-idea sentences in plain Nepali, adhering strictly to easy-to-read typography and linguistic rules (e.g., standard layout, minimum 14–16pt accessible font, high contrast, generous white space, uncluttered pages).
• Create context-specific, respectful, and culturally authentic illustrations representing diverse Nepali daily life, urban/rural settings, and gender balance, ensuring illustrations directly reinforce and clarify the accompanying text.

D. Multi-Stage Participatory Co-Design and Validation Process

• First-Level User Testing: Test draft text and conceptual sketches with focus groups of persons with intellectual disabilities and self-advocates to assess comprehension, visual clarity, and relevance.
• Formal Validation Workshop: Conduct structured validation sessions with self-advocates, family representatives, and accessibility experts, ensuring every section and illustration is verified and approved by end-users.

4. Deliverables and Timeline

The total level of effort is set at 20Dedicated Working Days distributed across an 8-week implementation period.

5. Required Qualifications and Competencies

The assignment may be undertaken by an individual consultant or a multidisciplinary team/firm.

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Special Needs Education, Disability Studies, Graphic Design, or related fields. Practical experience and portfolio are highly valued.
• Professional Experience: Minimum 2 to 3 years of experience in developing Easy-to-Read literature, simplified visual learning materials, or cognitive accessibility tools.
• Facilitation Skills: Proven track record of conducting inclusive workshops and user-testing sessions involving persons with intellectual disabilities.
• Subject Matter Knowledge: Strong understanding of the UNCRPD, Nepal’s Disability Rights Act (2017), and CBM Global’s Accessibility GO! framework.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and creation of culturally grounded illustrations.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in written and spoken Nepali (accessible grammar).

6. Document Accessibility and Quality Standards

All working drafts, deliverables, and final files must comply with accessibility principles:

• Document Structure: Use clear, hierarchical heading structures, proper list markup, accessible fonts, and high color contrast. All documents must pass Microsoft Office Accessibility Checker.
• Digital PDF Standards: Final PDFs must include structured tags, bookmarks, alternative text (alt-text) for all images, and a logical reading order.

7. Governance, Reporting, and Coordination

• Reporting Line: The consultant will report directly to the Person (Project Coordinator – YATRA Project, BYAN).
• Technical Coordination: Close coordination will be maintained with the persons with intellectual disabilities.

8. Application Procedure and Submission Requirements

Interested applicants should submit the following:

1. Technical Proposal: Methodological approach and work plan.
2. Financial Proposal: Itemized budget in Nepalese Rupees (NPR), inclusive of taxes.
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV/s): Detailed professional history of key personnel.
4. Portfolio: At least 1 relevant samples of previously developed Easy-to-Read or simplified publications.
5. Statutory Documents: (For firms) Registration certificate, PAN/VAT registration, and latest tax clearance.

Applications should be submitted via email to [email protected] with the subject line:
"Application for Easy-to-Read Booklet development – YATRA Project"

Submission Deadline: Date 25 September