BYAN started the new practice of learning inclusion and ways to ensure inclusion for persons with disabiliteis and other persons to include with persons with disabilities. We are very happy and are thankful for Snehadhara Foundation for this wonderful experience.

Overview of Arts Practices for Inclusion What is Arts Practices for Inclusion API is a first-of-its-kind course which looks at therapeutic practices and social inclusion through the arts. Based on Snehadhara’s experience in training over 60 Arts Based Therapy practitioners, a need was felt to design and implement a course that looks specifically at social inclusion through the Arts. API is a result of this vision and it facilitates the creation of inclusive spaces for children and adults with disabilities through student led projects. What does Arts Practices for Inclusion (API) focus on? API focusses on the development of practitioners as empathic, compassionate, present, boundaried, freedom-giving persons. Such persons touch the lives of others in a meaningful way – enabling those others opportunities to be a part of spaces, relationships and communities they may not otherwise have access to. API considers such contact to be therapeutic. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a new frame for integrated development- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs framework of 17 goals invite us to see health and wellbeing as a part of integrated development for not just human societies, but for the whole planet. In the context of mental health, there are indicators within Development framework for the promotion of mental wellbeing and prevention of mental distress. We need to work on both social conditions that place people at risk of developing psychosocial disabilities; and on creating support systems and institutionalized structures that address psychosocial health in an organic manner and in the context of the right to live in communities. Aim of course: Inclusion, Therapy and Arts

• Apply arts to facilitate social inclusion and its therapeutic benefits How can the aim be met?

• Arts enable expression

• Expression enables experience of inclusion

• Inclusion enables therapy

• Inclusion, therapy and the arts are three objectives of API practice Subjects in API

► Introduction to API – introducing basic concepts like art, inclusion, therapy, therapeutic relationship, API index.

► Introduction to Arts Practices – overview of art forms, their nature and application

► Music

► Community dance and movement

► Drama ► Play ► Visual arts ► Emotional and social domains

► Inclusion domain
► Circle of care – practices in daily life such as meditation, yoga, art journals, therapy

► Circle of care – personal domain – instructions about self-care in daily life
► Research, documentation and supervision

► Facilitation practice – how to facilitate sessions Diversity is the art of thinking independently together and The Arts is an experience that unifies this diversity. A for Arts, P for Practice and I for Inclusion constitute channelizing the arts in developing relationships by practicing the therapeutic benefits of creative arts with special needs populations to facilitate social inclusion. The basis of ‘Visual Arts’in therapy is its influence on  Imagination and Articulation  Creative abilities  Fine motor skills  Sensory integration  Patterns and Sequencing  Sitting tolerance and Attention System  Sense of time and place  Tolerance and Turn taking  Uniqueness and Risk Taking  Communication is not always about speech The basis of ‘Rhythm’in therapy is its influence on:  Motor-planning, coordination, learning and practice  Auditory integration and perception  Cognitive processing of patterns and sequences  Cortical Arousal  Group Interaction  Creative Expression  Neuro -immunology  Consciousness alteration

The basis of ‘Story Sharing, Theatre & Puppetry’ in therapy is its influence on:

► Spontaneity, Creativity & Language

► Emotions and No boundaries-expression

► Body Language and Communication

► Props & Visualizations

► Facial and Body expressions-Motor development

► Social Stories

► Puppets-Eye Contact-Attention Span

► Natural Responses over time

► Stories and Creation The basis of ‘Play’ in therapy is its influence on:

► Invitation to play- Respect, AOJ, Boundaries, sense of purposefulness and purposelessness

► Entering the Play space- Letting go, no inhibitions

► Here and Now- Involvement, Attention and Alertness, Experiencing novelty

► Possibilities- Exploring play space deeper (psychosocial), Connections or reflection of real life ( in roads and bridges), Witnessing Other people play

► Many dimensions simultaneously active –using voice,action, interaction, feelings, energy changes Through our Direct Care work at Snehadhara over the years, we found that not only did the children and adults with special needs benefit from the therapeutic application of the arts, but the mainstream populations also they interacted with found a wonderful new way of communication- i.e., by way of the arts. The video links shared will help you understand how we have worked with the arts to create therapeutic spaces. One needs to start with making a deliberate effort towards our participation in this process of Inclusion. Unless diversity is welcomed, and relationships are consciously nurtured, there will be little change in the educational experience of all. We invite you to lend a helping hand and be a part of the journey to fill the astronomical gap in basic services available for persons with disabilities. Join us, each step is indeed the next big step.

BYAN has started 10 days Basic Reaper Audio Production training for 7 Blind and partially sighted youths to capacitate themselves in development of audio materials, programs and others. Now,Blind youths are able to produce digital Audio in their own and are able to produce Audio programs. Mr. Rajkiran Sadashankar was the Trainer for the training.

On Feb 25, in joint collaboration with Family Welfare Division, Teku Blind Youth Association Nepal-BYAN has successfully conducted "Increasing access to comprehensive SRH of young PWDs" a launching and dissemination event. During the event, almost 75 relevant stakeholders such as government officials, DPOs, CSOs, INGOs, services providers (private vendors), and young PWDs were brought together to show joint solidarity towards an inclusive and accessible SRHR of PWDs.

We would like to thank all for the valuable participation in the event :Disability, Sexuality and Accessibility : “Increasing access to Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Young Persons with Disabilities in Nepal”. We are very proud and thankful for your commitment and solidarity for inclusion of persons with disabilities in Sexual and reproductive health rights. #disability #SRHR4ALL #InclusiveSRHR #AmplifyChange #myright

In order to increase the uptake of CSE, SRH, and claim the rights, it is important that individuals with disabilities possess the know-how and develop the confidence to make an esteemed decision. To develop such, they should be provided with opportunities to learn and express their concerns. Right now we are enhancing the capacity of the young person with disabilities (In total selected 24 young people with PD, BPS, HoH, and deaf from 4 different districts: Kathmandu, Kaski, Jhapa, and Rupandehi).

BYAN in collaboration with the National Association of the Sign Language Interpreters Nepal (NASLI) and the National Federation of the Deaf Nepal (NFDN), has been conducting a 4 days workshop on SRHR for the sign language interpreters of Nepal. We realized that there is the existence of a knowledge gap on SRHR among deaf and hard of hearing communities of Nepal. The absence of signs for many of the technical teams related to CSE and SRHR has created serious disadvantages for hearing impaired people and increased their vulnerability and made it difficult for them to claim their SRHR. Consequently, BYAN, NASLI, and NFDN decided to produce a dictionary for people with hearing impairments which includes CSE and SRHR related signs.

अपाङ्गता भएका व्यक्तिहरुको मर्यादित जीवन यापनका निम्ति सहयोग पु¥याउने उद्देश्यले २०५१ सालमाबनेको सरकारले मासिक रु १००का दरले सामाजिक सुरक्षा भक्ता उपलब्ध गराएको थियो जुन स्वागतयोग्यथियो । तत्कालिन सरकारले सुरुवात गरेको सामाजिक सुरक्षा कार्यक्रमलाई क्रमस दक्षिण एसियाका अन्यमुलुकहरुले पनि अनुकरण गरेका थिए ।

सरकारको उक्त कार्यको सवैतिरबाट सरहाना हुँदै आएको र सामाजिक सुरक्षा भत्ता पनि क्रमस बृदि हुँदैहाल पुर्ण अशक्त अपाङ्गता भएका व्यक्तिहरुका लागि मासिक रु ३०००, अति अशक्त अपाङ्गता भएकाव्यक्तिहरुकालागि मासिक रु १६०० भएको छ । सामाजिक सुरक्षा भत्तालाई जिवन निर्वाहमुखी बनाउनुपर्छभन्ने आवाज उठिरहदा गृह मन्त्रालय अन्तरगत राष्ट्र्यि परिचय पत्र तथा पञ्जीकरण बिभागको मिति २०७६चैत्र २६ गतेको निर्णय अनुसार सामाजिक सुरक्षा नियमावलि २०७६ को कार्यान्वयन गर्न भन्दै सवै स्थानीयतहलाई अति अशक्त अपाङ्गता भएका व्यक्तिहरुको सामाजिक सुरक्षा भत्ता निरन्तर नगर्ने भन्ने परिपत्रप्रति नेत्रहीन युवा संघ नेपालको गम्भिर ध्यानाकर्षण भएको छ ।

अपाङ्गता भएका व्यक्तिहरुको अन्तराष्ट्र्यि महासन्धी CRPD  लाई अनुमोदन गरि सोही अनुरुप घरेलुकानुनहरुको निमार्ण हुदै जानुले नेपाल विवेधरहित र उत्रदायी राज्य बन्न लागेको महसुस हुदै ग¥र्दा उक्तनिर्णय यस प्रक्रियामा अवरोधको रुपमा देखिएको छ ।

अतः सरकारले गरेको यस निर्णयलाई पुर्नविचर गरि अति अशक्त अपाङ्गताभएका व्यक्तिहरुको लागिप्रदान गरिदै आएको सामाजिक सुरक्षा भक्ता कार्यक्रमलाई निरन्तरता दिई अपाङ्गता भएका व्यक्तिहरुकोसम्मानीत जिवन यापनगर्न यो सरकार जिम्मेवार बन्नकालागि नेत्रहीन युवा संघ नेपाल हार्दिक अपिल गर्दछ।

मिति ; २०७७ जेष्ठ ८ गते

अध्यक्ष

कलाधर भण्डारी

1. Are people with sight loss at a higher risk of catching coronavirus as their experience of public environments is often more tactile?

Anyone can put themselves at risk through touching things outside of their home environment and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth before thoroughly cleaning their hands. The government guidance is clear on the dos and don'ts with regards to stopping the spread of infection:

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often - do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get back home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Don't

• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

2. How do I practice social distancing?

In order to protect ourselves and save lives it is vital that we follow Government guidelines on social distancing to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

If possible, avoid leaving your home and make use of local and national resources to support you in your house.

If you need to go out for a walk or to access essential goods, there isn't an issue for you to be guided by a member of your household. If you do not have anyone within your household to guide you, the government guidance is to maintain a 2 metre distance, so guiding should be avoided where possible.

If you are unable to gauge whether you are maintaining the recommended distance from someone outside of your home environment, you may want to implement the following suggestions:

• Make regular announcements letting others know of your proximity and that you are unaware of theirs
• Use your symbol cane when out and about so others are aware that you have sight loss
• Ensure to carefully wash/sanitise your hands before leaving your home and as soon as you return to keep the risk of spreading the virus to a minimum
• Avoid touching your face or touching anyone in your household unless you have recently cleaned your hands

3. Should I continue to use my eye drops during Covid-19?

Yes. If you are being prescribed drops for any eye condition, you should continue to use them as directed by your consultant. It is very important that you do not stop, as interrupting your treatment can cause problems with your vision.

We’ve all been instructed not to touch our faces and eyes to avoid infection. However, if you’ve been told to pinch the corner of your eyelid while putting your eye drops in, you should still be doing this as it is an important stage in making sure your drops are effective.

Before you start putting in your eye drops, it is really important that you wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, as advised by the Government. As long as your hands are clean, then you are not going to cause infection while putting your eye drops in.

4. I am worried about accessing products and services during the coronavirus pandemic, who can help?

Some of the operating online stores for the basic items are :

a. Bhatbhateni super Market;  You can call on 9801241449, 9801246806, 9801118837. Every order would require Name, Mobile Number and Address. We will be delivering at your home. Effective from: 2020-03-27

b. Nimbus bazar : https://nimbusbazar.com/

c. sasto deal : https://www.sastodeal.com/

Source : https://www.sightadvicefaq.org.uk/independent-living/Covid-19#