Institute on Disability an Public Policy

The IDPP is the result of almost 2 years of work that was the creation of a casual talk between a chairman and executive director of the Nippon Foundation a few years ago. It started from a question “Is there a way to help strengthen public policy in the ASEAN region with and for people with disabilities?”

Strengthening disability policy in the ASEAN region and around the world is important since it is estimated that fifteen percent of the world's population has disabilities. We should also consider that there are 600 million people in ASEAN countries (according to the World Report on Disability developed by the World Health Organization and the World Bank). The IDPP focuses on the creation of an ASEAN region that is inclusive, barrier-free, and rights-based, where persons with disabilities are leaders in the determination of their own destinies. It is partnering with governments to foster public policies that promote persons with disabilities entering society to compete on a par with their non-disabled peers. It prepares disabled leaders in the field of public policy, offering the world‟s first virtual Master‟s degree at the intersection of disability studies and public policy using advanced cyber learning techniques.

First IDPP cohort at inaugural convocation ceremony for degree candidates in the Master’s in Comparative and International Disability Policy on August 14, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand The IDPP‟s ambition is to enhance human resource development in all sectors of the economy through quality education, upgrading of skills and capabilities and training... and to create a way that all people enjoy equitable access to opportunities.

Based on the viewpoint of that there are not people with disabilities, just ones with different abilities, the IDPP is ambitious for improving circumstances of persons with disabilities in ASEAN countries toward the World for all.

By Duong Phuong Hanh

Source: http://aseanidpp.org