On Disability and Tourism in Nepal: Article by Scott Rains and Interview with Paula Sotnik

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The Challenges and Promise of Inclusive
Tourism in Nepal
Dr. Scott Rains writes daily on travel and issues in the tourism industry of interest
to people with disabilities. His work appears online at www.RollingRains.com. He
is the founder of the global forum on Inclusive Tourism  Tour Watch. Rains
articles have appeared in numerous publications: New Mobility, Emerging Horizons,
Venture, Brave New Traveler, Challenges, TravelBiz Monitor, Enabled Online,
Contours, Accessible Portugal, Audacity, Travel and Transitions, eTur Brazil,
Success & Ability, Turismo Polibea, and Disaboom among others. Dr. Scott came
to Nepal in May 2014 to promote the accessible tourism in Nepal. During his short
visit, he visited Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara to practically see the situation
of accessibility and met with with many stakeholders from government agencies,
private agencies and disabled people organizations' leaders to work for promoting
accessible tourism in Nepal. NAPD-Nepal, in this regards, requested him to write
an article comprising the real learning from Nepal.
I came to Nepal to build on the
work of one of the countries
most experienced and respected
travel professionals, Pankaj
Padhanananga of Four Season
Travel and Tours.My assignment
was to experience and evaluate
the accessibility for wheelchair
users of their Nepal sampler
itinerary. It includes Kathmandu
for culture, Chitwan for a jungle
experience and Pokhara to get
close to the Himalayas. Since I
use a wheelchair and travel with
a personal assistant part of the
project was to build the capacity
of their suppliers, including
personal care assistants.
Something new is happening
in the world. Never before
have had so many people with
By Dr. Scott Rains
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disabilities had the possibility to live
such long and productive lives. In fact,
never has the older population of the
world outnumbered the young as it
does today. The rules of that future
are being born in choices we make
today. I applaud my friend Pankaj
Pradhananga for allowingme, through
the sponsorship of Four Season Travel
and Tours, to place before you the
opportunity to choose an approach
to doing business that ethically and
sustainably draws in this underserved
market. I wanted to write each person
who attended the workshops because
it is clear you are motivated to follow
through.
Already a joint Nepali and
international group have formed to
build the countrys first accessible
public restroom in Kathmandu. Id
like to see one simultaneously built in
Chitwan and Pokhara so I can begin
to tell the world that inclusion of
travelers with disabilities is a national
value in Nepali hospitality and so that
Nepali businesses would see more of
us active in society.
In my final workshop which was at
the US Embassy in Kathmandu I left
behind a challenge for Nepalese as
well as development programs run by
my own country. I specified these steps
in my final report to key stakeholders:
Hold professional training for airports
and airlines by Chicago's Open Doors
Organization
Purchase lift-equipped vans by hotels
for airport pick up and side trips such
as those modified by Braun Lifts of
Minnesota
Train a national pool of Personal
Care Assistants using internationally
accepted standards using experienced
trainers such a those at the Philippine's
PINATI.
Build a photo collection showing real
disabled people as models enjoying
Nepal using the stock photo service
PhotoAbility.net.
See to it that there are at least one
hotel room independently accessible
wth ADA-like international standards
(especially with a roll-in shower) at
each Nepali tourist destination city.
The challenges are significant.
Nepal will not be a disabled-friendly
destination over night  but it can be
soon.
In 2002 and again in 2005 a study
done in the USA showed that American
with disabilities was spending $13.6
billion annually on travel. Europe
estimates that its disabled population
spends even more. Australia claims
that its travelers with disabilities add
at least another $9 billion each year.
When the tourism sector in Nepal
understands that it is hurting itself by
not serving this market not only will
hotels and airlines change but that
spirit of social inclusion will spill over
to education, employment and public
infrastructure.
The key to achieving tourism for all in
Nepal is a practical approach known
as Universal Design. It begins by
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observing that real people come in
a variety of shapes, sizes and levels
of ability. It seeks to create for he
broadest range of people under the
broadest range of conditions so that
a product, space or service does not
need to be later modified for so called
"special” people or circumstances.
Universal Design imagines people with
disabilities, child, and older people as
participating in society. Then it builds
to allow that to happen.
To allow Nepalese tourism to grow to
its potential here is a list of the Goals
of Universal Design as developed
by Professor Edward Steinfeld. A
more detailed version of these goals,
with examples of each, is found in
his recent book, Universal Design:
Creating Inclusive vironments (Wiley &
Sons, Inc.).
Goal 1: Body Fit ! Accommodating a
wide a range of body sizes and abilities
Goal 2: Comfort ! Keeping demands
within desirable limits of body function
Goal 3: Awareness ! Ensuring that
critical information for use is easily
perceived
Goal 4: Understanding ! Making
methods of operation and use intuitive,
clear and unambiguous
Goal 5: Wellness ! Contributing
to health promotion, avoidance of
disease and prevention of injury
Goal 6: Social Integration ! Treating
all groups with dignity and respect
Goal 7: Personalization ! Incorporating
opportunities for choice and the
expression of individual preferences
Goal 8: Cultural Appropriateness !
Respecting and reinforcing
cultural values and the social and
environmental context of any design
project
I have no doubt after my experience
traveling through Nepal that this
human-centered social philosophy is
culturally appropriate with Nepalese
values. I also see signs of enthusiasm
for greater inclusion in tourism
around the country. I look forward to
evaluating the practical that will have
taken place when I return next year.
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Interview with Ms Paula Sotnik
Email: Paula.Sotnik@umb.edu
Website: www.serviceandinclusion.org
Ms. Paula Sotnik is a recognized expert consultant, trainer and
author on access and accommodations; culture brokering;
diversity; outreach and recruitment strategies; team and
partnership development; measurable outcome oriented strategic
planning; national service, volunteerism and disability legislation, policy knowledge
and practice acquired through years of personal, educational and professional life
experiences. She serves as a consultant reviewer and trainer for an international
fellowship exchange program. As part of her action, she came to Nepal coordinating
with Sagar Prasain  a youth with disability, and provided training on fund raising and
project proposal writing skills to the twelve different Disabled People Organizations
(DPOs) leaders at NAPD-Nepal. At the mean time, the following interview was
taken with her particularly focusing on her visit to Nepal. Her responses to the
questions in interview were given in details:
Q. Could you please share us
your visit purpose to Nepal ?
Response: Our organization, the
Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)
had a great opportunity to host an
IREX fellow-Sagar Prasain from Nepal
last Fall. The Institute for Community
Inclusion is a freestanding center at
UMASS Boston that supports the rights
of children and adults with disabilities
to participate in all aspects of the
community. Mr. Prasains goal was to
learn about U.S. disability law, policies
and practices. He accomplished this
goal yet we achieved much more which
truly benefited our staff. Mr. Prasain
educated us about what its like to live
with and experience disability in Nepal.
As a result, our staff became much
more culturally responsive in how they
approach people with disabilities from
other countries.
Ms. Paula Sotnik
Mr. Prasain and I also deve loped
a project and strategies to address
some of the access and issues in
Nepal, through his newly formed
nongovernmental organization,
Sangai Hami. I was fortunate to obtain
a travel grant to Nepal to continue our
collective work. My main objectives
were to:
provide a training on access,
mmodations, Universal Design, CRPD
and inclusion to participants with and
without disabilities
learn as much as I could about what
its like to live with a disability in Nepal
learn about advocacy activities,
disability services and supports from
visiting many DPOs and talking to
leaders in the disability community
My trip and the opportunity to learn
from others in Nepal was a life
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changing experience for me. I am
truly grateful to all in Nepal who spent
time and educated me. Also I am
very grateful to the U.S. Department
of State grant awarded to the IREX
Community Solutions Program, which
made Mr. Prasains fellowship and my
trip to Nepal possible. I truly hope to
return to this beautiful and embracing
country one day in the future and
continue to work with my new friends
to achieve a fully inclusive Nepal.
Q. How did you find the disability
movement in Nepal ?
Response: With very little resources,
a group of very dedicated committed
people who are passionate about
equality and inclusion and possess
a strong and consistent voice, are
making a huge difference in Nepal.
From the capacity development and
leadership of National Federation of
the Disabled Nepal and the National
Association of the Physical Disabled
Nepal to the dedication by mothers of
children with Down Syndrome starting
the Down Syndrome Society of Nepal
in a mothers home, these individuals
are accomplishing a shared goal of
providing opportunities for individuals
with disabilities of all ages to learn
grow and succeed. I met with a
young woman who, recognizing a
lack of services for youth with autism
and other intellectual disabilities left
her government position to start a
much needed school, Special School
for Disabled and Rehabilitation
Center. This school has successfully
transitioned children to regular
education classes. And I learned much
from the work by staffs of the National
Association of Hard of Hearing and
Deafened Nepal, who are educating
schools and parents of young children
to recognize and address hearing
disabilities.
I was so inspired by the young
leaders with disabilities who tirelessly,
articulately and intelligently study
best practices, inclusive policies and
strategies for potential application to
Nepal. These young leaders are our
future and this effort will make for
a future inclusive Nepal. I was very
encouraged by young leaders without
disabilities in healthcare, architecture,
media and communication fields
who participated in our training and
developed action plans on how they
will advance equal rights, access and
inclusion in their respective fields and
professionals. So, while accessibility
issues exist and progressive programs
for people with significant disabilities
are still in development, the efforts
and strength of committed Nepalis,
with and without disabilities, will
continue the momentum necessary
for including all citizens in their
communities, regardless of ability or
disability, and valuing their individual
contributions.
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Q. What are the major
differences that you have found
between your country and
Nepal in terms of protecting and
promoting the human rights of
Persons with Disabilities ?
Response: The United States has a
long history of advocacy for equal
rights, culminating in the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. This Act laid the
foundation for equal civil and human
rights for individuals with disabilities,
leading to a number of laws starting
with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) in 1990 and others. The
ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights
law that prohibits, under certain
circumstances, discrimination based
on disability. These laws would not
have been passed without advocacy
by individuals with disabilities. One
action, called the Capitol Crawl is
seen by many present-day disability
activists in the United States as being
the single action most responsible
for 'forcing' the ADA in to law. Over
60 activists left their wheelchairs and
mobility devices and began crawling
the 83 stone steps up to the U.S. Capitol
Building to demonstrate the unfairness
and even cruelties of inaccessibility.
The ADA was passed shortly after and
this strong advocacy action symbolizes
how people with disabilities unite,
have a voice and make a difference.
Although Nepal progressed and
ratified the Convention on the Rights
of People with Disabilities and enacted
laws, e.g., the Social Welfare Act
1992 and the Education Act of 2000,
Nepalis with disabilities indicate that
these laws and related policies are
not implemented and there are no
consequences for noncompliance.
More importantly, I learned that
these laws mandate what should be
provided to people with disabilities
with rather than guaranteeing equal
rights for individuals to actively and
meaningfully participate in society.
Also, language in these laws indicate
the government has the power to
provide access and supports but is
not obligated to ensure equal and
accessible resources and services.
Thus, governmental authorities may
be able to postpone or deny demands
for equal conditions due to a lack of
resources. However, it may not be fair
to compare countries and we need
to take Nepals political history into
account. Nepalis have only been able
to exercise and enjoy democratic rights
since 2006, a relatively brief period in
which to see major systemic changes.
However, this new democratic society
will continue to set a strong foundation
for the future development of rights
based disability policy.
Q. As being a disability right expert
having more than twenty years of
working experience, what do you
see the major gaps to be worked for
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towards promoting the rights of PWDs
in Nepal ?
Response: The first factor that comes
to mind is the need to increase
individuals with disabilities who have
decision-making power in leadership
roles in government. Secondly, equality
and inclusion is everyone’s business
and responsibility, not just people
with disabilities and DPOs. Thus it
is critical to educate government,
employers, students, schools, non-disability
related NGOs, health care
workers and more. Education should
not just focus on legal compliance
but focus on stories of how citizens
with disabilities are important to
Nepali society. Individuals telling their
stories about how they have made
positive and significant contributions
to their families, community and
society are paramount. Educating
everyone that people with disabilities,
with opportunities to equal access
and supports if needed, are and can
become are teachers, doctors, lawyers,
mothers, fathers, and leaders in Nepal.
And any education efforts should
focus on Universal Design to show
everyone how elements of inclusive
programmatic and architectural
design doesn’t just benefit individuals
with disabilities, but benefits everyone!
Additionally, I frequently heard that the
government has the laws but lacks a
viable implementation plan to ensure
and promote the rights of individuals
with disabilities. As mentioned, strong
consistent Nepali NGOs and DPOs
can work together to develop a strong
coordinated and united effort, with one
voice, to compel and assist with the
development and implementation of a
plan for accessibility and inclusion that
includes overall goals with concrete
and measurable objectives, and most
importantly an evaluation system that
holds all parties accountable. Like the
U.S., all structures and agencies that
that are funded by or benefit from
government funds lead the example
in becoming fully accessible and
inclusive. By doing so, these entities can
set a good example for businesses and
other community resources to achieve
accessibility so that all individuals may
benefit.
Q. It is obvious that its state's
first responsibility to protect and
promote the fundamental rights
of its every citizen. However, it
seems very desperate in terms
of persons with disabilities
not only in particular country
instead globally. Therefore,
what do you think it to be so ?
Response: Circumstances and views of
people with disabilities are changing
for the better, but doing so very slowly.
In the not too distant past, people with
disabilities were viewed as recipients,
objects of charity,powerlessandwithout
a voice. Governmental officials did not
prioritize the interests and needs of the
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disability community. Over the past
years, there has been an increased
emphasis on supporting more
individuals with disabilities to vote
and have more of a voice in choosing
their political leaders. We are also
now seeing people with disabilities
assuming more leadership positions,
in valued roles in the media and
actively engaged in their communities.
However in many developing
countries people with disabilities still
lack essential services and access to
education, work, health services and
participation in the governmental
decisions. We are still facing prejudice
and being thought of as “less than” by
many of our fellow citizens. I remain
optimistic that the Convention on the
Rights of People with Disabilities will
universally mandate that states should
uphold the rights of everyone. I see
an increase in our youth and young
adults, with and without disabilities,
taking the Convention very seriously
and strongly advocating for equal
access and inclusion. This trend, by
our young leaders, will create a more
equalizing and accessible future in
which countries and states prioritize
the needs and interests of individuals
with disabilities.
Q. Finally, thank you so much
for your precious time and
opinions for the above raised
queries. Would you like to say
anything more besides these ?
Response: As mentioned the DPOs
work tirelessly with little to no
resources. Many of the staff are not
paid or paid very little for long hours.
Some funds might be provided by
government, donations and/or by
other international organizations but
may not be enough to support all the
work that is necessary to successfully
implement projects that make a
difference in the lives of individuals
with disabilities. From talking with
many of the DPOs it seems that a
capacity building effort is needed to
assist DPOs to obtain and manage
larger government and foundation
grants. The focus should encourage
effective partnering to build a strong
proposal and leverage resources,
working with an intermediary
seasoned organization that not only
subcontracts small amounts to DPOs
but, more importantly, replicates
competitions through which DPOs may
hone their skills to develop strong and
winning proposals, and subsequently
be funded. This strategy, successfully
used in the Unites States, may hold
promise for Nepali DPOs to increase
their ability to self-sufficiently compete
and be awarded significant grants,
without relying on larger international
organizations for small subcontracts.
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