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339 - Voices of Pacific Children with Disabilities, Deakin University,
Australia
CONTACT
Deakin University
Ms. Erin Wilson
Australia
+61 3 9244 61 58
OVERALL GOAL /MISSION
The project had two main aims. First, it wanted to develop a simple and effective method for children with diverse
disabilities to express or communicate their life priorities and human rights issues to influence and improve services and
policies affecting them. Second it wanted to achieve transferability and scalability of this method, utilising accessible
ICT, by designing education activities and resources for government, service providers and community members, both in
each target country and globally.
THE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED
The project developed a set of communication tools to enable the self-report of children with diverse disabilities about
their life priorities and human rights issues. They offer alternative methods of communication via visual, audio and
tactile means that assist them to express their views. The tools are "low-tech" and offer activities like dolls or drawing
and utilize ICTs, like digital photos and sound libraries. Through these tools, children identify life priorities linked to the
"Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities". This successful method is then the focus of an inclusive
education strategy, targeting local & global governments, services and communities, utilizing ICT as a medium for
accessibility and scalability. The education strategy includes: in-country training; resources and Guides about the
method; films presenting the children’s priorities and the method used; and an accessible website. A major inclusive
education element has been the development of three accessible films, including audio in local languages (Bislama and
Tok Pisin), English sub titles, captioning, and audio description – with audiences offered different versions to suit
accessibility requirements.
COUNTRIES IN WHICH IT WAS DEVELOPED: Australia
COUNTRY/ COUNTRIES IN WHICH IT IS OPERATING: Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea
FACTS ABOUT SIZE AND SCOPE
1) 89 children with disability aged 5-18 years living in rural and urban areas (46 in PNG; 43 in Vanuatu) have
participated and used communicative supports to express their life priorities and human rights needs .Of these, 47%