by Elise

Members of Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, in South Korea, demanded a new law to enforce mobility rights for people living with disabilities, including more accessible buses with low floors. Blocking both sides of the main road where bus lanes are in Jonggak Station in the central ward of Jongno, South Korea, their protest lasted about 35 minutes and caused heavy traffic congestion. One protester atop a bus held a banner demanding a guarantee of mobility rights for people living with disabilities. Simultaneous with the Jonggak Station action, similar protests occurred at Sejongodaero and Gwamghwamun Square.

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Disability Inclusive Community Building is helping people in Kakuma Refugee Camp, based in Kenya. All of the refugees living there—from Sudan, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, and over 20 other countries—face barriers and challenges, despite this particular camp being well-organized and well-guarded. The group, Disability Inclusive, advocates for inclusive education, mainstreaming students living with disabilities, empowerment of women, prevention of gender-based violence, and peacebuilding. Disability Inclusive has taught business skills and made known the Inclusive Futures project, which provides inclusive education to children living with disabilities. Just a few years ago, Inclusive Futures focused on women with disabilities living in Kakuma by helping them develop their businesses and encouraging public and private institutions to hire more of them.

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Many organizations observed Autism Awareness Month in April. “Autism and Humanity—Every Life Has Value” is this year’s theme, focusing on dignity, inclusion and equal rights. In the U.S., the Mississippi Department of Mental Health held an Autism Resource Fair. Minister Julita Majungk of Sabah Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing called for access to proper facilities and for support services to be strengthened due to an urgent need for care and developmental support for autistic children in her Malaysian state, where there are only 18 special education centers. South Africa’s Owethu Ausome Centre hosted their third Autism Awareness event focusing on early childhood development and replacing judgment with understanding. One out of 100 children in the world are diagnosed with autism. Early diagnosis and support are critically needed.