Asia Pacific Center for Disability Project (APCD), a technical cooperation project between the government of Japan and Thailand officially recognized MCCID College as one of its Associate Organizations based in the Philippines last November 14 and appeared in their website on December 12.
In a formal letter sent to MCCID Training Director, APCD through their Director Ms. Kanitta Kamolwat accepted the school’s application for membership after passing their basic requirements. They also expressed their appreciation for the efforts made by the school in promoting the welfare of persons with disabilities specifically the deaf sector in the Philippines.
As an associate organization, MCCID College can take part in their annual programs and activities as well as participate in their international trainings, conferences and events. They will also support the capacity-building of the focal point and associate organizations to network information especially grass-root organizations. This will encourage grass-root organizations to share and disseminate disability related information in an accessible way to all in the Region.
As its first joint activity, MCCID College collaborated with APCD, the National Council on Disability Affairs and Resources for the Blind in documenting and presenting a 5-minute video on the success of ICT accessibility best practices in the Philippines. In a meeting last November 14 held at NCDA Board Room, APCD representative and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Expert Mr. Ryuhei Sano led the brainstorming and planning of this special activity. MCCID will be involved in the sign language interpretation of the video. The documentation is tentatively scheduled to be filmed in May 2009 and will be released during the National Disability and Prevention Week Celebration on June.
APCD’s main goal is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region. They were established in 2002 as a legacy of the Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, under joint collaboration of the Government of Japan and the Royal Thai Government. APCD has been endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific as a regional cooperative base for its Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive,Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,2003-2012.
The APCD team led by Mr. Akiie Ninomiya, APCD Chief Advisor first visited the school in 2004 in its former Sta. Mesa campus. They were warmly welcomed by the school’s officials and students.
APCD is the first international agency that recognized the school under its college status. To know more about them, visit their official website.
