Building DPO Outreach for Greater Disability Inclusiveness

Implementing Partners: World Vision

Funding Period: October 2008 - December 2009

Amount: $300,000

The program, managed by World Vision and in partnership with various Armenian disabled persons organizations (DPOs) works to

• strengthen DPO capacity to implement/manage programs effectively and efficiently
• increase the capacity of the Government of Armenia to better include people with disabilities in their strategic programming
• conduct a disability awareness campaign for greater inclusive practices

Specifically, World Vision builds the capacity of DPOs to advocate for themselves by using a participatory baseline survey to determine what the focus of capacity building activities, be it management or financial oversight.

The program also builds the capacity of DPOs to advocate for themselves in the areas of inclusive education and in education policy. For example, the program is working with twelve schools and twenty preschools on inclusive education design and encourages DPOs and parents of children with disabilities to work with staff to identify and overcome barriers.