Idiriya
Encyclopedia
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.
Based in Sri Lanka
, IDIRIYA comprises a group of professionals in diverse fields who give their services voluntarily.
Their work is all about making a positive difference to human lives of able people who are disadvantaged
or marginalised by dis-abling society as they experience, for different reasons, restricted ability, mobility
in particular.
Although IDIRIYA do not seek to represent such people, they support and strive to empower them to lobby individually and collectively for change, to benefit their own day-to-day productive lives.
Their aims are not to make profits. In fact, all members work in an honorary capacity, in continuing IDIRIYA
to be: The Trusted Friend exceptionally responsive towards designing for inclusion of all and thereby emPowering everyone through 'increased opportunities' in daily life, to be more productive and gainful, healthier and full-fledged citizens.
However, the organisation, not an affluent body, receives no outside funding from any source and has been kept functioning actively, with commitment and integrity, by voluntary contributions of time and resources, mainly by its members.
was founded in 2005 by disability activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera
.
It was born from Perera’s (i). Passion for creating an environment that is accessible and user-friendly equally to everyone, enabling choice and with dignity, (ii). Commitment to make a consciousness-raising eye-opener on accessibility to built environments, technology, goods and services and (iii). Desire to promote universal design
principles.
IDIRIYA
have identified ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4 two prerequisites for a formidable and sustainable national economy: Viz. (i). Arresting the waste of productive human potential through mobilising the productive value of all people, able-bodied or otherwise, and (ii). Minimising unwanted dependents through empowering people.
They believe that construction of environments for inclusion of all people and optimum use
of technology
in daily life is cost effective, realistic and the effective way to arrest colossal waste of precious assets, enhances gainful opportunities for an increasing wide range of people and make everyone meaningful equal partners in Sri Lankan National development.
They realise the need for a new and more positive understanding and changing reactions to dis-Ability and its related key issues.
This requires opening of minds to the social model of disability
that explains how it's the dis-abling designs of social environment that renders a wide and diverse range of people increasingly dis-Abled.
The Simultaneous focus here is on two key aspects.
1. To design and conduct educational and awareness programmes as an on-going process, to stimulate the interest - and thereby induce a positive change in attitudes - to deliver better living environments and thereby to make communities liveable by everyone.
2. To provide the right guidance and proper advice, if required, to those who desire to construct or modify environments or even a mixture of both, so as to be enabling
equally for everyone.
recognise the fact that disability related internationally accepted standards and regulations in building construction and design of key building parts by professionals in this vital industry, often run high risks of failure in terms of practical implementation, if not backed by a good understanding of its intricacies and practical experience, as theory without practice is blind.
As such, authorities undertaking such tasks of National importance may well need expert guidance from those with insight and proven competence as to how best to do this Humanitarian work rightly.
To ease the difficulty of finding the right help, IDIRIYA
, as a trusted friend, has also stepped in here.
Several Organisations in Sri Lanka, both large and small, who desire to design and deliver better environments that can be used equally and safely by all sectors of society, with dignity and with safety, have already benefited to get what they want here with the right guidance of IDIRIYA
- a good testimony to their sincere commitment and proven competence.
IDIRIYA
in 2007 also initiated action and paved the way in the establishment and launch of the first Sri Lanka Standard for design in building construction by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution - SLS ISO TR 9527:2006 - taking into consideration diversity in ability of people.
Laws to require public buildings and facilities to be designed and constructed accessible to dis-abled persons were established in Sri Lanka in 1996 and further strengthened by the introduction of accessibility regulations under this law in 2005 and thereafter, receiving unanimous Parliament approval 0n 20 March 2007.
However, inept bureaucracy failed to establish a formal mechanism to implement and pursue the legislation and thereby to deliver practical effect, even in respect of NEW public buildings.
Violators roam scot-free, significant setbacks to gainful opportunities of disabled people, increasing numbers hence driven towards poverty affecting even their immediate families, waste of human potential, etc., and thereby reduce our limited resources causing substantial losses to the country.
Even after 15 years this malady continues as the non-disabled decision makers fail to recognise this National disaster.
Seeking redress for physically disabled persons accessing new public buildings, a fundamental rights application [Ref: SCFR: 221/2009] aimed at preventing further colossal losses the country incurs, was filed by IDIRIYA
at the Supreme Court in March 2009.
Dr.
Ajith C. S. Perera
– Hony.
Secretary-General
of IDIRIYA appearing in person on a wheelchair, argued the need to have the disability access laws and regulations already enacted some years ago, fully enforced and implemented with respect to new public buildings in Sri Lanka
.
The bench headed by the country's Chief Justice
, in delivering their unanimous judgement on 27 April 2011 which further strengthened the order given earlier on 14 October 2009, issued landmark orders (See External links.) having the potential to reverse these adverse trends and reap over 30 rich dividends for the country and its people - disabled and non-disabled alike.
This has been recognised in Sri Lanka
as a significant achievement towards equalisation of opportunities, 'not simply' but the hard way, by the dis-abled for the dis-abled.
* Supreme Court Orders of 27 April 2011 - ‘Accessibility for All’ at public buildings.
Based in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, IDIRIYA comprises a group of professionals in diverse fields who give their services voluntarily.
Their work is all about making a positive difference to human lives of able people who are disadvantaged
Disadvantaged
The "disadvantaged" is a generic term for individuals or groups of people who:* Face special problems such as physical or mental disability * Lack money or economic support....
or marginalised by dis-abling society as they experience, for different reasons, restricted ability, mobility
Social mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement of people in a population from one social class or economic level to another. It typically refers to vertical mobility -- movement of individuals or groups up from one socio-economic level to another, often by changing jobs or marrying; but can also refer to...
in particular.
Although IDIRIYA do not seek to represent such people, they support and strive to empower them to lobby individually and collectively for change, to benefit their own day-to-day productive lives.
Their aims are not to make profits. In fact, all members work in an honorary capacity, in continuing IDIRIYA
Idiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
to be: The Trusted Friend exceptionally responsive towards designing for inclusion of all and thereby emPowering everyone through 'increased opportunities' in daily life, to be more productive and gainful, healthier and full-fledged citizens.
However, the organisation, not an affluent body, receives no outside funding from any source and has been kept functioning actively, with commitment and integrity, by voluntary contributions of time and resources, mainly by its members.
History
IDIRIYAIdiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
was founded in 2005 by disability activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera
Ajith C. S. Perera
Ajith Chrysantha Stephen Perera, JP, CChem., FRSC , is a Chartered Chemist by Profession, a scholar, a former senior manager in industry, a qualified training instructor and also a former test-match-panel Cricket Umpire....
.
It was born from Perera’s (i). Passion for creating an environment that is accessible and user-friendly equally to everyone, enabling choice and with dignity, (ii). Commitment to make a consciousness-raising eye-opener on accessibility to built environments, technology, goods and services and (iii). Desire to promote universal design
Universal design
Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both people without disabilities and people with disabilities....
principles.
IDIRIYA
Idiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
have identified ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4 two prerequisites for a formidable and sustainable national economy: Viz. (i). Arresting the waste of productive human potential through mobilising the productive value of all people, able-bodied or otherwise, and (ii). Minimising unwanted dependents through empowering people.
They believe that construction of environments for inclusion of all people and optimum use
Organizing
Organizing is the act of rearranging elements following one or more rules.Anything is commonly considered organized when it looks like everything has a correct order or placement. But it's only ultimately organized if any element has no difference on time taken to find it...
of technology
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
in daily life is cost effective, realistic and the effective way to arrest colossal waste of precious assets, enhances gainful opportunities for an increasing wide range of people and make everyone meaningful equal partners in Sri Lankan National development.
They realise the need for a new and more positive understanding and changing reactions to dis-Ability and its related key issues.
This requires opening of minds to the social model of disability
Social model of disability
The social model of disability is a reaction to the dominant medical model of disability which in itself is a Cartesian functional analysis of the body as machine to be fixed in order to conform with normative values...
that explains how it's the dis-abling designs of social environment that renders a wide and diverse range of people increasingly dis-Abled.
Vision
IDIRIYA’s vision is: Enabling the people who are severely ‘disadvantaged’ or ‘marginalised’ in day-to-day normal life due to continuing poor building design and thereby establishing a society that does not discriminate against people with limited mobility - an inevitable fact as life unfolds.Mission
Creating awareness, Engaging support and Catalysing change actively ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4 to promote built environments that can be used equally and safely by all sectors of society, with choice, with dignity and without any hindrance.The Simultaneous focus here is on two key aspects.
1. To design and conduct educational and awareness programmes as an on-going process, to stimulate the interest - and thereby induce a positive change in attitudes - to deliver better living environments and thereby to make communities liveable by everyone.
2. To provide the right guidance and proper advice, if required, to those who desire to construct or modify environments or even a mixture of both, so as to be enabling
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
equally for everyone.
Significant Contributions
IDIRIYAIdiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
recognise the fact that disability related internationally accepted standards and regulations in building construction and design of key building parts by professionals in this vital industry, often run high risks of failure in terms of practical implementation, if not backed by a good understanding of its intricacies and practical experience, as theory without practice is blind.
As such, authorities undertaking such tasks of National importance may well need expert guidance from those with insight and proven competence as to how best to do this Humanitarian work rightly.
To ease the difficulty of finding the right help, IDIRIYA
Idiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
, as a trusted friend, has also stepped in here.
Several Organisations in Sri Lanka, both large and small, who desire to design and deliver better environments that can be used equally and safely by all sectors of society, with dignity and with safety, have already benefited to get what they want here with the right guidance of IDIRIYA
Idiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
- a good testimony to their sincere commitment and proven competence.
IDIRIYA
Idiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
in 2007 also initiated action and paved the way in the establishment and launch of the first Sri Lanka Standard for design in building construction by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution - SLS ISO TR 9527:2006 - taking into consideration diversity in ability of people.
Major achievements
Accessibility to built environments is an indispensable inherent basic human right.Laws to require public buildings and facilities to be designed and constructed accessible to dis-abled persons were established in Sri Lanka in 1996 and further strengthened by the introduction of accessibility regulations under this law in 2005 and thereafter, receiving unanimous Parliament approval 0n 20 March 2007.
However, inept bureaucracy failed to establish a formal mechanism to implement and pursue the legislation and thereby to deliver practical effect, even in respect of NEW public buildings.
Violators roam scot-free, significant setbacks to gainful opportunities of disabled people, increasing numbers hence driven towards poverty affecting even their immediate families, waste of human potential, etc., and thereby reduce our limited resources causing substantial losses to the country.
Even after 15 years this malady continues as the non-disabled decision makers fail to recognise this National disaster.
Seeking redress for physically disabled persons accessing new public buildings, a fundamental rights application [Ref: SCFR: 221/2009] aimed at preventing further colossal losses the country incurs, was filed by IDIRIYA
Idiriya
IDIRIYA, is a not-for-profit registered humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights that fully understands disability related access issues that affect a wide range of people in day-to-day life that concerns even their safety and physical, mental and social well being.Based in Sri...
at the Supreme Court in March 2009.
Dr.
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Ajith C. S. Perera
Ajith C. S. Perera
Ajith Chrysantha Stephen Perera, JP, CChem., FRSC , is a Chartered Chemist by Profession, a scholar, a former senior manager in industry, a qualified training instructor and also a former test-match-panel Cricket Umpire....
– Hony.
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
Secretary-General
Chief administrative officer
A chief administrative officer is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive officer. In some companies,...
of IDIRIYA appearing in person on a wheelchair, argued the need to have the disability access laws and regulations already enacted some years ago, fully enforced and implemented with respect to new public buildings in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
The bench headed by the country's Chief Justice
Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
The Chief Justice of Sri Lanka is the highest post in the judicial system of Sri Lanka and heads the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The Chief Justice is appointed by the President, chosen from candidates recommended by the Constitutional Council...
, in delivering their unanimous judgement on 27 April 2011 which further strengthened the order given earlier on 14 October 2009, issued landmark orders (See External links.) having the potential to reverse these adverse trends and reap over 30 rich dividends for the country and its people - disabled and non-disabled alike.
This has been recognised in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
as a significant achievement towards equalisation of opportunities, 'not simply' but the hard way, by the dis-abled for the dis-abled.
Further reading
- Accessibility for Humanity - The Way Forward
- Accessibility to Public Buildings
- CEAT to support IDIRIYA
- To Empower the dis-Abled
- Let us Design to 'Include Everyone'
External links
* Supreme Court Orders of 27 April 2011 - ‘Accessibility for All’ at public buildings.
