International conference on Developmental Disability begins

-Narayan Dhungana

The 7th international conference on developmental disabilities began here Friday to discuss efforts being made to develop the capacity of the people with disabilities and the challenges they face across the globe.

More than 500 delegates from Malaysia, China, Spain, Bangladesh, the US, India, Japan, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Nepal are taking part in the conference. The delegates include mental health experts, psychologists, experts in the field, and researchers as well as academics and journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, International Chair of socio-individual development through collaboration (SIVUS) Dr Katsuhiro Yamashita said the major objective of the conference was to make an important contribution in the meaningful life of people with disabilities, their parents and guardians.

The SIVUS International was founded in 1974. It works for mental health of the people with disabilities. The first SIVUS conference was held in Norway in 1993.

During the two-day conference various working papers are being presented on six major themes by experts and professors. On behalf of Nepal, four working papers are being presented. The conference will end with the Rajshahi Declaration on Disabilities.

Prof Dr Ushakiran Subba, Dr Nagendra Singh Thagunna, Padma Raj Joshi and Khem Raj Bhatta are presenting working papers on different themes with a focus on the situation of mental health in Nepal.