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Persons with disabilities are likely to experience psychosocial issues, such as stress, anxiety and depression, when experiencing difficulties in functioning and dependency on caregivers. Likewise, caregivers can also experience similar psychosocial issues due to stress and burden of providing care in the absence of social services support. Psychosocial support is an important and essential intervention to support persons with disabilities and their caregivers. Peer to peer support is one type of intervention as part of community Mental Health Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for the USAID Okard Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) pilot project. Peer supporters are experts by experience and are able to relate to, connect with ...

On July 25, 2022. USAID Country Representative to Lao PDR, Mr. Michael Ronning, Director General Department Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health Dr. Khamsay Detleuxay, joined the official handover equipment for rehabilitation and functional exercise in Kham District Hospital, Xieng Khouang Province. This assistance will enable doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists to provide quality rehabilitation services to all people with difficulties in functioning in Kham and neighboring districts.

Mental health is key to our well being and an important issue around the world, including in Laos. That is why we are partnering with the Lao government to support mental health as part of our work with persons with disabilities. From 25-28 July 2022, the USAID Okard project and the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation (DHR), Ministry of Health conducted a refresher workshop on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) with health professionals from four districts: Xayphouthong, Ardsaphungthong, Songkorn, Outhomphone and provincial hospital in Savannakhet Province. The refresher workshop focused on enhancing the participants’ compassionate communication skills and their ability to identify and provide initial ...

Mental health is key to our well being and an important issue around the world, including in Laos. That is why we are partnering with the Lao government to support mental health as part of our work with persons with disabilities. From 3-7 July 2022, the USAID Okard project and the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation (DHR), Ministry of Health conducted a refresher workshop on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) with health professionals from four districts: Phoukoud, Koun, Phaxay, Kham and provincial hospital in Xieng Khuang Province. The refresher workshop focused on enhancing the participants’ compassionate communication skills and their ability to identify and provide ...

The beliefs and attitudes about disability are individually experienced but often socially constructed. Persons with disabilities are significantly affected by the way disability is understood, explained within society, and how people behave that result in fear, stigmatization, discrimination, deny persons with disabilities their dignity and abilities, and hinder effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. To address these barriers, USAID Okard aims to catalyze change by exploring what communities know, how they think, believe, and decide to act and behave towards persons with disabilities and their families. On 30 June 22, USAID Okard organized the official launch of the Social and Behavioral Change ...

Ms. Metta Thippawong, co-founder of the Disability Mainstreaming Advisory Service (DMAS), representing the Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) network of Lao PDR made her statement yesterday in the opening session of the General Debate, which was attended by the UN Secretary General and other dignitaries. It was a proud moment for OPDs from Lao PDR, as DMAS represented the voice of OPD network at the 15th session of the Conference of the State Parties (CoSP) and was one of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) selected to speak during the General Debate. Metta’s statement was focused on economic empowerment and entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities, in ...

  From 14-16 June, the Disability Mainstreaming Advisory Service (DMAS) is participating in the 15th Session of the Conference of the State Parties (CoSP) 2022, with support from the USAID Okard project implemented by World Education, Inc., in partnership with Humanity and Inclusion. DMAS improves access to quality rehabilitation and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, and supports the design and implementation of disability inclusive policies. DMAS commenced their visit with a successful meeting with H.E. Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to the UN. DMAS represented the voice of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) from Lao PDR by ...

From 8 to 10 June 2022, the USAID Okard – Gender and Inclusion Officer conducted training on Gender and Inclusion Development, Intersectionality and Empowerment for USAID Okard sub recipients from Humanity and Inclusion (HI), Disability Mainstreaming Advisory Service (DMAS) and Association for Autism (AfA). The purpose is to explore and learn more about the concept of mentioned topics, its elements and application for supporting people with disabilities as part of a Gender and Inclusive Development training. This allows participants to reflect on this definition and explore how they can work with people with disabilities to help build self esteem and confidence and their personal capacity to cope ...

From May 31 to June 2, 2022. USAID Okard together with the National Committee for Disabled People and the Elderly (NCDE) from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare conducted a refresher training on Income Generating Activities (IGA) for the Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Facilitators. The training utilitized inputs gained from a lesson learning workshop conducted earlier this quarter where the CBID team took time to pause and reflect on methodology, process, and tools to adapt and improve for the upcoming round of IGA implementation. The CBID Facilitators had in-depth discussions with the Economic Empowerment Specialist about the assessment of business capacity/ideas and environmental risks, vocational ...

International Children’s day- a day to reimagine a better future for every child! Lao PDR celebrates International Children’s Day on the 1st of June each year by recognizing the need to protect children’s rights in order to ensure they grow into happy, healthy adults. But, did you know, around the world there are approximately 93 million children with disabilities and are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups. In their daily life many barriers exist including experiencing negative attitudes and discrimination, being less likely to attend school, access general healthcare, rehabilitation and assistive products, or have their voices heard in society. In Lao PDR, ...