Idiriya

IDIRIYA^[1] is a not-for-profit humanitarian organisation focusing on disability rights based in Sri Lanka.^[2]

IDIRIYA

Formation	2005
Type	Not-for-profit
Location	Sri Lanka
Chief executive / secretary-general	Ajith C. S. Perera

History

IDIRIYA was founded in 2005^[3] by disability activist Ajith C. S. Perera.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Significant contributions

IDIRIYA in 2007 helped formulate the first Sri Lanka building design standard—SLS ISO TR 9527:2006.^[10][11][12]

A fundamental rights application was filed by IDIRIYA at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in March 2009.^[13]

References

1. IDIRIYA on a national mission^{[permanent dead link‍]}, The Island news, Retrieved on 28 November 2008
2. Ockersz, Lynn (27 March 2006). "Disability no dead-end". Features, OP-ED Page. Lake House - Daily News. Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
3. IDIRIYA launch - Enabling the 'Able yet Unable', Sunday Observer features, Retrieved 2 April 2006
4. Access Ability For All, Island Midweek, Retrieved 4 June 2008
5. Designing to Include, Sunday Times Plus, Retrieved 22 June 2008
6. Enabling Environments for Better Health Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Daily News Health Watch, Retrieved 23 September 2006
7. Accessibility is a national issue, Sunday Observer Features, Retrieved 1 June 2008
8. Random thoughts on ‘World Human Rights Day’ Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine . Daily News, Retrieved on 10 December 2008
9. "Brimming possibilities in the disabled", Sunday Island features, Retrieved 25 November 2007
10. "Design to include, not exclude, all people" (Press release). Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). 29 November 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2009. …. the Government (of Sri Lanka) has declared 2007/08 as the 'Year of Access' and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (on an initiative made by this writer) responded expeditiously to establish a Sri Lanka Standard for building construction (reference: SL/ISO/TR/9527:2006.)
11. Perera, Ajith C. S. (4 May 2008). Access Ability For All - Why You? (first ed.). Colombo: IDIRIYA. p. 111. ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4. Chapter 18: Meeting the Building Needs of Disabled People by Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera."
    "I am very happy to confirm that it was the initiative taken by IDIRIYA and its Secretary-General Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, in proposing to the SLSI on 1 February 2006 and following-up matters thereafter on 15 March 2006 in addressing the SLSI sectoral committee as to the vital need of developing our own building standard in this regard, that paved the way for this achievement of national importance.
12. "Supreme Court order propels 'accessibility for all'". Features - Page 16. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited – Daily News. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2010. Perhaps for the first time, the unassuming but able voice of disabled persons praying for 'justice to access public facilities' echoed loud and clears at the country's apex court. "
    " A fundamental rights application aimed at preventing further colossal losses the country incurs, was filed at the Supreme Court by Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera. Submissions were made on behalf of IDIRIYA by this disabled petitioner appearing in person. It was a significant achievement, 'not simply' but the hard way. "
    " Laws to require public buildings and facilities to be made accessible to disabled persons were established in 1996 and further strengthened by the introduction of accessibility regulations under this law in 2005 and thereafter, receiving unanimous Parliament approval. "
    " However, inept stagnant 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. "
    " "The Court recognised that in terms of the 'Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities' Act No. 28 of 1996 and accessibility regulations made there under, no person should be discriminated on the ground of disability and their mobility restricted in a manner which precludes or impedes them from gaining reasonable physical access to public buildings and facilities provided within such buildings, especially the toilet facilities. "
    ".Accordingly, the Court ordered the following. "
    ".1. All new public buildings as defined in the accessibility regulations No.1 of 2006, should provide 'reasonable access' to persons with physical disabilities. "
    " 2. All authorities that are empowered to approve building plans or issue any 'Certificate of Conformity' for public buildings should refrain from doing so in respect of any building which would violate this court order. "
    " 3. Failure to comply would draw punitive repercussions as set out in the law (which would very soon be made more stringent) . "
    " 4. The proceedings were terminated with liberty to you to file a motion, if there is any violation of the court orders. "
    " Clarification of court orders . "
    " What's acceptable as 'reasonable access'? It means the following key parts of a new public building stipulated by the accessibility regulations in force, not just the entrances, should be designed in accordance with the minimum design requirements there: floor surfaces, pathways and corridors, doors and entrances, steps and stairs, hand rails and grab bars, ramps (where needed), lifts, toilets, car parks and signage. "
    " Design requirements provide the basic essential architectural needs that address the diverse mobility needs of the widest possible range of persons.
13. Ockersz, Lynn (8 November 2009). "Landmark Supreme Court ruling – A fillip for accessibility rights of disabled". News - Page 17. Upali Newspapers - The Sunday Island. Retrieved 26 January 2010.

Further reading

• Don’t ‘dis’ the Ability of the Largest Minority
• Accessibility for Humanity - The Way Forward
• Accessibility to Public Buildings
• To Empower the dis-Abled
• Let us Design to 'Include Everyone'

External links

• Presidential Candidates Overlook our Biggest Minority Group
• Imperative national need - Implementing the Supreme Court Order on Accessibility