As part of ongoing efforts to ensure that humanitarian and development interventions leave no one behind, the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUAPWD) organized and facilitated an intensive, two-day capacity-building training session for Strategic Humanitarian Services (SHUMAS). Supported under the Leave No One Behind (LNOB4) project, funded by CBM, the training was designed to enhance the capacity of SHUMAS staff to design, implement, and monitor disability-inclusive programs. This timely training gave SHUMAS the exact tools they need to make disability inclusion a permanent part of their organization.
The sessions highlighted practical ways to ensure the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities while aligning with the ongoing Humanitarian Transition and Area-Based Coordination (ABC) frameworks.
Breaking Down Barriers to Inclusion
A key part of the training was an in-depth discussion about the barriers to disability inclusion. The facilitator, Chick Sama (General Coordinator) explained how daily obstacles like negative attitudes, physical environments, communication barriers, and institutional gaps impair disability inclusion. By understanding that disability happens when a person’s impairment meets an unsupportive environment, practical ways were given to break these barriers down.
The training also walked participants through the 4 Must-Do Actions of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines. This helped clarify SHUMAS’s role in inclusive humanitarian work and showed how to intentionally include persons with disabilities. Key actions discussed included having persons with disabilities in mind during program design and implementation, reserving specific slots for them, adding “that persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply” when advertising job opportunities or programs, and providing reasonable accommodation.
Overcoming Communication Challenges
Speaking during the training, the Director of SHUMAS, Billian Nyuykigham, highlighted communication as one of the organization’s biggest ongoing challenges. While immediate practical solutions were provided during the workshop to bridge these gaps, CUAPWD extended a firm promise to provide continuous technical support whenever the need arises.
Mastering the WGSS
To directly address field challenges, a significant portion of the final day’s discussion focused on mastering the Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) of questions. This tool allows the team to capture disability details respectfully and effectively without making individuals feel uncomfortable.
Turning Knowledge into Action: Operational and Structural Commitments
The intensive training session successfully led to immediate, practical commitments for change, focusing on turning knowledge into real action. The staff of SHUMAS brainstormed together and set out a wide range of immediate and long-term changes across their various departments:
- To ensure their records accurately capture disability data, the team plans to modify their attendance registers, financial templates, and reporting systems to easily capture disability information.
- SHUMAS will update its organization policies and improve its feedback systems.
- Practical structural adjustments will be made for future infrastructure projects. When constructing facilities like toilets, SHUMAS will incorporate ramps, accessible sidewalks, wider doorways, and other necessary features tailored to help individuals with different impairment types navigate spaces independently and safely.
Advancing Inclusive Digital Communication
In the digital space, the SHUMAS communications team was excited to learn how to make their Facebook, LinkedIn, and website posts accessible to persons with vision and hearing impairments. They are eager to adapt and make their digital platforms inclusive. To keep this going, team members shared how they will make their social media and website stories inclusive, planning to hold a session to pass on what they have been taught to the rest of the communication department not present at the training.
Equipped with practical ways to engage with persons with disabilities and a clear roadmap to modify their operational tools, the training solidified a powerful partnership. The SHUMAS team is now ready to meaningfully embed inclusion into all upcoming activities.
