Celebrating Accessibility Awards: Labim Mall and Adarsha Saula Yubak Secondary School honored for accessibility initiatives

14^th December, 2017: On the occasion of 26^th International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), 2017, NFD-N in partnership with CBM honored Labim Mall, Pulchowk and Adarsha Saula Yubak Secondary School, Bungmati for making significant contribution towards improving access for Persons with Disabilities in Nepal.

The award was given by Honorable Minister of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Bikram Bahadur Thapa in the official program of IDPD celebration organized in Social Welfare Council, Lainchour, kathmmandu on 14^th of December, 2017.

To foster and promote accessibility initiatives in Nepal, NFDN is recognizing and awarding organizations that focus on creating vibrant, accessible and inclusive communities. The criteria for the selection of the award is that the achievements must reflect positive impact on accessibility in any form. The selection of award was based on the decisions of the selection committee and also upon direct observation of accessibility features during the monitoring visits.

Recipient of the award, Adarsha Saula Yubak Secondary School of Bungmati, Lalitpur, has run accessible resource class along with attached accessible toilet, and has also incorporated ramp in different structure of the building like library, toilet and main stage. The usage of signage was also well observed in the school premise.

Similarly, Labim Mall, located at Pulchowk, Lalitpur, has given attention to accessibility issues outside the realm of ramp including the pursuit of accessible toilet, separate accessible parking at the basement and accessible lift system.

The initiations by both institution is commendable in context to Nepal where the importance accessibility and inclusion are not yet realized. NFD-N is very proud to honor Adarsha Saula Yubak Secondary School and Labim Mall for their outstanding performance in ensuring minimum accessibility standards in their structures. The recipients of the award is definitely an exemplary learning and influential model for the community. Celebration of accessibility award brings a ray of hope that such initiation will flourish in the days to come for promoting participations of Persons with Disabilities in all aspects of community.