MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa Jr. conducted a free three-day workshop on web accessibility and WordPress Content Management Systems (CMS) from June 23 – 25 sponsored by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).

The seminar/workshop was held at the NCDA Board Room. It aims to expose the government partner agencies as well as local government units about making their website accessible to everyone especially those with physical impairments.

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa Jr. conducts the seminar/workshop to government employees.

On the first day, Sir Jojo explained about introduction to Accessible Information and Communications
Technology. He also tackled on the popularity of online social networking and how it changed the lives of Filipinos. In the afternoon, he focused on access barriers of persons with disabilities and how web accessibility can help them remove those challenges.

On day two, he introduced the Philippine Web Design Accessibility Recommendations as well as the Manila ICT Design Recommendations. He also made a demonstration on how to validate web sites online as well as manually. On the third day, he introduced Content Management System using WordPress. The attendees were able to install web servers and WordPress CMS on their demo-computers and created their first simple website.

Ten government agency representatives working under their Management Information Systems/Information Technology departments were initially selected to participate in the workshop. Three of the attendees came all the way from Misamis Oriental and Iloilo.

Workshop/Seminar Participants

In his welcome speech, NCDA Executive Director-OIC Mateo Lee expressed his full support in promoting web accessibility as well as encouraging other stakeholders to be more concerned with visitors of their official website with which some of them might have difficulty accessing. He also promised future follow up seminars for others who were not able to attend.

Certificates were awarded to all the successful attendees.

Web Accessibility Forum

MCCID students took part in the web accessibility forum.

MCCID National Anthem Sign Language video shown on stage.

NCC Angelita Nicolas gave the welcome remarks.

DAISY Head Lauro Purcil also gave his talk.

DOTC Rizal Morales gives his inspirational address.

ICT Video is shown featuring Sir Ervin Reyes.

Sir Jojo gives his lecture on web accessibility.

Sir Jojo receives certificate of appreciation together with NCC Angelita Nicolas, DOTC Rizal Morales and NCDA Nelia De Jesus.

Web Accessibility Forum participants together with MCCID College students

Third year batch 2010 students of MCCID attended the first Web Accessibility Forum conducted by the National Council on Disability Affairs Sub-committee on Information and Communications Technology held last July 20 at Philvolcs Auditorium in UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

Aside from NCDA, other cooperating agencies include the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) – National Computer Center (NCC), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). NCDA member agencies like DOH, DSWD, Philippine Information Agency, DOST and DFA also participated.

MCCID Training Director and Philippine Web Accessibility Group Current President Jojo Esposa Jr., was one of the main lecturers. He expounded on the Accessible Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and how important it is to everyone especially those who are with physical impairments. He enumerated some access barriers experienced by PWDs when they open government sites. He also introduced a few tips on how to make websites accessible.

For his part, ATRIEV Executive Director Antonio Llanes together with Project Director Rene Orense demonstrated some assistive devices used by visually impaired and those with low vision. These includes screen readers and screen magnifier softwares.

Among those who gave their inspirational messages were DOTC Senior Transport Development Officer Arch. Rizal Morales, Philippine DAISY Consortium President Lauro Purcil and NCDA TCD Chief Nelia De Jesus.

The highlight of the forum is the announcement of the official signing of NCC-NCDA Joint Circular No. 1 requiring all websites of government line agencies including their attached, regional and state universities and colleges to redesign their websites in order to pass the web accessibility design standards set by Manila ICT Design Recommendations through the Philippine Web Accessibility Group. NCC IT Officer Angelita Nicolas gave the announcement. She also informed the participants about future workshops and seminars that will be held.

Aside from MCCID, other Persons With Disabilities Non-Government Organizations also attended the forum. These includes ATRIEV, Philippine Network of Daisy Consortium and Philippine Deaf Federation (PFD). PFD President Raquel Estiller-Corpuz requested all government agencies to open their doors to PWDs especially those who don’t have funds to connect to the internet to offer their services free.

The forum’s objective is to make the participants understand the concepts of web accessibility towards a “disability-inclusive” Philippines where information accessibility for persons with disabilities is based on human rights principles. It also aims to encourages the attendees especially the government sector to make their websites compliant to web accessibility standards under the Manila ICT Design Recommendations and/or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

The activity coincides with the country’s annual celebration of the 32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (July 17-23). This year’s theme is “Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able“. DPWH is this year’s lead agency.

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa together with MCCID deaf leaders Mark Sampang and Lucky McGill Paltep took part in the 1st National Disability Summit hosted by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) from September 24-25, 2009 held at the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

ICT Accessibility Video Played

Jojo explains ICT accessibility Issues

Sir Jojo explains ICT Accessibility Issues during Final Plenary Session

The two-day event focused on the theme “Accessibility and Development for ALL”. It was attended by government and non-government agencies who are the stakeholders of the sector. They were grouped according to Health, Inclusive Economic Development, Education and Accessibility. Key government agencies presented their platforms of concerns and assessed their inadequacies regarding the issues confronting the sector. Among them were from the Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation and Communications. All of these agencies seat into the governing board of NCDA.

Deaf Leader Mark Sampang and Liliane Correspondent Tess Dela Cruz

Sir Jojo was tasked to assist in facilitating the group on accessibility in matters of information and communications technology. He presented the concerns of the sector to the Accessibility group as well as the main plenary session on the last day. He was also assigned to provide an insight of an academe during the closing ceremonies. He stressed the need for full participation of all sectors in discussing issues which concern them, especially those who are with hearing impairment. He also emphasized on the respect of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on matters concerning sign language, inclusive education and deaf community.

NCDA Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz was the event’s overall coordinator. She encouraged all sectors to assist the government in finding ways to respect the law and follow its provisions to the fullest extent with consideration of “reasonable accommodation”. She also addressed the need to discuss and resolve issues of concerns with highlights on the role of PWD organizations and civil society in monitoring the implementation of the UN CRPD.

The activity was spearheaded by the National Council on Disability Affairs, the Christian Blind Mission and Liliane Foundation Philippines. It was attended by various government and non-government organizations that offer CBR programs and strategies within their communities. Ms. Teresa Dela Cruz, LFP National Correspondent was one of the co-emcees.

The two-day event aims to harmonize all the sectors of Persons With Disabilities in promoting community activities with focus on inclusive education approach. MCCID already started its CBR strategy this year by opening up its first branch in Tiaong, Quezon in partnership with Liliane Foundation Philippines and Bethsaida, Inc.

NDPR Week 09

Jerson and Eleazar

Five MCCID students demonstrated their design and animation skills.

Sir Ervin Reyes administers the student-demonstrators.

Another shot from same angle.

Jerson Bandiola shows his designing skills to visitors.

Clockwise: Eleazar Fancubit, Jasmine Bundalian, Lucky McGill Paltep, Madona Hermosura and Jerson Bandiola

Red Fox Animation Studio Manager Mr. Bernard Yeo inspects the designs of Jerson.

NCDA Executive Director Gigi Ruiz gives her welcome remarks.

Ma'am Nelia De Jesus (right) leads the sign language interpretation of Willie Revillame's famous song.

Exhibit view from 5th floor

The audience were a mixed of PWD and non-PWDs.

MCCID students Arianne Jane, Jannsen and Maricris inspects one of the flower decoration exhibitors.

MCCID College of Technology again participated in the annual celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week by showcasing its students’ talents and skills last July 23 at the 4th Floor of Annex Building of SM City North EDSA, Quezon City.

The students who demonstrated their computer and designing skills were:

1. Jerson Bandiola – Comics Anime Design
2. Eleazar Fancubit – Flash Animation
3. Madona Hermosura – Adobe Photoshop
4. Lucky McGill Paltep – Web Design Using HTML and CSS
5. Jasmine Bundalian – Creating Website Using Flash

More than 500 people attended this Jobs Fair and Skills Demonstration. This year’s theme is “Tungo sa Katuparan ng Karapatan ng PWDs”. The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) spearheaded the weeklong activity in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), SM Shopping Malls/SM Foundation and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

This year’s “Disabled Friendly Website Awards” were held last July 10 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as part of the very first Philippine Web Design Conference spearheaded by the newly formed Philippine Web Designers Organization (PWDO).

PWAG President and MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa explains about the awards. (Photo from Annemich928)

The Philippine Web Accessibility Group through its president and MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa and the National Council on Disability Affairs presented the plaques of appreciation to the following recipients:

1. www.philcecnet.ph – Official Philippine E-center Community Portal of the National Computer Center represented by Ms. Eloisa San Mateo (Government)
2. www.blinding-light.com – Personal Website of Ms.Miko Reznor (Anna Monica Esguerra)
3. www.lilianefoundationphil.org – Official Website of Liliane Foundation Philippines represented by Sis. Agnetia Naval, National Coordinator (Non-government Organization)
4. webstandards.raquedan.com – Web Standards Website of Regnard Raquedan (Personal Website)

Awardees (from left): Regnard Raquedan, Eloisa San Mateo, Sis. Agnetia Naval, Anna Monica Esguerra, Jojo Esposa and NCDA Director Geraldine Ruiz.

Panel of Speakers

They all received a plaque of appreciation courtesy of the NCDA. Incidentally, the official website of Liliane Foundation Philippines was designed by an MCCID alumnus Kerwin Tamanu. He also currently works in that organization.

(From Left) NCDA's Dandy Victa, MCCID's Jojo Esposa, RBI's Mayette Regala, Filmmaker Ralston Javier and APCD's Ryuhei Sano

MCCID Alumnus Gimar Aguillon prepares for interview. Gimar currently works as a web designer at Nova Management, Inc.

Sir Ervin is being interviewed by Mr. Sano.

The Asia Pacific Development Center for Disability (APCD) funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) collaborated with Filipino stakeholders to create a 15-minute documentary film about the history and development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Persons with Disabilities.

The Philippine counterpart is composed of the following major stakeholders:

1. National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) – representing the government;
2. Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI) – representing the visually impaired sector;
3. Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf (MCCID) – representing the deaf sector.

The agencies were selected based on their active participation and contribution in the establishment of accessible ICT for Persons with Disabilities. NCDA is in the forefront for disseminating information about accessible ICT by sponsoring workshops and sending delegates to international foras. RBI produces assistive devices like braille printouts and DAISY while MCCID designs websites and actively promotes web accessibility to other non-government agencies. The three were also APCD-JAICA associate members.

Other agency that participated in the documentary includes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) where deaf encoders and MCCID alumnus Rona May Savares and Renato Moran were interviewed at their workplace in DFA Passport Division. Nova Foundation, ATRIEV School for the Blind and the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG) also took part in the documentation.

The main objective of the short film is to document the development of accessible ICT and best practices in the Philippines. It also showcases a short timeline between the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework in 2002 outlining issues, action plans and strategies towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons with disabilities up to the landmark Philippine contribution on Article 9 – Accessibility which formed part of the UN-Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities in 2007. The Philippines signed the treaty into law in 2008 and held a unity rally celebrating its ratification in April of the same year which MCCID is one of the participants.

The group chose to get the services of award winning filmmaker and screenwriter Ralston “Joel” Jover because of his professionalism and meticulous work detail. APCD Chief Adviser Mr. Akiie Ninomiya commended Mr. Jover’s attitude of diligently following the instructions set by the group without compromising his cinematic style. Jover’s famous films includes “Kubrador”, “Tirador”, “Manoro” and soon to be shown “Marlon” a docu-story of an 18-year old unschooled blind person.

The “Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability” (APCD) Project is a technical cooperation project between the Government of Japan and the Government of Thailand, which is started in Bangkok on 1 August 2002. The Overall goal of the project is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region.

The docu-film is expected to be finished and shown during the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Celebration this July and at Disability Summit this September. SM Supermalls Committee on Disability Affairs also promised to assist in the presentation of the film in its selected activity centers. APCD will also lead the way for its international release. The short film has an English sub-title and sign language inset. It will also have Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilocano versions.

After nearly four months of negotiation, the National Council on Disability Affairs, an official government agency tasked to oversee and monitor disability related programs and issues in the Philippines, has finally entrusted MCCID College of Technology to design their official website.

NCDA Chairperson Rosie Lovely Romulo, through the recommendation of Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz, has approved the complete re-designing of their website. In the Memorandum of Agreement signed by both parties, NCDA will pay an undisclosed amount to MCCID College to design the website that must be completed within ninety working days.

NCDA Technical Cooperation Division Chief Rizalio Sanchez reasoned out that they selected MCCID because of their:

• Proven expertise in the field of web accessibility by participating in various NCDA-NCC led workshops, 3rd recipient of Disabled Friendly Website Award and a member of PWAG and international Guild of Accessible Web Designers (GAWDS);
• Web designing experience by creating working websites for more than 20 non-government organizations;
• Long time partnership with NCDA on its numerous activities;
• Champion deaf web designers;
• Member of the PWD (Deaf) sector;
• As a non-profit academic institution

Last April 13, Sir Jojo Esposa Jr., MCCID Training Director presented the Web Development Project Plan to the officials and employees. He also thanked the agency for entrusting MCCID to do the project. He explained that the proceeds of the work will go directly to the school’s scholarship fund especially to support deaf students from the provinces. Deaf alumni will be tasked to do the project under the supervision of Sir Ervin Reyes.

National Council on Disability Affairs is the national government agency mandated to formulate policies and coordinate the activities of all agencies, whether public or private, concerning disability issues and concerns. It is formerly an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It is now under the Office of the Philippine President.

Asia Pacific Center for Disability Project (APCD), a technical cooperation project between the government of Japan and Thailand officially recognized MCCID College as one of its Associate Organizations based in the Philippines last November 14 and appeared in their website on December 12.

In a formal letter sent to MCCID Training Director, APCD through their Director Ms. Kanitta Kamolwat accepted the school’s application for membership after passing their basic requirements. They also expressed their appreciation for the efforts made by the school in promoting the welfare of persons with disabilities specifically the deaf sector in the Philippines.

As an associate organization, MCCID College can take part in their annual programs and activities as well as participate in their international trainings, conferences and events. They will also support the capacity-building of the focal point and associate organizations to network information especially grass-root organizations. This will encourage grass-root organizations to share and disseminate disability related information in an accessible way to all in the Region.

NCDA Head Ms. Nelia De Jesus highlights important ICT successes during brainstorming session.

As its first joint activity, MCCID College collaborated with APCD, the National Council on Disability Affairs and Resources for the Blind in documenting and presenting a 5-minute video on the success of ICT accessibility best practices in the Philippines. In a meeting last November 14 held at NCDA Board Room, APCD representative and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Expert Mr. Ryuhei Sano led the brainstorming and planning of this special activity. MCCID will be involved in the sign language interpretation of the video. The documentation is tentatively scheduled to be filmed in May 2009 and will be released during the National Disability and Prevention Week Celebration on June.

APCD’s main goal is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region. They were established in 2002 as a legacy of the Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, under joint collaboration of the Government of Japan and the Royal Thai Government. APCD has been endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific as a regional cooperative base for its Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive,Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,2003-2012.

Sir Jojo introduces APCD delegates led by Mr. Ninomiya during their 2004 visit.

The APCD team led by Mr. Akiie Ninomiya, APCD Chief Advisor first visited the school in 2004 in its former Sta. Mesa campus. They were warmly welcomed by the school’s officials and students.

APCD is the first international agency that recognized the school under its college status. To know more about them, visit their official website.

More than 50 students and faculty of MCCID attended this successful, historic and landmark Prayer and Walk for Unity and Global Celebration of Entry into Force of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held at SM Mall of Asia last May 12.

MCCID Students Parades with Banner

An estimated crowd of two thousand Persons with Disabilities and their supporters representing more than 100 organizations participated in this rally. Together with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, MCCID is the only school in the country that represented the Deaf Sector in this event.

The program started with a celebration of a mass. Then, a march within the vicinity of Mall of Asia was held. After that, series of speeches and special numbers were rendered by special guests and representatives from the sector. Secretary Alberto Romulo of the Department of Foreign Affairs was the highest leader of the government that attended and gave the congratulatory message.

SM Mall of Asia was jampacked with PWDs and their supporters.

UN-CRPD Celebration lasted for more than two hours. Afterwards, a selected group of PWD leaders and the government sector led by the National Council on Disability Affairs went to Malacanang Palace and handed over the Manifesto of Commitment and Joint congratulatory message to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for giving passage to the convention.

Ms. Venus Ilagan, Secretary General of Rehabilitation International delivered a brief overview of CRPD.

To know about the overview ot The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as the first legally binding international instrument to adopt a “rights-based” approach to disability, please visit this link from withnews.org website that made an extensive coverage of the affair.