Employing Persons
with Disabilities
A Handbook for Employers in Myanmar
This guide is a joint initiative by the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) and the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan), and part of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Partnership Program in Myanmar with the support of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) was set up in 2013 by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) with funding from several donor governments. Based in Yangon, it provides a trusted and impartial platform for the creation of knowledge, capacity, and dialogue amongst businesses, civil society organisations and governments to encourage responsible business conduct throughout Myanmar.  
Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan) is an international NGO that reaches out to the most vulnerable populations around the globe, guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality. Founded in 1979, it has been conducting activities for Emergency Response, Disability Assistance, Mine Action, Health and Awareness Raising.
In Yangon, AAR Japan has been running a Vocational Training Center (VTC) for Persons with Disabilities since 2000 under the cooperation of Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. The VTC has provided training in haircut/beauty, tailoring and computer, and supported employment of more than 1,600 persons with disabilities across Myanmar.
ABOUT MCRB
ABOUT AAR Japan
© Copyright Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business & Association for Aid and Relief, Japan, November 2018. All rights reserved. 
MCRB and AAR Japan permit free reproduction of extracts from this publication provided that due acknowledgment is given and a copy of the publication carrying the extract is sent to the headquarter addresses on the back cover. Requests for permission to reproduce and translate the publication should be addressed to MCRB and AAR Japan.
Design by Ethical Sector
Cover photo: Kay Zar Kyaw, 20. Born with no right leg, Kay Zar Kyaw works at a tailoring shop, sewing purses. 
Cartoon Credit: Aw Pi Kyeh
MCRB would like to thank the Governments of Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and United Kingdom for their on-going support to MCRB.
AAR Japan would like to thank the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This handbook is made as a part of the Project for Strengthening of Employment Support for Persons with Disabilities under the JICA partnership program.
MCRB and AAR Japan would like to thank the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement for their guidance, support and cooperation.
Consultation with businesses and Disabled People Organizations were held in Yangon in February 2018, and consultation with relevant government departments was held in Naypyidaw in August 2018. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of all those who participated in the consultations and provided advice in the drafting of the handbook, some of whom are listed in Annex A.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Promoting accessible employment means creating employment opportunities and making sure that persons with disabilities can participate on an equal basis in the workplace, including through the recruitment process.  This may require making necessary adjustments and modifications (‘reasonable accommodations’). Provision of vocational training is also very important, as is support while in employment. With these opportunities, persons with disabilities will be able to live independently, have a regular income, and there will also be a benefits to the country’s productivity.
The aim of this guide is to help employers and others to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in Myanmar so that persons with disabilities can work on an equal basis with others. Through these measures, persons with disabilities will be more included into society; if they are able to find and stay in employment, fewer will fall into, or stay in, poverty. We also need to do more work on the underlying factors which are necessary to enable persons with disability to obtain employment, such as more inclusive education which will enable them to get the qualifications they need to get a job.
Finally, we need to ensure that our programmes and policies meet the needs of people with disabilities throughout Myanmar. Many of them live in rural areas.  They also seek to live independently and with dignity and an income.  But migrating to a town or city to enter a formal workplace may not be their choice.  Support for them, including to set up a small local business, or work remotely using ICT, is also needed.
As Chair of the National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I warmly welcome the publication of this handbook on “Employing Persons with Disabilities”. I am committed to leading the work of the National Committee to deliver on the objective of accessible employment, and working closely with others to make it happen.  This handbook produced by Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business and AAR Japan will help us achieve our goal.   
Vice-PresidentChairman of the National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
According to the World Report on Disability, both men and women with disabilities have lower access to the labour market compared to persons without.  This is confirmed by Myanmar’s 2014 Census which shows that persons with disabilities aged 15-64 years are less likely to be participating in the labour force compared to those without a disability.
The National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was formed on 17 September 2017 in accordance with the Law Protecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and is intended to promote their employment, education, and healthcare. Overseeing the expansion of accessible employment for persons with disabilities is one of the priority tasks of the Committee.
FOREWORD FROM VICE-PRESIDENT (2) U HENRY VAN THIO, 
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHTS OF 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
INTRODUCTION FROM UNION MINISTER DR.WIN MYAT AYE, THE 
VICE-CHAIRMAN (1)  OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHTS 
OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
person with a disability in the workplace is outlawed.  This means, for example, that government departments, businesses, and other organisations can no longer issue job advertisements which exclude persons with disabilities from applying, or reject applicants because of their disability.
Since Myanmar ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), our National Committee has been taking forward the establishment of policies that will ensure that persons with disabilities have access to employment opportunities; that will set quotas for the percentage of persons with disability to be employed; that will ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in vocational training, and enable them to be able to participate on an equal basis in the workplace. I am therefore very pleased to introduce this handbook on “Employing Persons with Disabilities”, which has been published to give practical advice on how to create accessible employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and facilitate their recruitment.
To enable employers to be more ‘disability confident’, the handbook gives practical examples of the positive results and advantages of employing persons with disabilities, with case studies of successful employment.  It explains the concept of establishing ‘reasonable accommodations’ to the working environment, with suggestions for how to do this that will give an idea of the cost.  It suggests appropriate vocabulary and questions to ask at interview to smooth communication at recruitment.  I believe the practical examples in this handbook will support the government in making policies and implementing plans to enable persons with disabilities to be more included and play a greater role in the economy. 
Therefore, I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this Handbook which has been prepared with the assistance of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. I believe the Handbook will be an important tool to support the Ministry, and the National Committee, in enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy their human rights on an equal basis with others, including the right to work, and for them to be fully integrated into Myanmar society, with dignity.
Union MinisterVice – Chairman (1) of the National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The majority of difficulties faced by persons with disabilities are not caused by their own lack of capacity but by society’s misunderstanding of what they are capable of. Many persons with disabilities just want the opportunity to find opportunities and make their life in the place where they grew up. But they are defined as having ‘disability’, due to the combination of their impairment and the barriers they face, and this prevents them from being able to fully participate in society. 
It is very important for every employer in Myanmar – whether in the public or private sector – to know that it is already illegal to discriminate on grounds of disability. Discrimination against a 
depend on the persons with disabilities.
The employer will enjoy the following benefits:
1. Receive recognition for their work by citizens including persons with disabilities
2. Enjoy tax reduction
3. Provide support to the mental and physical development of a person with disabilities in a 
sustainable manner
The Federation will also undertake activities to promote ‘persons with disabilities’ employment by helping your job creation programme with relevant organisations and individual persons with disabilities who are able to work or willing to work and also by providing awareness raising trainings to create disability inclusive workplace.
U Myat Thu WinnGeneral Secretary Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities (MFPD)
MYANMAR FEDERATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities (MFPD) would like to acknowledge and express our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals and organizations who study this handbook, and who apply the handbook and create job opportunities for citizens with disabilities and who provide support in various ways to prepare and publish this handbook.
The Federation would like to convey the following message and information on how the handbook users can cooperate with citizens with disabilities either at a workplace or in implementing a project.
Creating job opportunities for persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities will bring benefit to three parties namely the employer, the persons with disabilities and the persons with disabilities’ family that 
 Foreword
1  Introduction
2  How many people have a disability in Myanmar?
3 What is ‘Disability’?
3.1  Types of impairment
3.2  Is an HIV-positive person a person with a disability?
4 Disability and the Law in Myanmar
5 What is discrimination?
5.1 Discrimination – some personal experiences
6 The business case for hiring persons with disabilities
6.1 Case studies of successful employment of persons with disabilities
6.2 What do persons with disabilities need to be successful in the workplace?
6.3 How much does a reasonable accommodation cost?
6.4 What are appropriate tasks for different types of disability?
6.5 How can our company recruit and retain persons with disabilities?
6.6 Disability inclusion in employment checklist
7 How should we communicate about disability?
7.1 Communication at recruitment and interview stage
7.2 Using the right language
A Annexes 
A1  Organisations in Myanmar working with persons with disabilities
A2  List of organisations providing services for business
B References
C Further reading
D Toolkits
CONTENTS
STATISTICS
52.8%19.6%64.9%29.9%
Employment Rate for Men with Disabilities
Employment Rate for Women with 
Disabilities
Employment Rate for Men without 
Disabilities
Employment Rate for Women without 
Disabilities
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS HANDBOOK?
The aim of this guide is to help employers and others to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in Myanmar so that persons with disabilities can work on an equal basis with others.  By ensuring that persons with disabilities find and stay in employment, fewer will fall into, or stay in, poverty. 
Persons with disabilities still have lower access to the labour market compared to persons without disabilities. According to the World Report on Disability (2011), an analysis for 51 countries indicates that employment rates for men and women with disability are 52.8% and 19.6% respectively, compared to 64.9% and 29.9% for men and women without disability, respectively.
INTRODUCTION
Myanmar’s 2014 census also indicates a similar trend:  persons with disabilities aged 15-64 years are less likely to be participating in the labour force compared to those without a disability. Only 47.2% of those with a mild walking disability participate in the labour force, compared to 67.6% of those without a disability, a 20% gap.
These data clearly show the need to promote employment of persons with disability. This means promoting accessible employment, opportunities for self-employment; making the necessary adjustments and modifications (‘reasonable accommodations’) making sure that persons with disabilities participate on an equal basis in the workplace; supporting them to be more productive; and avoiding any form of discrimination. 
WHAT DOES THIS HANDBOOK COVER?
The guide covers:
• demographic information about person with disabilities in Myanmar;
• examples of discrimination against person with disabilities in the workplace;
• the Myanmar legal framework protecting person with disabilities and promoting their participation in society;
• terms, definitions, and communication about disability;
• success stories from person with disabilities;
• tips and advice for employers;
• contacts and sources of more information.
Persons with disabilities still have lower access to the labour market compared to persons without disabilities.
Khup Sian Kim, 25, has a congenital disability of the legs. Ms. Kim works as an accountant at a bookshop.
2.3 MILLION PEOPLE
have difficulties in one or more of the four functional domains (seeing, hearing, walking, and remembering or concentrating).
According to the 2014 Myanmar Census, out of a total of 50.3 million people, 2.3 million people (4.6% of the population) have some form of disability, many of whom 
have little or no access to a job. The Census shows that:
17% OF MALES &32% OF FEMALES 
with a disability are illiterate.
27% OF MALES & 39% OF FEMALES
 with a disability have no 
access to education.
ONLY 29% OF MALES & 15% OF FEMALES 
with moderate/severe walking disabilities are in the labour force.
ONLY 30% OF MALES & 21% OF FEMALES
with moderate/severe disabilities relating to remembering and concentrating are in the labour force.
These rates may be under-reported. The 2011 World Report on Disability of The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate Myanmar’s disability rate as 6.4%.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE A DISABILITY IN MYANMAR?
WHAT IS ‘DISABILITY’?
The concept of disability has evolved over the past 50 years. Historically, disability had been understood through a medical approach.  On the other hand, “the social model” has also been dominant in interpreting disability. In recent years, “the interactive social model” has become a commonly used framework to understand disability. Further information on these models are as follows.
The United Nations Convention on the Right of Person with Disabilities (UNCRPD) says that:“Person with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. (Article 1, United Nations Convention on the Right of Person with disabilities)
The medical model defines disability as an individual health problem, illness, or impairment.  Social exclusion is seen as the result of limitations imposed by the impairments rather than barriers in the environment. 
The social model defines disability as a consequence of environmental, social, economic, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in society. The social model differs from the medical model because people are viewed as being disabled by society rather than by their impairments. 
In the interactive social model, disability is not considered as a characteristic of the person, but rather the result of interaction between the person and his/her environment. This is in line with the definition of the UNCRPD, which promotes the principle that all people must have equal opportunities to access and participate in society.  Over last few decades, there has been a paradigm shift from charity based approach to human rights based approach.
Myanmar’s 2015 Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines ‘Disability’ as not being able to fully participate in the society due to physical, attitudinal, or any other form of barriers.
TYPES OF IMPAIRMENT
The 2015 Law defines a ‘person with disabilities’ as a person who has one or more long-term physical, visual, speech, hearing, psychosocial, intellectual or sensory impairments, whether innate or not. The method of assessment and categorization of types and level of disabilities is under discussion by the relevant Ministries in Myanmar, as of 2018.
IS AN HIV-POSITIVE PERSON A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY?
UNCRPD does not explicitly refer to HIV or AIDS in the definition of disability. However, governments are required to recognize that where persons living with HIV (asymptomatic or symptomatic) have disabilities which, in interaction with the environment, results in stigma, discrimination or other barriers to their participation, they can fall under the protection of the Convention. Governments should ensure that national legislation complies with this understanding of disability. Some countries, such as the USA, have accorded protection to people living with HIV under national disability legislation. Other countries have adopted separate anti-discrimination laws.  In Myanmar the National AIDS Programme of the Ministry of Health and Sport is currently leading the drafting of a law protecting people with HIV from discrimination.
In December 2011 Myanmar ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). In 2015, the Government enacted the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the legal framework for compliance with the UN Convention. Chapter 10 covers “access to employment for persons with disabilities” and sets out obligations for employers. 
The Law provides for the possible introduction of a requirement for companies to employ a quota (percentage) of persons with disabilities to be set by the National Committee, which was established in September 2017. Failure to meet the quota could result in fines, to be used for a fund for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. 
The Law also provides for the possibility of tax incentives if an employer employs more than the set quota of persons with disabilities. A quota for employment of persons with disabilities has not yet been set.
Bye-law/regulations under the Law were adopted in December 2017 by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. Chapter 8 of the bye-law provides specific provisions on promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. It includes roles and responsibilities of the National Committee such as coordinating with government organisations, private businesses and related organisations; facilitating the establishment of specialized vocational training schools and inclusion of persons with disabilities in vocational trainings; facilitating job coach training programme, on the job training and skills development training. 
The employer is required to report to the township labour offices quarterly on how many employees with disabilities have been employed in accordance with the quota to be set by the National Committee, as well as any vacant positions. They are also required to make necessary adjustments and adaptation to “reasonably accommodate" (see Box 1 overleaf) persons with disabilities at workplaces. The chapter also includes a detailed process for how an employer who cannot meet the quota, should contribute a designated amount to a fund for protection of the rights of persons with disabilities’.
The Draft Myanmar National Building Code includes provisions on accessibility under section 2.7. The provisions include building and design specifications and construction facilities for accessibility for persons with physical disabilities. Whether or not detailed regulations are put in place, the concept of “Universal Design” (see Box 2 overleaf) is applicable to remove barriers for persons with disabilities.
DISABILITY AND THE LAW IN MYANMAR
BOX 2 - UNIVERSAL DESIGN
UNCRPD defines “Universal design” as “the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”
BOX 1 - REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
UNCRPD defines  “Reasonable accommodation” as “necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Discrimination can be direct or indirect:
• Direct discrimination occurs when one person is treated less favourably because of disability 
than another in a comparable situation. 
• Indirect discrimination occurs when laws, policies, or practices which appear neutral at face 
value have a disproportionate negative impact on some individuals. For example, requiring a birth certificate for school enrolment may discriminate against ethnic minorities who do not possess, or have been denied, such certificates.
Discrimination is the cause of the challenges that persons with disabilities in Myanmar face concerning employment such as: 
WHAT IS DISCRIMINATION?
• access to, and poor quality of education; 
• lack of capacity and confidence to look for a job;
• lack of information, technical assistance and 
transportation; 
• negative attitudes of employers or co-workers; 
•  lack of accessible workplaces; and 
•  Inadequate training facilities or capacity-building 
programs or exclusion from existing training facilities or capacity-building programs.
The majority of difficulties faced by persons 
with disabilities are caused by other people’s misunderstanding of their capabilities. 
“Discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation.”
- UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, UNCRPD
Examples of discrimination against persons with disabilities in the workplace:
• Places or buildings that do not have assistive features such as ramps, handrails, banisters or elevators.
• Prejudice based on the preconceived idea that persons with disabilities cannot work.
• Employment policies that exclude persons with disabilities from jobs that they are able to perform. 
• Lack of accessible communication such as through a sign language interpreter or materials printed in braille. 
• Offensive teasing and hostile remarks about a person’s disability, which might result in an unfair treatment or decision concerning his/her employment such as demotion or layoffs. 
MA PA PA’S STORY (FEMALE, 23)
"I was infected with polio when I was 8 months old. It left me with a disability in my right leg. I can walk without assistance but it is difficult to run and walk for long periods of time. Although I was sometimes teased about my disability by my classmates, I never gave up trying to achieve my goal of being independent. 
My parents supported my goal, and because of them, I could continue my education and graduated from university with B.A in English.
I wanted to work as a salesperson, for example in a supermarket or a shopping mall. But most of the shops require an applicant to be able-bodied, so they exclude persons with disabilities when they recruit. I applied many times for sales staff positions at different companies, but was never selected”.
KO HTET HTET’S STORY (MALE, 30)
"My right leg has a disability due to polio. I use a crutch. I have difficulties in walking for long distances and carrying heavy items.
I applied for a job as an administrative assistant at a company. I was appointed when my direct supervisor was out of the office on a business trip. I was really happy and tried my best during the probation period. I completed all the assigned duties and followed office rules and other instructions.
My direct supervisor then came back after a few weeks. I was called by the Human Resources Manager and told that my employment agreement was cancelled. The Human Resource Manager said that my direct supervisor did not want to hire persons with disabilities because he assumed that persons with disabilities could not perform some duties such as delivery of items or visits to other companies and shops. I was shocked. I realised I had lost my job due to stereotypes about disability”.
DISCRIMINATION - SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
Employing persons with disabilities can make good business sense. It can contribute to the bottom line in a number of ways:
• Independent studies provide evidence that persons with disability have a very positive work attitude and work ethos. Employers see employees who have a positive attitude in the workplace as being valuable to their business.
• Employees with disabilities can be just as productive as their peers, or even more so, providing they are appropriately matched to jobs, and their needs accommodated to enable them to work productively.
• Candidates with disability generally have very good 
problem-solving skills, as they have been challenged to find creative ways to perform tasks.
• Employees with disabilities have greater retention and higher attendance rates and better safety records than those without a disability. This reduces the costs of absenteeism and staff turnover, such as recruitment, hiring, and training.
• Employees with disabilities contribute to a more diverse workforce with increased morale and teamwork among all staff, who find working with persons with disabilities rewarding, which in turn improves the general work environment and productivity.
• Companies that hire employees with disabilities can strengthen their reputation and brand with their own staff, customers and the community. A 2006 study in the USA showed that 92% of consumers felt more favorably toward companies that hire employees with disabilities, and 87% said they would prefer to give their business to such companies.
• An employee with disability can help a business to develop marketing strategies to reach this growing sector of the market (and one which will grow faster if more persons with disabilities access jobs). According to WHO, 15 percent of populations have some type of disability and the rate of disability is increasing as the population ages. That is also 15 percent of populations as potential customers. 
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR HIRING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
CASE STUDIES OF SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT
OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Some Myanmar businesses successfully incorporate inclusivity and diversity in their operations to enhance the employment of persons with disabilities. These companies include Blue Ocean Operating Management Co, Kanbawza Bank (KBZ Bank), Sule Shangri-La Hotel, Myanmar Apex Bank (MAB), and Novotel Yangon Max, and Myanma Insurance.
KO MYINT HTUN OO’S STORY WITH BLUE OCEAN OPERATING MGMT. CO.
Myint Htun Oo is a Customer Service Representative at 1875 Call Centre, Blue Ocean Operating Management Co. 
He is 23 years old and has a congenital malformations associated with short stature. He has worked in this position for nine months. His main duties are to answer inquiries from customers by phone; ascertain problems or reasons for the call; and search and provide appropriate information from a database.
"I am happy working here. I have been teased about my disability and called bad names by some of my colleagues, which made me sad. At the same time, I have a supervisor and colleagues who support me. For example, when I first started working with Blue Ocean Operating Management Co. I couldn’t reach a fingerprint reader on the wall to record attendance but I was very hesitant to seek help. After a while, my supervisor noticed and raised the issue with HR to discuss the ways to solve this problem. In the end, my manager adjusted the height of the fingerprint reader within my reach.
I am also happy that the company organizes workshops on disability issues for all employees to learn how theycan communicate and work together with persons with disabilities. Even though I have been treated unfairly in the past, I want to stay focused on my work and help my colleagues understand persons with disabilities have a lot to contribute just like anyone else. It’s great that my company encourages me to participate in trainings and my colleagues give me feedback to improve my performance. I feel that my communication skills and computer literacy have become better since I started working here. I love my job and colleagues."
(Ko Myint Htun Oo, Customer Service Representative)
Myint Htun Oo, 23, has a congenital short stature. Myint Htun Oo works at Blue Ocean Call Centre.
“He is a fast learner and always willing to work hard. He is very bright and it didn’t take long to train him. It first came to my attention that 8 other employees with disabilities and Myint Htun Oo were facing difficulties clocking in and out on the fingerprint reader and so I decided to ask for a permission from the HR department to re-arrange the attendance system. The department quickly referred the issue to our IT department to talk about the technicality of installing appropriate accommodations. 
In the end, they just lowered the fingerprint reader for every employee to reach. It did not cost at all. I was very happy that the HR and IT departments were supportive and cooperative to implement this kind of arrangement for our employees with disabilities. I am also very proud of Myint Htun Oo for attending many workshops. When he comes back, he shares his knowledge and information with his colleagues. This is helping our employees a lot to become educated on disability issues.” 
(U Sony Than, Account Manager)
“I am committed to building a culture of inclusivity and equality in my company. We organize town hall meetings on a monthly basis to talk about our corporate values and I often tell my staff that we are family. Family takes care of one another. It doesn’t matter if you have disabilities or not. It doesn’t matter if you need additional assistance to accommodate your special needs. We work together to help each other. 
Myint Htun Oo (first on left) with his colleagues at Blue Ocean Call Centre.
When we first started hiring persons with disabilities, it was one of our strategies to combat our high turnover rate. And now we have a quota policy to hire 3 percent of persons with disabilities in our company. They are more loyal and patient than persons without disabilities because they face problems on day-to-day basis. This is also why they perform so well in customer service. 
I once had a visually impaired staff member who worked in quality control. He could pay attention to every detail of every call to ensure quality of our telecommunication service. It is the company’s responsibility to create equal job opportunities and to take care of its staff. We don’t have to wait for laws to decide what’s right and what’s important.“ 
(U Htun Htun Naing, Chairman and CEO)
MA KHIN NILAR WIN’S STORY WITH KANBAWZA BANK (KBZ BANK)
Khin Nilar Win is a Junior Assistant in Administration Department at KBZ Bank Limited, Kamayut Branch. She is 28 years old and has difficulties in walking due to polio. 
She has worked in this position for a year and a half. Her main duties are sorting incoming/outgoing letters, answering phone calls to take messages and redirecting the calls to her colleagues.
Khin Nilar Win, 28, has difficulties in walking due to polio. Khin Nilar Win works at KBZ Bank.
“I like my work-land feel accepted because my supervisor gives me fair and just evaluation on my performance, disregarding my disability. I feel good working at the bank also because I have not been discriminated against by my colleagues”. 
(Ma Khin Nilar Win, Junior Assistant)
 “Khin Nilar Win is a loyal and respectful person. We recruited her because she has impeccable communication skills and self-discipline acquired from her past two years’ experience as a customer service representative at her previous job.” 
(Ko Aung Kyaw Soe, Senior General Manger, and Ko Ye Win, Assistant Manager). 
“KBZ Bank has 12 employees with disabilities. One employee has hearing difficulties and other have mobility difficulties. They work either at branch bank, HR department, ICT/Call center, finance, loan, admin, or board of director’s office. We first started employing persons with disabilities in July 2016 as one of corporate strategies to promote diversity in the workplace.  To further enhance the institutional culture of diversity, we incorporated disability awareness in the staff development package. We have seen that these employees with disabilities are loyal and hard-working. Currently, KBZ Bank does not have a quota policy on the employment of persons with disabilities. However, we would like to hire more persons with disabilities for further corporate diversity.” 
(Daw Yu Wai Maung, Head of CSR Department and Mr. Devanandan Batumalai, Head of Learning and Development, Human Resources).
Khin Nilar Win (right, sitting on a chair) with her colleagues at KBZ Bank (Head Office).
KO THET PAING SOE’S STORY WITH SULE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
Thet Paing Soe who is 29 has been a Service Associate in the Laundry Department of the Sule Shangri-La Hotel in Yangon since 2014. He has difficulty in hearing speech. His duties are washing, drying, and ironing clothes and linens.
“I felt very nervous at first because I can only communicate in sign language or in writing. However, I am now very happy working at Sule Shangri-La Hotel because they value my contribution and also I've made some friends. They also support me to perform my duties better. Even at a job interview, they arranged a volunteer translator who could sign and speak. My manager arranges regular consultations with me and the volunteer translator on a monthly basis to talk about concerns I might have at work and various solutions to these challenges. 
Before I started working at the hotel, I sold chewing tobacco, worked as a mushroom farmer, and a waiter at a restaurant. However, I could not earn enough money to support my mother. Now I feel very proud of myself that I can support her while saving some money for my future. I would like continue working at the hotel for another six or seven years.” 
(Ko Thet Paing Soe, Service Associate)
Thet Paing Soe, 29, has difficulties in hearing and speech. Thet Paing Soe works in the Laundry Department of the Sule Shangri-La Hotel.
“Thet Paing Soe works better if we give him one assignment at a time so that he can concentrate on a single task. Communication is always a challenge but we talk in writing. When he first started, he was a little worried about using machines for ironing. But very quickly, he learned all functions in almost all sections in the laundry department including the washing, drying, and ironing sections. He seems to have very consistent concentration and never wastes time when completing his duties. This makes him more productive than other staff. I find him very dutiful, and one of the strongest staff members we have.” 
(U Aung Hein, Laundry Manager)
“Sule Shangri-La Hotel employs ten persons with disabilities. Of these, six are persons with hearing difficulty and the rest have difficult with mobility. When we first started hiring persons with disabilities we sought advice and arranged a series of consultations with Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs). 
It took a while to find ways to promote constructive cooperation and smooth communication between staff without disabilities and staff with disabilities. To enhance understanding on disability issues among our staff we incorporated disability awareness trainings into our orientation package for new staff. Now our employees with disabilities work in different departments depending on their capacities. 
One of the employees with mobility difficulty can speak sign language and works in the HR department to ensure the participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities. This 
Thet Paing Soe (the fifth person from the right) was invited on the stage by Dr. Win Myat Aye, Union Minister for MSWRR at the 12th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on 17 October 2017.
is good for our company because he is aware of issues that persons without disabilities might be oblivious to. There are only advantages to have employees with disabilities in the service industry where customers might have various needs to be accommodated. When you are always working with colleagues with disabilities, you become aware of how you can engage with persons with disabilities and our customers with disabilities to try to solve issues they might face. In 2012 we set a hiring target of 2% persons with disabilities of its permanent staff for all Shangri-La Hotels. Shangri-La Hotels plan to hire more persons with disabilities in future."
(U Jimmy Phyo Min Thein, Assistant HR Director)
KO KYAW ZIN LATT’S STORY WITH MYANMAR APEX BANK (MAB)
Kyaw Zin Latt started working in Call Center of Myanmar Apex Bank in Yangon in 2014 and now works as a Senior Assistant. He is 31 years old, and is a below-knee amputee due to a car accident. He wears a prosthetic leg. His duties include receiving and responding to customers’ calls, and supporting and training Junior Assistants. There are 32 staffs in the Call Center, out of which 16 have disabilities.
“When a local NGO, Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI), first told me about the vacancies at the MAB, I decided to apply because I’ve always been interested in working at a bank. 
The company was just starting to employ persons with disabilities and there were three other newly employed persons with disabilities when I got a job. I worked hard to familiarize myself with assigned tasks and my supervisors were usually very helpful in assisting me. I’ve never faced any outright discrimination at work but when some colleagues were giving me a stare or a judgmental look on my disability I felt uncomfortable. It was their first time to see staff with disabilities in their workplace. 
Another challenge was I myself did not know how to communicate with other persons with disabilities because I couldn’t convey my feelings and difficulties I face. Likewise I did not know how I could seek advice and information from others. This is why I regularly participated in open conversation sessions that the company organized to share my feelings, ideas, and suggestions to solve 
Kyaw Zin Latt, 31, has a below-knee amputation due to a car accident. Kyaw Zin Latt works at MAB Call Centre.
problems with my fellow colleagues with disabilities as well as my supervisors. Through this, I gradually became more aware of disability issues in my workplace and active in detecting and resolving problems for persons with disabilities. Solutions are usually very simple. For example, office chairs should be replaced by adjustable chairs for employees with mobility difficulty to work more comfortably at his/her desk. I am also happy that I am given training opportunities to attend lectures by professionals such as Ms. Tin Moe Lwin to learn new skills and knowledge to engage with my duties better. I became more confident about communication and problem solving skills. I would like to continue my work for some more years and make my career at MAB.” 
(Ko Kyaw Zin Latt, Senior Assistant)
“The employment of persons with disabilities was initiated by our corporate leadership after we received request from MILI. This prompted us to thoroughly incorporate the concept of “equality” in our operation and management, which meant giving equal employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. We had to get ourselves prepared to welcome persons with disabilities by identifying specific tasks that they can be productive doing. 
For example, we ruled out certain positions that required standing for long hours and carrying heavy items. This was very important because persons with disabilities have capacity to work when given proper training and necessary arrangements. We decided that the Call Centre, IT and admin department would be the best fit for persons with disabilities to work. 
Kyaw Zin Latt was one of the first staff members with disabilities we hired but there are 22 employees with disabilities now. (16 at the Call Centre, 2 in IT and 4 in admin department). 
Kyaw Zin Latt (the tall man in the middle) with Call Centre Team at Myanmar Apex Bank.
In order to make our working environment inclusive, we hold open conversation sessions with all staff members in the Call Centre every month. This face-to-face communication works very well to promote mutual understanding on problems and challenges at stake and to build strong teamwork. We usually communicate issues discussed to our Managing Director to implement a timely and effective response. 
Employees with disabilities work very hard to improve their performance. During the training period for example, staff with disabilities practiced typing more than their colleagues without disabilities. Even though we currently do not have a quota system or target percentage to employ persons with disabilities we want to continue striving to provide an equal and inclusive workplace for all staff members.” 
(Daw Win Thu Mon, Call Centre Manager, Supervisor)
KO KAUNG HTET NAING’S STORY WITH NOVOTEL YANGON MAX
Kaung Htet Naing has an intellectual disability. He works as a Commis II assistant in the Main Kitchen at Novotel Yangon Max, part of Accor Group. In April 2017, he was nominated as Employee of the Month for Main Kitchen by Novotel Hotel. In addition, he is the goal keeper of a football team for persons with intellectual disabilities and has competed in matches in three countries as a representative of Myanmar. 
“My name is Kaung Htet Naing and I am 26 years old. I have been working here as an assistant at the main kitchen since 2015. My main duties are making sandwiches, and salads. Sometimes I assist in creating the buffet display at the restaurant. I really enjoy working here and now I have many friends. I am going to work here for many years and I have a dream to work as a chef trainer in the future. (Mr. Kaung Htet Naing, Commis-II Kitchen Assistant, Main Kitchen, Novotel Yangon Max)
“My name is Kaung Htet Naing and I am 26 years old. I have been working here as an assistant at the main kitchen since 2015. My main duties are making sandwiches, and salads. Sometimes I assist in creating the buffet display at the restaurant. I really enjoy working here and now I have many friends. I am going to work here for many years and 
Kaung Htet Naing, 26, works in the Main Kitchen, Novotel Yangon Max.
I have a dream to work as a chef trainer in the future. (Ko Kaung Htet Naing, Commis-II Kitchen Assistant, Main Kitchen, Novotel Yangon Max) 
Ko Ya Naung Tun, one of Kaung Htet Naing’s supervisors, said “There are two persons with a hearing disability and three persons with an intellectual disability working in our main kitchen. We aim to build a strong relationship with them by creating a workplace that will make them comfortable. Most importantly, we need to be patient and understand their needs. From the beginning, all staff received disability awareness and communication training from a master trainer from Accor Management which included topics on how to communicate with persons with different types of disabilities. I believe this is one reason why we did not face any challenges in working with our fellow co-workers with disabilities. 
Our staff with disabilities concentrate very well on their jobs, and they are detail-oriented and hard-working. They can produce the same output as other workers now, and there is no discrimination against them. Our hotel has three shifts: morning, evening and night. We assign them to work during the normal office hours shift i.e. from 9 am to 5 pm. Kaung Htet Naing is able to come to work by himself.  We now rely on him and he contributes a lot to us. I often tell the other staff to support and encourage our colleagues with disabilities as much as possible. Persons with disability are dutiful workers. I believe that employers gain benefits by employing them. So it will be beneficial for both sides for more employers to start considering employing persons with disabilities.” 
(Ko Ya Naung Tun, Supervisor, Main Kitchen)
Mr. Eugene Yeo, Director of Sales and Marketing Department comments: “We employ 11 persons with disabilities, with the support of Shwe Min Thar Foundation, a Disabled People’s Organization. Three of them have physical disabilities, three staff have 
Kaung Htet Naing, preparing vegetable salad for the guests. 
MA ZARCHI WAI’S STORY WITH MYANMA INSURANCE
Zarchi Wai is 29 years old and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Zoology. She was born with a physical impairment to her left leg, and now she wears a prosthetic leg. She works as an assistant in the Administration Department of Myanma Insurance. She is responsible for typing letters, memorandum, and reports.
Zarchi Wai explains: “I have been working at Myanma Insurance since March 2012 as a daily wage worker. After passing the job entrance exam, I was promoted to a permanent staff in February 2014. I used to have challenges in going from one place to another but gradually I gained confidence in myself and with experience, it is all OK. My communication skills have improved. My colleagues also treat me like a family member and I have not felt any discrimination at the workplace. I am mainly assigned to work using a computer, and as this is suitable for my type of disability, I can accomplish my tasks without any delay. I 
Zarchi Wai, 29, has a congenital disability of left leg, Ms. Zarchi works as a Lower Division Clerk in the Head Office of Myanma Insurance.
intellectual disabilities, and the other five have hearing disabilities. Before they started their employment with us, we considered suitable positions and the right tasks for them, by discussing with relevant departmental supervisors and managers. Furthermore, our master trainer explained how we should include diversity and non-discrimination in every discussion and orientation at the hotel. 
Since 2013, Accor Management has a policy to employ persons with disabilities at the level of 2 % of total number of permanent staff. In line with this, we will employ more persons with disabilities in the future. I would like to encourage employers to work with people from diverse backgrounds, as it helps us to have different perspectives. 
(Mr. Eugene Yeo, Director, Sales and Marketing Department)
have made up my mind to work here for many years and if I were given the chance, I would also apply for the promotion exam”. 
(Ma Zarchi Wai, Assistant, Admin Department)
Daw Khine Khine Tun, a Manager in the Admin Department, said “There are six persons with disability in our Head Office, of which one, Zarchi Wai works in our department and the other five work in a senior management position. I personally think that she is a very dutiful employee and she handles her tasks as well as her fellow co-workers. We do not discriminate her against as a result of her disability, and we always ensure that we include her in all of our activities. She is very hardworking and reliable. To give you an example, she passed the short course training exam with high marks and ranked 10th out of 50. Although we do not yet have any policies for the employment of persons with disability, we will definitely hire persons with disabilities, if we have vacant positions that can be suitable for their type of disability. 
(Daw Khine Khine Tun, Manager, Administration Department)
Daw Su Su Than, Assistant General Manager, added: “Although Zarchi Wai has a disability, she can produce the same outputs as her other colleagues. Due to the nature of our work, sometimes she is required to work overtime and she never refuses to do so. Zarchi Wai also possess a strong mindset.  I believe there is no discrimination against persons with disability at our organization. We have not had to provide any special physical arrangements for our employees with disabilities. 
Zarchi Wai (third from right), working at Administration Department of Myanma Insurance.
WHAT DO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES NEED
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORKPLACE?
Employees with disabilities should be offered what is known as ‘a reasonable accommodation’ (see Box 1 on page 14), or just ‘an accommodation’.  
This is (usually) nothing to do with their housing. It is any change or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things usually are done that would ensure a person with disability apply for a job, perform job functions, or enjoy equal access to benefits available to other individuals in the workplace. Accommodations have accurately been described as “productivity enhancers” and come in many shapes and forms.
Installing ramps, handrails or elevators in buildings to give persons with disabilities barrier-free mobility or modifying a workspace allows physical accessibility for persons with disabilities at the workplace. The 2016 draft Myanmar National Building Code provides guidance on accessibility including building specifications and signage. In addition,  overleaf are examples of ‘reasonable accommodation’ which can enable employees with disabilities to enjoy or exercise their rights on equal basis with other employees.
Zarchi’s tasks mainly involve typing on a computer, which she is good at.  We arranged her duties to accommodate her disability, so that we did not assign some duties such as delivery of items and visiting places outside of the office, which allowed her to handle her assigned tasks well. She has an equal opportunity to take part in the job promotion exam, and if she passes the exam, she will be promoted. Although she has a disability, she does not need any help from us. In order for employees with a disability to be successful in the workplace, I think it is important for there to be support and encouragement from senior management as well as for the employee themselves to be confident. 
(Daw Su Su Than, Assistant General Manager, Administration Department)
ACCESSIBLE AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
• Ensuring application software is accessible, e.g. online application systems
• Providing screen reader software. Screen readers are software programs that allow persons with seeing difficulty to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen with a speech synthesizer or braille display. (As of early 2018, screen readers are not available in Myanmar Language but this is under development.)
• Utilizing videophones to facilitate communications with colleagues who have hearing difficulty
ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS
• Providing sign language interpreters or closed captioning at meetings and events
• Making materials available in braille or large print
POLICY ENHANCEMENTS
• Modifying a policy to allow a caregiver or service animal (e.g. guide dog) in a business setting
• Adjusting work schedules to allow employees with chronic medical issues to go to medical appointments and complete their work at alternate times or locations
• Including non-discrimination and equal treatment policies in selection/promotion process, and providing equal training opportunities. 
• Creating policy frameworks to prevent hateful remarks and teasing about a person’s disability and to encourage corporate culture to promote understanding on disability and diversity in the workplace.
The Job Accommodation Network (www.askjan.org) is an online resource that can suggest ‘accommodations’ for different types of disability.
HOW MUCH DOES A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION COST?
Although businesses and line managers are often concerned that ‘reasonable accommodations’ could be costly, studies show that costs associated with workers with disabilities were minimal, and in many cases, such as a shift change, cost nothing. Usually they were worth the expense when compared with positive benefits such as increased retention rates and employee motivation.
WHAT ARE APPROPRIATE TASKS FOR
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISABILITY?
Each person with a disability is an individual with particular capacities which need to be understood. However, some tasks may be more suitable for certain difficulty. For example, tasks which do not require frequent movement from place to place would be more suitable for those with difficulty in seeing or physical mobility. 
For persons with intellectual difficulty, less complex tasks that can be performed without decision-making skills. Working hours and likely overtime or shift work requirements should also be considered. Employers should discuss the employee’s needs with them and identify the necessary ‘accommodation’, for example a change to the working environment; assistive equipment including software; or workplace training to accommodate their various needs.
HOW CAN OUR COMPANY RECRUIT AND 
RETAIN PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES?
All staff have a role in promoting employment of persons with disabilities.  But it is essential that senior leadership set the tone for the whole organisation to ensure that the benefits of employing persons with disabilities are understood, and that appropriate measures are taken to accommodate their needs. 
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
• Adopt and communicate the company’s policy and strategy for promoting employment of persons with disabilities
• Ensure voices of employees with disabilities are reflected.
HUMAN RESOURCES
• Devise and deliver the policy and strategy for promoting employment of persons with disabilities
• Ensure recruitment practices do not discriminate directly or indirectly
• Educate other staff on employment of persons with disabilities and non-discrimination
• Ensure legal requirements are understood and complied with
• Include employees with disabilities as a staff member in the department. 
LINE MANAGERS
• Provide induction and on the job training for persons with disabilities
• Manage the persons with disabilities 
• Address any needs for reasonable accommodation
• Appoint employees with disabilities as a manager
EMPLOYEE WITH DISABILITY
• Perform the allocated tasks
• Communicate to managers any requirements for 
‘reasonable accommodation’ 
CO-WORKERS• Support and include co-worker with disability 
PROCUREMENT MANAGERS
• Consider whether supplies can be procured from persons with disabilities-led enterprises.
• This could include sourcing corporate gifts from disability social enterprises, which will both provide income for persons with disabilities and demonstrate that the company is disability-friendly 
There should also be employees with disabilities in corporate leadership, human resources, and management to promote inclusivity on all levels in the workplace. These people often identify problems in various aspects of operation that others might overlook. 
FOUR STEPS TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT
OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
• Make a corporate leadership commitment to being a disability-inclusive business.  Ensure corporate policies, procedures and practices specifically mention the word "disability”.
• Make guidelines on recruitment, selection, reasonable accommodation, communication and non-discriminatory treatment of employees with disabilities.  
• Establish a detection and reporting mechanism in case of discrimination on grounds of disability at work. 
• Stay up to date on legislative requirements concerning disability.
• Ensure that the hiring of persons with disabilities is part of a company’s overall hiring plan, and this is endorsed by company leadership and communicated to all employees and externally.
• Build links with organisations led by or working with persons with disabilities, including vocational training courses and schools, and social enterprises and consider partnerships with them, including potential for procurement. 
PREPARE
• Consult with employees with disabilities, DPOs or any entities specialized in disabilities about the accessibility of the working environment for persons with different types of disability (e.g. tasks, training, working environment such as barriers, shifts).
• Learn more about options for ‘reasonable accommodation’ with DPOs, and make use of toolkits and online resources (e.g. www.askjan.org).
• Arrange general awareness raising activities about persons with disabilities for the managers and staff.
RECRUIT
• Indicate in job announcements that qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply and that reasonable accommodations will be provided.
• Seek assistance from DPOs specialized in various disabilities to ensure the recruitment announcement is accessed by potential employees with disabilities and to secure a pool of qualified candidates with disabilities. 
• Ensure that reasonable accommodations are offered and available for the interview process. This could include:
Ongoing communication between the employee, managers and their co-workers is vital: line management in each department, and human resources staff should maintain effective lines of communication about assistance to persons with disabilities, especially supporting new employees with disabilities. 
 »Inviting a sign language interpreter for persons with hearing difficulties or who have significant difficulty in speech.
 »An accessible meeting or interview location for persons with mobility difficulty.
 »Using email, texting, or a telephone relay operator rather than direct phone communication for persons with difficulty in hearing or speech.
 »A technology device or modification for a person with a difficulty in hearing or seeing.
 »A counselor or representative for the candidate asking to be contacted in advance or requesting to go on the interview with the candidate.
 »A schedule adjustment or a flexible workplace.
• Train the interview panel to conduct the interview in a confident and non-discriminatory manner. 
• Train the future line managers on how to communicate with employees with disabilities, how to provide an inclusive work environment and how to detect problems.
• Identify with the successful candidate – or any caregivers or mentors they identify that they will need the reasonable accommodations to tasks, schedules or the working environment, and put this in place.
• Arrange further awareness-raising about persons with disabilities for staff in the host department.
• Retain and review applications from applicants with disabilities when future openings occur.
• Start an internship programme specifically for persons with disabilities (ensuring the necessary support is in place for interns as for full employees). A 2013 study showed that existence of a disability-focussed internship scheme is the single most important factor in increasing the likelihood of employing persons with disabilities.
RETAIN
• Conduct regular consultations with employees with disabilities to review their performance, identify any operational issues and barriers, career development, and training possibilities. 
• Ensure that both the line manager and HR communicate with the employee to address any remaining barriers and problems
• Adapt workplace accommodations if necessary
• Modify or simplify tasks to enable maximum productivity of employees with disabilities in consultation with the employee’s direct supervisor if necessary.
• Ensure workplace professional and social events are accessible to employees with disabilities. 
• Hold supervisors accountable for implementing management practices that support diversity including employees with disabilities. 
• Encourage all employees to have equal access to opportunities for career development e.g. conferences, training, and rotational assignments.  This might involve:
 »ensuring that all online professional development classes and materials are fully accessible;
 »reserving a portion of employee training funds to provide disability related accommodations 
for training opportunities; 
 »offering specialized leadership programs for employees with disabilities similar to existing leadership programs for other traditionally underrepresented groups.
• Ensure existing and new co-workers continue to be trained on how to welcome workers with disabilities.
• Ensure there is a contact point in Human Resources for questions that managers, employees with disabilities and their co-workers may have regarding working with employees with disabilities.
• Establish a disability support group of employees with disabilities who can meet to discuss disability employment issues and make recommendations to management.
DISABILITY INCLUSION IN EMPLOYMENT CHECKLIST
This checklist serves as a self-evaluation or baseline assessment tool to examine the extent to which a company’s operation and management are inclusive of persons with disabilities. 
• Does your company have a code of ethics, corporate principles, or policies which includes non-discrimination concerning persons with disabilities? 
• Does your company have a self-established target percentage/number for the employment of persons with disabilities? 
• Does your company know where and how to find/recruit persons with disabilities? 
• Does your company actively look to attract and recruit persons with disabilities?
• Does your company provide a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process?
• Does your company carry out reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities when necessary? 
• Does your company carry out training or workshop for the staff to become aware of disability issues in the work environment?  
• Does your company ensure that persons with disabilities are treated equally with others in their employment including providing opportunities for development and progress of employees with disabilities?
• Does your company have detection and reporting mechanism in case of discrimination on grounds of disability at work? 
• Does your company consider accessibility when building, purchasing or renting new facilities? 
• Does your company review all rules and regulations governing employment, job retention and return to work on a periodic basis to ensure that they do not contain elements of discrimination against persons with disabilities?
Good communication and etiquette is vital in developing relationships with customers with/without disabilities and employees alike:
• Use a normal tone of voice when greeting someone.
• Treat adults as adults.  Address a person with disabilities by their first name only if you are addressing everyone with the same familiarity 
• When introduced to a person with disabilities, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands.
• Speak directly to a person with disabilities, even if accompanied by an interpreter or assistant.
• Use “People First” language such as “person who is blind” instead of “the blind person”.
• Don’t impolitely ask questions about a person’s disability (e.g. “what happened to you?”)  unless it is brought up by the individual.
• Do not attempt to speak or finish a sentence for the person you are speaking to.
• If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen to or ask for instructions.
• Be patient and listen attentively.
• If in doubt, ask yourself how you would want to be treated. Always be willing to adapt to someone’s individual preference. 
HOW SHOULD WE COMMUNICATE ABOUT DISABILITY?
COMMUNICATION AT RECRUITMENT AND INTERVIEW STAGE
Given the importance of the job interview, it is important that those on the interview panel, particularly the line manager, are trained to ask questions about disability in an appropriate way and feel comfortable doing so.
USING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE
These are some examples of terms commonly accepted by organisations working for and with people with disabilities. Don’t let this put you off from communicating. Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use common expressions, such as “See you later” or “Did you hear about that?” that seem to relate to a person’s disability.
WHAT TO ASK OR SAYWHAT NOT TO ASK OR SAY
• Can you perform the job with or without an accommodation?
• Can you tell me why you feel you are a good fit for this position?
• Can you describe how the 
accommodation requested would assist you in accomplishing the task?
• (If medical exams are required of all employees). If offered the position, you will be required to complete a medical exam. Job offers are contingent upon passing this exam.
• Let me tell you about our work culture and ask you about your work style.
• These are the essential functions of the job as explained in the job description. Tell me more about how you would perform these functions.
• While the job task is typically performed this way, tell me more about how you could accomplish it with the accommodation you mentioned.
• Will you need an accommodation to perform this job?
• Can you tell me about your disability?
• How much will that accommodation cost?
• We are concerned about our liability and safety issues if we hire you.
• We don’t know if you will fit in with our work culture.
• This is the way the job needs to be done and cannot be modified.
• Employees are used to getting this done a certain way and I don’t think they would accept the accommodations you requested.
WHAT TO USEWHAT NOT TO USE
• To have a disability e.g. persons with seeing difficulty• To suffer disability
• Persons with hearing difficulty• Deaf-mute
• Persons with physical disability, or person with a disability or, if appropriate, a person with a mobility difficulty
• Persons with reduced mobility (PRM is mainly used when talking about transport)
• Cripple
• Invalid
• Wheelchair User• Confined to a wheelchair
• Wheelchair-bound
• Persons with psychosocial disability
• Persons with a mental health condition
• Mental
• Mental patient 
• Schizophrenic
• Lunatic
• Psycho
• Persons with Down’s Syndrome
• Persons with cerebral palsy
• Persons with brain damage
• Persons with autism
• Handicapped person
• Mentally handicapped
• Subnormal
• Persons with intellectual disability, a person with a learning disability or difficulty
• Retard
• Persons of short stature, or people of restricted growth.• Midget or dwarf
• Seizures• Fits, spells, attacks
• Non-disabled• Able-bodied
• Non-visible disabilities• Hidden disabilities
A.1 ORGANISATIONS IN MYANMAR WORKING WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
ANNEX A
ASSOCIATION FOR AID AND RELIEF, JAPAN (AAR Japan)
AAR Japan runs a vocational training centre (VTC) for persons with disabilities. 
www.aarjapan.gr.jp/english/about/www.facebook.com/aarjapan.myanmar/
ASSOCIATION OF MYANMAR DISABLED WOMEN AFFAIRS (AMDWA)
AMDWA focuses on creating job opportunities and enhancing confidence for women with disabilities. 
www.facebook.com/DPO.AMDWA/
EDEN CENTRE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
The Eden Centre for Disabled Children (ECDC) provides special education and rehabilitation for children with disabilities. It also conducts awareness-raising workshops for various stakeholders and implements projects to enhance community development that is inclusive of persons with disabilities. 
www.edencentre.org
FHI 360FHI 360 provides grants to local CSOs, Media organizations and DPOs to promote disability rights, advocacy and campaign. Moreover, FHI360 provides technical resource and expertise to upgrading the capacity of CSO Partners, Media and DPOs regarding organizational development, skills building and disabled inclusive media outlet as well. In addition, FHI trains and helps CSO Partners, Media Partners and DPOs to have inclusion policy on gender, disability, LGBTIQA, ethnicity and religion minority to include in their organizational action.
Email: vbawi@fhi360.org
FUTURE STARS SELF-ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION OF PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY.
Future Stars Self-Advocacy Organization is pioneering intellectual disabilities organization which is mainly led by person with intellectual disabilities including self-advocates, parents of individuals and volunteers. They work mainly on independent living, advocacy, small-scale income generation, home stay training and parental education training related to self-advocacy in community.
Email: futurestars172@gmail.com
HUMANITY AND INCLUSION (FORMERLY HANDICAPPED INTERNATIONAL) MYANMAR
HI Myanmar implements projects and focuses on Community Based Rehabilitation, Access to services and protection, Emergency preparedness, Humanitarian 
Mine Action (Including Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance), and Disability Inclusive Development 
(including a livelihood component) for person with disabilities, person with injuries and communities living in contaminated areas.
www.hi.org
ICCO-COOPERATIONICCO’s project, called REVEAL is to enhance alternative livelihoods for persons with disabilities to have a dignified income through capacity building, health support, assistance for improved access to financial support like credit, and facilitation of evolvement of legal measures to ensure persons with disabilities and right to dignified livelihoods. 
www.icco-cooperation.org/en/countries/Myanmar
JOB COACHING COALITION MYANMAR (JCCM)
JCCM helps to find employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and carries out job coach training for DPOs, NGOs and businesses. The members include Shwe Min Thar Foundation, Myanmar Autism Association, Mary Chapman School for the Deaf and Pyin-Oo-Lwin Needy Blind School.
www.facebook.com/ShweMinnThaFoundationMyanmar/
LIRNEASIALirne Asia is a regional thinktank seeking to facilitate the use of ICT in the region through research that catalyzes policy change. In August 2018 they published a report on Enabling the disabled: the role of ICTs in the lives of persons with disabilities in Myanmar. 
https://lirneasia.net
MMPWDmmPWD is an android web application which is created to improve Myanmar-speaking Persons with Disabilities’ access to information. mmPWD aims at connecting PWDs across Myanmar, and helping them fight for their rights. iSchool is the owner of mmPWD project; and Ne Lynn Aung and Kyaw Zin Soe from iHub Group, provide technical supports for web development and information management.
http://www.mmpwd.org
MYANMAR ACCESSIBLE TOURISM CENTER (MATC)/ACCESSIBLE MYANMAR
MATC provides barrier-free travel in Myanmar by promoting rights of travelers with disabilities, organising barrier-free travel in Myanmar, and providing training on accessible tourism to various stakeholders.
www.accessiblemyanmar.com
MYANMAR AUTISM ASSOCIATION (MAA)
MAA provides awareness-raising workshops on autism.
www.autismmyanmar.org
MYANMAR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF THE BLIND (MCFB)
MCFB aims to raise and develop the educational level of persons with seeing difficulty to become independent, and to participate in society on an equal basis with others.  
www.mcfblind.org/en/
MYANMAR DEAF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (MDCDA)
Myanmar Deaf Community Development Association (MDCDA) promotes legal protection for disability rights and builds the capacity of all persons with disabilities to live independently including persons with hearing difficulty.
www.facebook.com/mdcda.org.mm
MYANMAR FEDERATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (MFPD)
The Federation (previously called Council) is a national association of persons with disabilities. Their aim is to promote the rights and full participation of persons with disabilities through advocacy, education, and awareness-raising in Myanmar.
www.facebook.com/Myanmar-Council-of-Per-sons-with-Disabilities-1418386865125480/
MYANMAR INDEPENDENT LIVING INITIATIVE (MILI)
MILI works for the areas of disability inclusion in elections and political participation, business, education, employment, arts, disaster risk reduction, and development including barrier-free environments. 
www.mili.org.mmwww.facebook.com/milimyanmar2011
MYANMAR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND (MNAB)
MNAP was established to promote the quality of life and advocating for equal rights in society for persons with seeing difficulty, by ensuring holistic development and encouraging disabled inclusiveness in policy design. 
www.mnab-myanmar.org
MYANMAR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED ASSOCIATION (MPHA)
MPHA provides training on capacity and assistive devices to persons with disabilities. MPHA aims to promote the rights of victims of anti-personnel mines and/or explosive remnants of war (ERW) and other persons with disabilities to access health and social services and take part in decision-making relating to social protection programs. 
www.myanmarmpha.org
SHWE MIN THAR FOUNDATION (SMTF)
SMTF works on education, livelihood and income generation, health, and environmental and social issues for persons with disabilities. By bringing them throughout their individual disabilities in building capacity for job opportunities, SMTF strives to create an inclusive society.
www.facebook.com/ShweMinnThaFoundationMyanmar
THE LEPROSY MISSION MYANMAR (TLMM)
TLMM is focused on reducing barriers for persons with disability and people affected by leprosy such as delayed access to health services, lack of access to private and public spaces, and raising awareness to combat discrimination across all areas and sectors that prevents their full participation and acceptance in society.
www.facebook.com/LeprosyMission  Email:  zmaung@tlmmyanmar.org
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS PROVIDE VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Kyie Myin Dine Training school for visual impairments in Yangon
Address: No. 132, Panpingyee Road, Kyeeemymdine Township, YangonTel: 531548
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR HEARING IMPAIRMENTS IN MANDALAY
Address: Chan Mya Thazi (South) Quarter Chan Mya Thazi Township, MandalayTel: 02-34617
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN YANGON
Address: No. 65 Kyaikwine Pagpda Road, YangonTel: 01661712
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
DISABILITY INCLUSIVE BUSINESS INITIATIVE (DIBI)
DIBI offers a various range of services, including printing, car hire business, music and musical instrument courses, music entertainment service and musical instrument rental business. 
www.facebook.com/DIBIMyanmar
INCLUSIVE PWD'S BUSINESS ORGANIZATION (PURPLE LILY GROUP)
Purple Lily Group works for the development of individual persons with disabilities or DPOs’ self-employment, increasing own creation and producing quality products, marketing persons with disabilities’ products and sharing knowledge between persons with disabilities themselves. 
Email: dkhinmyosu53@gmail.com
Mr. Saw Manine Phaung, 25, is visually impaired. Mr. Phaung works as an audio engineer in a recording studio.
HLA DAYHla Day is a non-profit social enterprise that works with local artisans, disadvantaged groups and small local businesses to create quality handmade products with a fun and contemporary twist.
www.hladaymyanmar.org
PANN NANN EINPan Nann Ein supports individuals with disabilities, while simultaneously raising awareness of neglected disability issues, including physical disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, learning disabilities, and language and speech difficulties. 
www.facebook.com/pannnannein/
POMELOPomelo’s outlets sell a variety of products and gifts from social enterprises employing persons with disabilities. These social enterprises welcome enquiries concerning corporate gifts. 
www.pomeloformyanmar.org
YANGON BAKEHOUSEYangon Bakehouse is dedicated to empowering women and championing social inclusion. Our sustainable, com-munity-supported cafés, and cakes and catering services, help secure livelihoods for those who need it most, by providing life and job skills training to disadvantaged women, and extending employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. 
www.yangonbakehouse.com
A.2 LIST OF ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES FOR BUSINESS
Organization Name/ Type of workWorkplace 
Awareness 
RaisingSign LanguageBraille/ AudioVocational 
Training
Capacity 
DevelopmentJob CoachEmployment & Job Matching
ASSOCIATION FOR AID AND RELIEF, JAPAN (AAR Japan)
ASSOCIATION OF MYANMAR DISABLED WOMEN AFFAIRS (AMDWA)
EDEN CENTRE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
FUTURE STARS SELF ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
JOB COACH COALITION MYANMAR (JCCM)
MYANMAR AUTISM ASSOCIATION (MAA)
MYANMAR DEAF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (MDCDA)
MYANMAR FEDERATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (MFPD)
MYANMAR INDEPENDENT LIVING INITIATIVE (MILI)
MYANMAR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND (MNAB)
SHWE MIN THAR FOUNDATION (SMTF)
REFERENCES
ANNEX B
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE A DISABILITY IN MYANMAR?
World Report on Disability, World Health Organisation (2011)
The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census: Thematic Report on Disability, Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, with technical assistance from UNFPA (2017) 
WHAT IS DISABILITY?
Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (CRPD), UN General Assembly (2016) 
First Myanmar National Disability Survey, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Republic of the Union of Myanmar and The Leprosy Mission International (Myanmar) (2010) 
Situation Analysis of Children with Disabilities in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, UNICEF Myanmar (2016)
Corporate Social Responsibility and Disability (CSR-D), MCRB and Myanmar Deaf Community Development Association (2014) 
Situation of Wage Employment of People with Disabilities: Ten Developing Countries in Focus, Handicap International (2016) 
ILO and Disability Inclusion, International Labor Organization (2015) 
2015 Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (2015) 
Myanmar National Building Code Abstract, Ministry of Construction, Myanmar Engineering Society and UN-Habitat (2016) 
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR HIRING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
The Business Case for Employing People with Disabilities – Employ outside the box: The rewards of a diverse workforce, Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2012) 
Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact, U.S. Department of Labor, Job Accommodations Network annual report (2017)
Exploring the Bottom Line: A Study of the Costs and Benefits of Workers with Disabilities, DePaul University (2007)
A national survey of consumer attitudes towards companies that hire people with disabilities, Siperstein GN, Romano N, Mohler A, Parker R. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 2006;24(1):3-9 (2016)
USING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE
Inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability, UK Department for Work and Pensions, Office for Disability Issues (2014)
Saw Sunday, 37, has a disability of the left leg due to polio. Mr. Sunday is pursuing his dream by training to be a barber at AAR Japan's vocational training centre. 
FURTHER READINGANNEX C
ILO STANDARDS ON EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS OF DISABILITIES
ILO code of practice: Managing disability in the workplace  
C159, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983
R168, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Recommendation, 1983
C111, Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958
Khine Thandar Oo, 29, has a congenital disability of the legs. Ms. Oo answers customer inquiries at MAB bank.
TOOLKITS
ANNEX D
Recruiting, Hiring, Retaining and Promoting PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: A resource guide for employers, The Curb Cuts to the Middle Class Initiative, February 2015 
Tips for Recruiting with disability, Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN), n.d.
Disability in the Workplace- Company Practices, ILO, January 2011
Learning Directly from Disabled People, A Toolkit for Global Business, Business Disability International (bdi), 2016
Disability Communication Guide, Business Disability Forum: Technology Taskforce. Comprehensive quick reference guide. Gives guidance on language and etiquette. Advises on specific impairments and preferred modes of assistance. Practical advice on how to recognise and avoid attitudes and behaviour which can create misunderstandings and barriers
CSR-D self-diagnosis questionnaire. This enables companies to assess their situation on inclusion in their corporate social responsibility practices. Available in English online and in hard copy in Myanmar language in the MCRB/MDCDA publication CSR-D (see above). 
Khin Chan Myae Myint Soe, 32, has a disability of the legs, caused by polio. Ms. Myint Soe does data entry for the students list of the vocational training centre where she works.
ADDRESS:
6(a) Shin Saw Pu Road
Kayin Chan Ward, Ahlone Township, Yangon
Myanmar
P. +95 1 512613
E. info@myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org
www.mcrb.org.mm
www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org
ADDRESS:
Yangon Office
No.65, Kyaikwine Pagoda Road, 
Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar
P. +95 (0)1 9661712
E. aarmyanmar@gmail.com
www.aarjapan.gr.jp
www.aarjapan.gr.jp/english/
Soe Thiha Soe, 23, was born with a disability of the arm. Soe Thiha Soe prepares a presentation to a client, promoting advertising products that his company produces.