Friday, May 16, 2014

CASP receives visit from U.S. congressman Christopher Smith


As part of his diplomatic trip, U.S. congressman Christopher Smith visited the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru May 14, sharing touching moments with the students, their parents and the staff of our institution, who showed the value and potential of CASP’s educational model.

The congressman toured CASP’s facilities with Dr. Rosa Oyama, General Director of Programs for Students, Family and Professionals at the center. Congressman Smith acquired an appreciation of the work done with students and the different programs, especially the work training of La Solución laundromat and the Project iPad classes of the younger students. Furthermore, the congressman took the opportunity to hear life testimonies from students in the Supported Employment Program and their parents.

The Ann Sullivan Center of Peru is grateful for the congressman and his staff’s visit and for the interest they have shown in the work the center has been doing for 35 years with the education of people with different abilities in Peru and throughout the world.

With much success, the Prelude Cultural Association performed the spectacular musical “Sweet Charity” to benefit CASP


For a fourth year in a row, the Prelude Cultural Association offered an annual musical to benefit the students of CASP and their families. The event took place Saturday, May 10, at the renovated facilities of the Municipal Theatre of Lima.

Well-known people attended the event along with families and friends from CASP. All enjoyed more than two hours of this fantastic musical filled with light, color and extraordinary jazz numbers and set in the 1960s. The musical starred the great Denisse Dibós under the direction of Mateo Chiarella with a cast line-up featuring notable actors Pablo Saldarriaga, Paul Martín, Sergio Lois, Anahí de Cárdenas, Emilio Drago and Ernesto Pimentel, among others.

We are immeasurably grateful for this production of “Sweet Charity,” the production team, the Prelude Cultural Association and all the attendees for coming to the benefit event with us. The benefit further contributes to our students’ learning with the objective of fully integrating them in the society as independent, productive and happy people.

A thousand thanks…!


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

INDECOPI imposes a fine on Expoferia for discriminating against a student from CASP


8th International Mega Crafts Expoferia received a 51 UIT fine

Before an audience of approximately 100 parents of people with different abilities, members of collectives and organizations committed to the fight for inclusion of people with different abilities a press conference was held May 6, to report on the sanction imposed by INDECOPI on the 8th International Mega Crafts Expoferia for discriminating against Fanny Roldán, a student with a different ability from CASP.

On the occasion of the press conference, Dr. Liliana Mayo, Executive Director of CASP, said the sanction is a precedent for people with different abilities and their families, since institutions like IDECOPI will sanction businesses that are committing these malpractices.

“We believe that people with different abilities can be independent, productive and happy if we work with families as a team,” Dr. Mayo said. “Fanny’s case is an example of this, because the family faced this situation by demonstrating their knowledge, education and training with respect to their rights. And they found out where to go once this unfortunate incident occurred. For us it is a day of celebration, because we have gained great progress.“

Juana Elena Tueros Lara, the mother of Fanny Roldán, said she was satisfied by the sanction and that she felt justice was served for her daughter. “Our children are human beings and have rights just like everyone else,” she said. “Today we can protest, because our children also have feelings. My daughter Fanny may not be able to speak for herself, but I am her voice.”

The press conference was attended by Dr. Renata Bregaglio Lazarte, Academic and Research Coordinator of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and a staff member of the lawyers for Fanny Roldán Tueros’s case who provided information to assistants on the incidence and information on how to confront a case of discrimination and the procedures to follow for presenting complaints to INDECOPI.

From now on, the juridical framework provides us sufficient tools to confront and not allow discriminatory acts of any kind. The legal system enables these situations to be sanctioned, whether they occur in public or private spaces. Therefore, we understand that private spaces have long been required to respect the law of non-exclusion, Dr. Bergaglio said.

Finally, in this event, assistants also reported on the legal system concerning discrimination in Peru. An explanation was given by Dr. Elizabeth Calle Ato, Director of Normativity at CONADIS, who said that although not only a constitutional but also an administrative, national and international system exists, especially regarding discrimination, cases like this one still arise. It should be noted that discrimination is very rooted in the society. However, she suggested that work needs to be done at a social, political and cultural level with both public and private businesses and with all of us social actors who are involved in the system of law.

Exemplary sanction

The Consumer Protection Court of the Competition and Protection Intellectual Property Tribunal Defence of INDECOPI has confirmed the penalty imposed on the Asociación de Manualidades y Arte Decorativo (Crafts and Decorative Arts Association) due to the discrimination against a person with a disability because of her condition.

On October 9, 2011, our 22-year-old student, Fanny Tueros, who has cerebral palsy, was discriminated by the 8th International Mega Crafts Expoferia organizers in San Borja District, who prevented his admission to the event.

Following this act, Fanny Tueros’s family took the case to INDECOPI with legal advice from the Human Rights and Disability Section of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Legal Clinic. Then, on November 19, 2013, INDECOPI ruled in favor of our student’s family, imposing a 51 UIT fine, equivalent to 193,800 nuevos soles, indicating that the Crafts and Decorative Arts Association denied Fanny Tueros entry to the 8th International Mega Crafts Expoferia due to her disability, thus incurring a consumer discrimination infraction. Also, all forms of discrimination are prohibited in the national legislation and particularly in the Consumer Protection Code, INDECOPI said.

The Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) was pleased with INDECOPI’s final ruling.  It contributes to recognition of the struggle for the rights of people with different abilities. Now more than ever, we as a society must ensure that all people, regardless of their condition, should be included in all life activities just like everyone else.