Profile on KaR's Disability Policy Officer

Philippa Thomas is the KaR Programme's new Disability Policy Officer. Philippa came into post in January 2004; here she talks about her background and hopes for the programme.

Philippa worked for four years in Cambodia, first as a VSO volunteer teacher-trainer in the provinces and then as a Project Coordinator for education and children with disabilities at the Disability Action Council.

Her work at the DAC involved advising the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on policy towards children with special needs. With the Ministry, local and international NGOs and disabled people's organisations, Philippa was working to establish inclusive education.

Cambodia, she reports, has possibly the highest rates of disability in the world and the DAC is mandated by the government to act as the national coordinating and advisory body on disability. "It was a fascinating organisation to work for and I believe offers a model for other countries to follow," says Philippa.

Her time in Cambodia informed the dissertation she produced for her recently completed MA in Social Policy and Social Development. Studying at the Institute of Development Policy and Management at the University of Manchester, she chose to research disability and development, examining the relevance of the DAC in Cambodia within wider debates about disability and poverty.

"I came rather late to the development field", says Philippa. Before going to Cambodia she was a teacher in the UK and Japan and then a professional actress. "In acting you learn the importance of patience allied with persistence and I'm sure this will be invaluable in my new job." Philippa believes her new position will offer a great opportunity to push disability into the mainstream development process and is looking forward to meeting the challenge.

Contact Philippa on Tel: +44 (0) 20 7539 1570
E-mail: thomas.p@healthlink.org.uk