Enable Disability Studies Institute
Brief Introduction
Enable Disability Studies Institute (EDSI) is a non-profit, private research
organization founded in 2009. EDSI dedicates itself to conducting research on issues
related to disability in China and providing local solutions to the issues at hand. EDSI
focuses its work on 3 main areas: promotion of disability rights and the UN
Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, supporting the development of
civil society sector, and rights education and advocacy.
With the funding from Tides foundation, EDSI began its work on rights education and
advocacy by conducting seminars and workshops in Beijing, Chifeng (Inner
Mongolia), Yilong (Sichuan) and other locations. Based on the expertise in law and
information gathered during the work, EDSI published several handbooks to help the
promotion of disability rights for the mentally disabled. Furthermore, EDSI actively
engaged in dialogue with other NGOs within and without the sector. The organization
has collaborated with other organizations, such as Yirenping, Save the Children, and
others to promote rights and the end of discrimination for all. EDSI aims to improve
the legal infrastructure China; it has written recommendations regarding the
implementation of Law of the Peoples Republic if China on the Protection of Disabled
Persons in Beijing and Mental Sanitation Law and conducting discussion sessions on
them.
EDSI’s advocacy goes beyond legal issues. It has conducted research on accessibility
in Beijing and how important accessibility is to improve the social capital of the
people with disabilities. To promote accessibility, EDSI established Chumen.org, a
website that allows the general public to contribute to the evaluation of accessible
features and disseminating the information among the user, disabled or non-disabled
alike, with the funding support from Misereor foundation. EDSI also works on
employment for people with disabilities and provides CSR advisory service for
businesses regarding disability management and reasonable accommodation for
people with disabilities in the workplace. In addition, EDSI provides consultation and
training sessions for other NGOs in relation to the law and organizational
management.
The EDSI team consists of seven staff members, with four researchers trained on
economics, law, social work and other disciplines, and three members working on
project management and implementation.