In response to the devastating Tsunami in South-East Asia, the Tsunami Recovery and Advocacy Programme(TRAP) was formulated to make sure that the needs of disabled people are met in post Tsunami programmes.

The programme used mainstream structures to encourage consultation and inclusion of disabled people. The programme also provided additional support to meet the specific needs of disabled people and services available for disabled people.

Motivation worked with partner organizations and Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) to advocate for reconstruction and recovery work to be both inclusive and accessible for disabled people in Sri Lanka.

The TRAP programme also included a national disability organisation empowerment project known as the District Focal Point programme, which aimed at supporting and nurturing a national network of disability organsiations capable of representing disabled people’s needs at a community level.

An additional project funded by USAID was also underway where grants are given to existing buildings to ensure physical accessibility to disabled people.

TRAP was a two year program, which ended in 2006.

Achievements:

- Support for disabled individuals affected by the tsunami and individuals who have become disabled as a result of the tsunami.

- Oxfam HK programme which funded distribution of mobility devices to Tsunami affected disabled people have been given mobility and assistive devices under a successful project under TRAP. This project was completed in March 2006 with wheelchairs, prostheses, orthoses and other mobility equipment given out to individuals in Jaffna, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kandy, Tangalle and  Galle.

- Support for existing partner organisations support was given to the Southern Centre for Disabled whose building was destroyed in the Tsunami. A new state of the art building was built and it is probably the only building in the country that is 100% accessible.