Dear Sir/Madam:

My name is Shirley Keoagile undertaking an internship with the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS ( BONELA) located in Gaborone, Botswana in Southern Africa. BONELA is a non-governmental organisation concerned with the ethical, legal and human rights dimensions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana. The organisation is involved in research, training, advocacy, legal assistance and public education.

I am currently involved in the development of a project aimed at shedding light on the links between HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and human rights of people living with disabilities. One focus of the project is to assist people living with disabilities access information about HIV/AIDS, its prevention, care and treatment.

I would be grateful for your assistance to provide information relating to how educational information about sexuality and/or HIV/AIDS has been developed and disseminated to people with disabilities especially for women who are particulary at greater risk ofg being infected and affected . We are especially interested in materials that have been specifically developed for the hearing impaired community and the visually impaired community and other groups that face difficulties accessing traditional formats of information.

We are trying to explore and understand effective tools and means to communicate information about HIV/AIDS to people with disabilities.

I believe this initiative will go a long way in helping to solve challenges faced by these individuals and break the barriers in a silent world where a lack of access to information is a specific problem.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if your require more information by email at SKeoagile@yahoo.com or by fax at (+267) 393 2517. Alternatively, you may call (+267)393-2516 and ask for Cynthia.

Thank you in advance,

Shirley Keoagile
Intern/Researcher