Reframing the Right to Equality from Perceptions for

People with Disabilities

(by: Nehemiah P. Montecillo)

Throughout the years, perceptions towards

disability have varied significantly from one community
to another. Disability in history, however, continues
to pose a great challenge to seek of disability studies
in their endeavor to trace the development and
formation of perceptions towards persons with
disabilities. The degree to which persons with
disabilities are accepted within a society is not
directly proportionate to that society's financial
resources or technical knowhow. While throughout the
world many changes have taken place in status and
treatment of persons with disabilities.

But what is PWD? PWD stands for person with

disability — and how apt that the word "person" comes
before "disability". Just because these people must
live with physically and mentally challenging
conditions doesn't mean that their world ends there.
Like every one of us, our actions are our fate. Persons
with disabilities frequently find their opportunities
limited because of social rejection, discriminatory
employment practices, architectural barriers and
inaccessibility to transport. Society establishes the
means of categorizing persons and the complement of
attributes felt to be ordinary and natural for members
of these categories. When a stranger is encountered for
the first time, judgments are frequently based on
physical appearance. In many instances, the initial
response is to place the individual in a predetermined
category based on what is assumed to be his or her
attributes and status based on exterior visage.
Attitudes towards persons with disabilities are
compounded by the fact that in many instances a
person's disability is perceived as extending far
beyond the necessary limits of the disability to
affected traits and functions. In relation to this,
people with disabilities need charity, pity, or medical
treatment given such equal treatment and privileges.

In the field of education, perceptions towards

children and adults with disabilities have changed
significantly.  The greatest challenge in education
today, is ensuring that all schools are as readily and
fully accessible to persons with disabilities as to the
non-disabled. From every standpoint, whether that of
human rights, economic efficiency, or social
desirability, the national interest should be to serve
children with disabilities equally with all others.
Putting this concept into practice means turning away
from the traditional segregation of persons with
disabilities. Note that critical to the mainstreaming
efforts is the necessity of change, not only on the
part of the individual, but also in the social and
cultural atmosphere that promotes helplessness on the
part of people with disabilities. Those labeled
"handicapped" are treated differently by society which
seemingly emphasizes on the disability of the
individual instead of their ability, which works
against the individual.

Our country has undertaken initiatives to empower

persons with disabilities (PWDs), as it continuously
looks for ways to make the country more PWD-friendly.
In line with this, a law has been made which is RA
7277 – An Act Providing for The Rehabilitation, Self-
Development and Self-Reliance of Disabled Person and
Their Integration into The Mainstream of Society and
For Other Purposes. It shows, the State shall adopt
policies ensuring the rehabilitation, self-development
and self-reliance of disabled persons.

Acknowledging that the average number of PWDs they

can help find jobs is only a hundred per year, hope
that it will increase in the succeeding years because
of the continuous training programs of the government
and its partner companies provide. However, that not
all PWDs endorsed get employment because some lack the
skills required by partner companies. Even though there
are improvements made by the government to make its
environment PWD-friendly, it still lacks efforts in the
actualization or strict implementation of policies.
While we can say that the country has been improving in
terms of providing PWDs the privilege they deserve,
there is still a barrier. There is still some
discrimination, other private establishments are not
complying with employment laws concerning PWDs. There
are certain benefits, discounts and other privileges
stated in the law and ordinances, which are not fully
enjoyed by differently-abled members of the society.

Meanwhile, there have been many improvements on

promoting the welfare of PWDs in the past years, but
there are still a lot of initiatives to be done