Kapag May Access, May Success

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

This year's observation of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, which runs from July 17-23, comes with the theme "Kapag May Access, May Success". During this week, our differently-abled brothers and sisters will be involved in many activities that will highlight their struggles, as well as victories, in their never-ending quest to seamlessly integrate themselves into society.

Access is one thing many of us have taken for granted, but for the handicapped, it can be a perennial problem. Disabled friendly buildings, meaning those that provide ramps for wheelchairs, allot parking for the handicapped and provide easily accessible comfort rooms, are still uncommon, even for a city that has been awarded the Apolinario Mabini Award in 2005. Buildings, which include commercial establishments, shopping malls, schools, airports, and government offices, may either have ramps only or parking only or comfort rooms only, but rarely have all three. Persons with disabilities or the handicapped may be a minority, but many of us have a family member or personally know someone who will certainly appreciate those special facilities.

Access also means the opportunity to be employed and earn a living in spite of disability. This means that the government has to make sure that they are provided with special education that will give them equal footing when it comes to employment opportunities. It also means that the disabled must also be provided with the proper forum for airing grievances when faced with discrimination in the workplace.

Let us join our differently abled brothers and sisters in celebrating National Disability and Prevention Week, not only by patronizing their activities for the week, but also by supporting their unending fight for access.*