The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Circle of Research Enthusiasts (PUP CORE) advocates inclusivity for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in a two-day virtual event titled “Empowering Diverse-ability: Disability-Inclusive Future through Research,” March 23 and 24.
The event's guest speakers in various lines of expertise imparted knowledge about the PWD sector and how research can be utilized to promote inclusivity, break stigma, and embrace diversity. Carmen Zubiaga, president of Women with Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress (WOW Leap Inc.), shares the struggles of PWDs and how to attain an inclusive society. Zubiaga said that they are experiencing a very slow change in the way people have to address disabilities and accept them as a part of human diversity. She stressed, for instance, the lack of accessibility features for the mobility of PWDs in public buildings, recreation, schools, and public transportation. “We can say that we are in an inclusive society when we see that people are observing policies for persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups,” the disability rights advocate added. In 2010, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded that 1.44 million Filipinos, or 1.57 percent of the population, had a disability based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. In Quezon City, which has the largest city population in the country, there are 44,000+ registered persons with a disability, according to the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) of Quezon City as of February 2023. To promote the development and welfare of PWDs, Deborah Cabanag-Dacanay, PDAO Officer-in-Charge of Quezon City, said that the local government conducts projects such as encouraging different business entities that employ qualified PWD by providing tax incentives such as tax deductions, providing social welfare assistance, and providing free therapy for children with disabilities. The use of stigmatizing terminologies must be avoided, and it is the responsibility of every person to know how to properly approach and acknowledge a person with disability, Dacanay stated. Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Hazel Samala from the university’s Research Management Office (RMO) shared the essence of research ethics in the conduct of disability research. Samala also reminds researchers to keep in mind the idea of social responsibility, especially for those vulnerable individuals who will be chosen as participants of the study. In the Philippines, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), and Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) are some of the agencies where researchers can seek help when doing disability research. “Researchers, be a catalyst for change. Let's help in eliminating the stigma towards our brothers and sisters with disabilities,” Dacanay said as she called for support from the researchers. On Day 2, four other researchers were also invited to serve as plenary speakers to share their research studies about the experiences of Filipinos who are members of the PWD community. The viewers are also given the opportunity to express their insights and comments about the speakers. “Sana may mas maraming research pa tungkol sa disability,” said Uriel Vesper Gamboa in his hopes for more research that will promote the welfare of persons with disabilities. Kriztine Rosales-Viray, PUP professor and moderator, also shared her realizations as she wrapped up the event. She suggests that 'learning Filipino Sign Language (FSL) should be the responsibility of everybody and that it should be considered to be included in our curriculum.’ Cielo Bacani, project head, reminds everyone to empower diversity and be a safe space for people with disabilities. “For years, we, the communication researchers, have been voicing out our line, ‘In Commres, We Bring Progress’. And, part of bringing progress is ensuring that no one in our society is left behind,” Bacani added. The advocacy project of PUP CORE aims to call forth awareness about the lives of PWDs and how future researchers can support the development of their rights through the power of producing data-driven insights. Graphics: Cathlyn de Raya
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