Disabled have limited access to public facilities, jobs<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso
\nand PC Naommy
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Access to public facilities and job opportunities are very
\nlimited for disabled Jakartans.<\/p>\n
A 2003 survey by the Indonesian Association of Women with
\nDisabilities (HWPCI), the Jakarta Architect's Club and School of
\nCivil Engineering at Trisakti University revealed that of the 43
\npublic buildings surveyed, less than 10 had parking lots,
\nelevators, toilets, public phone booths and walkways accessible
\nto the disabled.<\/p>\n
The survey was conducted in a variety of buildings such as
\nmalls, hotels, offices, hospitals, recreation centers, airports
\nand mosques.<\/p>\n
Based on the survey, Mal Kelapa Gading in Kelapa Gading, North
\nJakarta, is best-equipped with facilities for the disabled,
\nincluding parking lots, elevators, toilets and public phone
\nbooths.<\/p>\n
Still, the result of the 2003 survey was better than the
\nresults of a similar survey conducted in 2001 by the same
\norganizations. At that time, of the 35 public facilities that
\nwere surveyed, only Gambir railway station, Central Jakarta,
\nprovided access for the disabled in its parking lots, elevators,
\ntoilets, public phone booths and walkways.<\/p>\n
The railway station is one of the pilot projects set out to
\nprovide access for disabled persons. The project was initiated
\nduring the administration of former president Abdurrahman \"Gus
\nDur\" Wahid, who is technically blind and whose wife is confined
\nto a wheelchair.<\/p>\n
The HWPCI said that non-disabled people often used the
\nfacilities provided specifically for disabled people.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization estimates that 10 percent of
\nIndonesia's 220 million-strong population has some form of
\ndisability.<\/p>\n
The disabled also face a struggle when trying to land jobs for
\nwhich they are qualified, as many recruiters perceived their
\ndisabilities as a liability or limitation.<\/p>\n
In order to help disabled people to find jobs, the Indonesian
\nAssociation of the Disabled (PPCI) and the Ministry of Manpower
\nlaunched a registration program and published registration forms
\nin a national daily for two consecutive days in October 2002.<\/p>\n
However, only less than 100 responded, said HWPCI secretary
\nMaulani Rotinsulu.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe this was due to the paper's market segment, since most
\nof its readership are from the middle and upper classes, while
\nmany of the disabled are from the grass roots,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Kasih Ani, chairwoman of the Empowerment of the Disabled
\nWorkforce (LPTKPC), a non-governmental organization established
\nin August 2003, aimed to provide vocations for the disabled and
\nassisted job-seekers land proper jobs by recommending them to
\ncompanies and government offices.<\/p>\n
The disabled have long demanded that the government provide
\naccessible facilities for them and have claimed that they have
\nbeen marginalized by the lack of access to public facilities.<\/p>\n
Government Regulation No. 43\/1998 on welfare of disabled
\npeople stipulates that by the end of 2003, all government
\nbuildings must provide access for the disabled. Yet, very few
\nbuildings have fulfilled the regulation.<\/p>\n
The government has also issued Law No. 4\/1997 on disabled
\npersons, which stipulates that every company with a workforce of
\nover 100 must provide 1 percent of their posts for the disabled.
\nThose companies that violate the law can be fined a maximum Rp
\n200 million (US$23,810).<\/p>\n
It is not clear at this time how well the law has been
\nenforced.<\/p>\n
Life not a bed of roses for Julius<\/p>\n
For Julius, 21, his gold medal in track and field at the
\nNational Special Games last year meant nothing when it came to
\nreal life.<\/p>\n
As a visually impaired child, Julius has lived with
\ndiscrimination from \"normal\" people all his life.<\/p>\n
\"There was one time when I was standing for about 30 minutes
\non the curb in Pondok Labu trying to cross the busy road, and no
\none offered to help,\" he said. Instead of help, all he got was an
\ninsult from someone who accused him of only pretending to be
\nblind.<\/p>\n
Now Julius is in his third year of high school at the
\nResources Center for Children With Visual Impairment in Lebak
\nBulus, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Even though he is proceeding with his education and has
\nacquired numerous skills, Julius -- as well as other students at
\nthe center -- is pessimistic about his future.<\/p>\n
\"I still have to think about what I'll do after I graduate.
\nWill there be any jobs out there for people like me?\"<\/p>\n
There are, indeed, several companies offering jobs for the
\ndisabled.<\/p>\n
A big American fast food chain restaurant in Tebet employs
\nfour disabled people who are hearing impaired or verbally
\nchallenged.<\/p>\n
\"The four can work as effectively and efficiently as other
\n'normal' employees here,\" said the restaurant manager, who asked
\nto remain anonymous. -- JP<\/p>",
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