Disabled told to keep chin up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno told physically
\ndisabled people yesterday not to feel inferior but accept their
\ncondition and live a normal life.<\/p>\n
The Vice President said their physical shortcomings should not
\nbe an obstacle for them to work together with other people to
\ndevelop the nation.<\/p>\n
\"With a strong independence, you are challenged to progress
\ntogether with your physically normal brothers and sisters,\" Try
\nsaid in his address commemorating International Disabled Day in
\nCibinong, West Java, yesterday.<\/p>\n
He also called on the nation not to treat physically disabled
\npeople as a burden on society, or view them as mere targets for
\ncharity. He also pledged the government was committed to helping
\nthem.<\/p>\n
\"We adopted and enacted the Disability Law in 1997 as a strong
\nlegal foundation to realize our efforts to improve the welfare of
\ndisabled people,\" Try said.<\/p>\n
The law strives to guarantee the rights of the country's six
\nmillion disabled and give them equal access to education,
\nemployment and assistance.<\/p>\n
The law stipulates that companies, communities and individuals
\nwill be awarded for employing physically disabled people who have
\ncapabilities and qualifications that meet all necessary
\nrequirements.<\/p>\n
It also regulates equal employment opportunities for the
\ndisabled in private and state-owned companies in accordance with
\nthe type and degree of disability, education and capabilities
\nmatched with the employers' number of staff and qualifications.<\/p>\n
Employers found to have intentionally violated the law are
\nsubject to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp 200
\nmillion (US$37,000).<\/p>\n
\"Our attention and appreciation of the disabled must be
\nreflected by providing them with better treatment and
\nopportunities in the development process,\" Try said.<\/p>\n
President of Indonesia's Disabled People's Association (PPCI)
\nKoesbiono Sarmanhadi earlier said that physically disabled people
\nstill face the daily agony of trying to live with dignity amid
\npublic misconceptions, an environment which is not supportive,
\nand lack of access to public facilities.<\/p>\n
\"My organization will like to campaign for facilities such as
\nramps, elevators and a public toilet for the disabled in every
\npublic building,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Try also inaugurated yesterday the Center for Vocational
\nRehabilitation for the physically disabled. The center's
\nconstruction was funded by a grant from the Japanese
\nInternational Cooperation Agency. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/disabled-told-to-keep-chin-up-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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