Govt makes token efforts for disabled people<\/p>\n
Rusman, The Jakarta Post\/Samarinda<\/p>\n
With the aid of crutches under both arms, Sasmoyo, 31, has to
\nproceed tediously to the Samarinda municipal office.<\/p>\n
He ascends the staircase step by step, perspiring profusely.<\/p>\n
\"There's no other way in except this stairway. There's no
\nspecial facilities for the disabled. You can see for yourself how
\nhard it is to walk up a flight of stairs one step at a time. I
\nfeel like I am dying,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Not only is the flight of stairs leading to the office
\nexhausting to climb, officials there sometimes consider him a
\nbeggar. According to him, not all disabled people beg for money
\nat government offices. He deplores the attitude that many people
\nhave that considers disabled people incapable of doing what able
\npeople can do.<\/p>\n
In the East Kalimantan capital of Samarinda, only a few
\ngovernment buildings and shopping centers include special
\nfacilities for disabled persons, including the gubernatorial
\noffice, health office and a few shopping malls.<\/p>\n
There is no such facility at the Samarinda municipal office.
\nDisabled persons have to go up a flight of stairs to enter the
\nbuilding, likewise at the East Kalimantan legislative building,
\nwhere a ramp for those using wheelchairs is nonexistent, despite
\nthe massive funds used to build the building.<\/p>\n
This has prompted Sasmoyo and 300 other disabled persons,
\ngrouped in East Kalimantan's Indonesian Disabled Persons
\nAssociation (PCCI), to file several protest letters with the
\nlocal administration, not only about the special facilities, but
\nalso about equal rights to employment. The latest letter of
\nprotest was lodged in conjunction with the International Day of
\nDisabled Persons on Dec. 3.<\/p>\n
However, there has been no response yet from the
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
To make ends meet, Sasmoyo and his colleagues have set up a
\nsmall business in an unused house lent to them by the Samarinda
\nSocial Welfare Office. They turned the 200-square meter house
\ninto a motorcycle workshop and photocopy shop.<\/p>\n
\"We forked out a large sum for start-up capital and received a
\nsmall amount of cash assistance from the government. We can
\nsurvive this way and don't have to resort to begging,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, assistant to the governor for development and
\nsocial welfare of the East Kalimantan Social Welfare Office,
\nNusyirwan Ismail, acknowledged the administration had not
\nadequately heeded the plight of the disabled.<\/p>\n
However, he said that his office had taken note of their
\nneeds, especially regarding support facilities, as was shown in a
\ncircular requiring government and private buildings to build
\nspecial facilities for the disabled, although it was not well
\nreceived.<\/p>\n
\"There will be a time when the shortcomings in every sector
\nwill be overcome,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Regarding their right to work as civil servants or private
\nsector employees, this depends on the authority and capacity of
\nthe respective parties,\" said Nusyirwan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-makes-token-efforts-for-disabled-people-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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