Integrating people with disabilities into society<\/p>\n
By Inge Komardjaja and Ellen P.S. Sasiang<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): The annual observance of the International Day
\nof Disabled Persons is Dec. 3, but the integration of people with
\ndisabilities into Indonesian society through equal treatment and
\nopportunities is a rather novel notion.<\/p>\n
The United Nations Human Rights and Disability Report of 1993
\nrevealed that violations of human rights of people with
\ndisabilities occurred in many countries.<\/p>\n
Discrimination against them may have its roots in society's
\nview of these people who are regarded as abnormal and dependent
\non others. The struggle to achieve equality in social, economic
\nand political arenas started in the early 1990s. As a follow up
\nto the United Nations "Decade of Disabled Persons 1983 -- 1992",
\nthe United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
\nthe Pacific (UN-ESCAP) declared the period l993 -- 2002 as the
\nDecade of Disabled Persons for Asia and the Pacific.<\/p>\n
The vision is to achieve full participation and equality of
\npeople with disabilities. Approaching the end of the decade, we
\nneed to appraise what Indonesia has done to accomplish the theme
\n"Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities".<\/p>\n
The realization of equality has to be espoused by legislation,
\ncomplemented with by-laws and standards. In line with this, the
\ngovernment of Indonesia has issued Constitution Number 4 Year
\nl997 concerning equal rights and opportunities in the access and
\nuse of public physical infrastructure, education and training and
\nemployment. In December 1998, the Ministry of Public Works
\nproduced and made available Technical Guidelines for the
\nConstruction of Accessible Public Buildings and Environment.
\nHowever, the concept of both legal products is relatively new to
\nIndonesians. Only a handful of academics, researchers,
\nadministrators and people with disabilities know about this
\nlegislation. Hence, to attain the ultimate goal of equal rights
\nand opportunities, it is essential to disseminate this
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
Enforcement and control of access legislation ensures the
\nrights of people with disabilities, since access is a right
\nrather than a privilege. The guidelines, standards and
\nlegislation of access give persons with disabilities legal basis
\nto demand their rights.<\/p>\n
The Malioboro pilot project in Yogyakarta is a pioneer for
\naccessible sidewalks in this country. On both sides of Malioboro
\nroad, tactile guiding blocks are to be installed on its sidewalks
\nto facilitate people with visual impairment. Hopefully, this
\npioneering work does not remain a showcase, but will prompt
\nsimilar action in many streets in large cities.<\/p>\n
At present, only a few entrances to public buildings are
\nequipped with ramps in addition to the staircases. People with
\ndisabilities and the elderly are too often deprived from entering
\npublic buildings, for many do not have handrails that are a great
\nsupport for these people. If for some reason they have to access
\nand use a public building filled with barriers of steps or
\nstaircases without handrails, they need extra physical strength
\nthat may strain their frail muscles and bones. Alternatively,
\nthey ask for other's help, which may render them a feeling of
\nindignity.<\/p>\n
As such, in accessing and using the built environment, they
\nare not only restricted by physical barriers, but also inhibited
\nby a complex of psychological and social pressures.<\/p>\n
The inadequate physical access may be due to the assumption
\nthat disabilities are simply medical matters. Visits to doctors
\nand health\/medical facilities seem to preoccupy people with
\ndisabilities. In fact, many of them are keen on participating in
\nsocial life beyond the house, but their special needs for
\nbarrier-free environments are left unnoticed by planners and
\npolicymakers. Disability is a reality that must be accepted, if
\nthe person is to survive and grow. What need not be accepted, as
\nan expert once wrote, is the unnecessary poorly designed and
\nunaccommodating environment.<\/p>\n
Access legislation alone does not eliminate discriminatory
\npractices and therefore must be complemented by the promotion of
\npublic awareness. People with disabilities are eager to decide
\nfor themselves rather than being ruled by others. The fact that
\nmany of them are dependent is partly because caregivers are
\nignorant of, or disregard, the desire for independence. To be
\nindependent means to take risks in facing uncertain and
\nunfamiliar situations.<\/p>\n
This is challenging, but this process empowers them to live
\nconfidently in the able-bodied world. Integration into society
\ndevelops when they are given opportunities to participate in
\nevery aspect of life to the greatest extent possible. To group
\ntogether with other individuals with disabilities should,
\ntherefore, be discouraged.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has taken a giant step forward to materialize
\n"equalization of opportunities" by electing K.H. Abdurrahman
\nWahid as president of the country. When many nations in the world
\nare striving for equality of minorities, Indonesia has acted
\nsubstantially in applying equal treatment and opportunities
\nduring the 1999 presidential election campaign, no matter what
\nthe political background was.<\/p>\n
Our President begins the long haul to leading this huge
\nnation. Despite visual impairment, his intellectual and mental
\nabilities are not inferior to his predecessors. This evidence of
\ncapability raises the issue of redefining "disability" and
\n"people with disabilities" to clear up people's misunderstanding.
\nApparently, all individuals have the potential to become
\ndisabled, either by illness, aging or accident. Focusing too much
\non intact physical and sensory appearance discriminates against
\npeople who do not meet this criteria, while obviously their
\nintellectual ability and special skill may enrich society as a
\nwhole.<\/p>\n
Inge Komardjaja works with the Research Institute for Human
\nSettlements, Ministry of Settlements and Regional Development in
\nCileunyi Wetan, Bandung regency. Ellen P.S. Sasiang is a lecturer
\ndoing a master's program in universal design in the School of
\nArchitecture, National University of Singapore.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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