The disabled demand equal treatment in education<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A group of disabled people have demanded that they be given equal
\ntreatment in education and rehabilitation that enables them to
\nlive their lives normally within society.<\/p>\n
\"The disabled people are an inseparable part of the community,
\nso their education and rehabilitation activities should be
\nintegrated within the general public,\" Ariani Abdul Mun'im,
\nchairwoman of the Indonesian Disabled Women's Association
\n(HWPCI), said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
She said that giving handicapped people excessive attention in
\ntheir rehabilitation programs would further isolate them from the
\nnormal community environment.<\/p>\n
Such treatment will consequently make people insensitive and
\nignorant of the local disabled people, she said, adding that it
\nwould not change their perceptions that the handicapped are
\nhelpless and a burden to the community.<\/p>\n
Ariani said that public ignorance of the disabled had made it
\ndifficult for them to gain greater access to education, jobs and
\nother social rights.<\/p>\n
Ariani made the remarks at the launch of a book entitled The
\nNational and International Laws on Disabled People. The book is a
\ncompilation of 41 national laws and three international laws,
\nwhich guarantee the accessibility of the disabled to all aspects
\nof life.<\/p>\n
She said the disabled should be allowed to study in public
\nschools along with able-bodied students, arguing that special
\nschools are only needed for them at the elementary level, to
\nprepare them for independence at higher levels of education.<\/p>\n
Although the rights of the disabled are recognized by
\nIndonesian law, they frequently face isolation and other
\nunfavorable treatment from the public.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the government has only allocated a small amount
\nof funds to finance education and rehabilitation programs for the
\ndisabled, she said.<\/p>\n
\"Ministerial decree No. 43\/1998, issued by the Ministry of
\nManpower, stipulates that state and private enterprises must
\nemploy at least one disabled person in every 100 workers,\" she
\nsaid, adding that, in reality, most companies ignored the law and
\nwere not punished.<\/p>\n
Ariani said the Ministry of National Education has issued a
\nregulation allowing handicapped students to study at public
\nschools.<\/p>\n
She called on the government and other related authorities to
\nencourage and stimulate public awareness about helping disabled
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"Training is needed for communities to learn how to help
\ndisabled people,\" she said.<\/p>\n
However, Ariani stressed that special schools and
\nrehabilitation centers are still needed to help people with
\nsevere disabilities and provide them with essential skills.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-disabled-demand-equal-treatment-in-education-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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