Disabled persons fight hard to get decent jobs

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Without hesitation, Sigit, whose legs have been paralyzed since he was small, immediately set about filling in the survey form to evaluate the status of disabled persons in Surabaya. He hopes that after filling out the form, he will be accorded the same rights as able-bodied persons in obtaining decent jobs.

After the form was filled, it was handed over to Wuri Handayani, a champion of the disabled in Surabaya, who recently won a lawsuit against Surabaya Mayor Bambang DH in the Surabaya Administrative Court on May 25 after the Surabaya municipal administration had rejected her application to become a civil servant. Since winning the case, Wuri has been telling other disabled people in the city that they can also win if they persevere in fighting for their rights.

During a gathering with other disabled persons in Surabaya two weeks ago, Wuri promised that she would help her fellow disabled persons to get descent jobs. Her listeners were ecstatic and overwhelmed Wuri with job application forms.

For Sigit, and thousands of other disabled persons in Surabaya, filling out the forms is an initial step toward organizing disabled people in Surabaya. The resulting data will be used as a reference by the government in assessing the condition of people suffering from disabilities, and, it is hoped, eventually persuade the authorities to pay greater attention to their rights.

Most of the 700 people who filled out the forms provided by Wuri expressed excitement about the possibility of being accorded equal rights, especially as regards education and employment.

"I really hope that the government will review my case as I've never been offered a suitable job," Sigit said.

Sigit said that his applications had frequently been rejected by private sector firms that claimed disabled applicants did not satisfy their requirements.

After having been so many times rejected, Sigit gave up on seeking employment and decided to rely on his own efforts to support his family.

"Even though I don't earn much, at least I can provide a living for my family," he said.

Adi Subroto, a custodian at the No. 99 Special School for Disabled Persons in Surabaya, said that Wuri's case had inspired his students, and encouraged them to pursue their education.

Ali, a student at the school, has displayed a newfound interest in learning ever since his teacher told him and has classmates about Wuri's case. Ali said he now wanted to become a teacher after finishing school.

Adi said that due to the limited employment opportunities available to disabled people, many special schools in Surabaya taught massage to disabled children, especially the sight- impaired, in the hope that this would provide them with livelihoods.

"Although many of them don't like the job, they eventually have to accept it because there are apparently no other jobs where they will be accepted," he said.

Adi hopes that Wuri's much-publicized case will lead to more employment opportunities for the disabled so that they will no longer be confined to working as masseurs or masseuses, but will also have other employment opportunities available to them, such as working in offices.

Adi said that the government should pay attention to and help the disabled, not just by providing money and material assistance, but also by seeking a long-term solution to their employment needs.

Meanwhile, Wuri said that the struggle for the rights of disabled people would continue, including providing the disabled about more information on their rights.