Disabled persons fight hard to get decent jobs

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.