Disabled told to keep chin up

Disabled told to keep chin up

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno told physically
disabled people yesterday not to feel inferior but accept their
condition and live a normal life.

The Vice President said their physical shortcomings should not
be an obstacle for them to work together with other people to
develop the nation.

"With a strong independence, you are challenged to progress
together with your physically normal brothers and sisters," Try
said in his address commemorating International Disabled Day in
Cibinong, West Java, yesterday.

He also called on the nation not to treat physically disabled
people as a burden on society, or view them as mere targets for
charity. He also pledged the government was committed to helping
them.

"We adopted and enacted the Disability Law in 1997 as a strong
legal foundation to realize our efforts to improve the welfare of
disabled people," Try said.

The law strives to guarantee the rights of the country's six
million disabled and give them equal access to education,
employment and assistance.

The law stipulates that companies, communities and individuals
will be awarded for employing physically disabled people who have
capabilities and qualifications that meet all necessary
requirements.

It also regulates equal employment opportunities for the
disabled in private and state-owned companies in accordance with
the type and degree of disability, education and capabilities
matched with the employers' number of staff and qualifications.

Employers found to have intentionally violated the law are
subject to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp 200
million (US$37,000).

"Our attention and appreciation of the disabled must be
reflected by providing them with better treatment and
opportunities in the development process," Try said.

President of Indonesia's Disabled People's Association (PPCI)
Koesbiono Sarmanhadi earlier said that physically disabled people
still face the daily agony of trying to live with dignity amid
public misconceptions, an environment which is not supportive,
and lack of access to public facilities.

"My organization will like to campaign for facilities such as
ramps, elevators and a public toilet for the disabled in every
public building," he said.

Try also inaugurated yesterday the Center for Vocational
Rehabilitation for the physically disabled. The center's
construction was funded by a grant from the Japanese
International Cooperation Agency. (prb)