Disabled with abilities: The ultimate test

Disabled with abilities: The ultimate test

Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Disabled people face denial and discrimination daily from their
families, society and even the government. They must also deal
with a lack of public facilities, public services and
opportunities. Most people would buckle under the pressure.

But for Nine Rahma, who is blind; Mita, who is deaf; and Opy
who is a paraplegic -- their high spirits and bright ideas have
enabled them to overcome their limitations.

Nine, has had blurred vision since she was born 26 years ago
and is currently an active campaigner for the prevention of drug
use and a volunteer counselor for young people with HIV/AIDS. She
has to get in and out of buses for her work though she has
trouble recognizing which bus to take.

"I often have to ask someone near me to read the bus number
and route as the conductor rarely shouts out the route and they
are never patient enough to wait for me to read it," she
grumbled.

A graduate of Jakarta Teacher's Training College (IKIP), Nine
is eager to offer her assistance in the rehabilitation of drugs
users and to counsel HIV infected people in Jakarta.

"What these young people need is someone to listen to them and
share their stories with. They never mock me or look down on me.
They accept me the way I am," she said.

Nine is known for her cheerful and humorous nature and she
provides counseling through music. During her sessions, she asks
drug users or HIV infected people to close their eyes and express
their feelings when they listen to the music.

"Sometimes they scream or cry but I encourage them to let it
out. It makes them more relaxed and open in sharing their
problems," she said.

Her physical condition has inspired her session participants
to be grateful for their physical condition and to make use of
their potential in a productive way.

Nine works as a volunteer. She never expects any payment for
her assistance.

"I'm sure someday there will be a school or institute that
will hire me due to my ability," she said.

Nine has been turned down many times to teach at regular
schools as the school authorities were afraid she would not be
able to handle the students.

She is now contemplating an offer from a noted psychologist to
work as a counselor in his office.

As for 31-year-old Mita, she has had no trouble getting a good
job and is currently a lecturer at several private universities.
Her hearing impairment did not impede her pursuit of a masters
degree from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.

Mita is able to communicate by lip reading and her pretty face
belies her disability.

"You know, I'm actually looking for a soul mate. I wish I
could marry a normal, healthy man. Is it possible?," she said,
smiling.

Things are rather different for 26-year-old Opy. She has just
broken up with her boyfriend as his family could not accept her
limitations.

"His parents and siblings were shocked seeing me in a
wheelchair. They told him to stay away from me as he would be
burdened by me for the rest of his life," she said.

Opy, however, can deal with the situation; she is used to
people feeling sorry for her. Opy was paralyzed from the waist
down following a car accident six years ago.

"Actually, it wasn't the accident that caused the paralysis. I
could have saved them if I had trusted the doctors. Instead, I
went to a traditional healer who kicked my lower back to
straighten the nerves in my leg. All the nerves in my legs were
damaged," she said.

Opy has spent most of her time since then in a shelter for
paraplegics in East Jakarta.

Her small house is located in an alley where the pavement is
bumpy. Inside her house, she has to ask someone to hold her if
she wants to use the bathroom. She has no access to any public
transportation from her house.

"I can't stand being looked upon with pity. I decided to stay
here (in the shelter) until I get a good job," Opy said.

The shelter enables paraplegics to be independent. Every room
and bathroom is designed for wheelchair access. The shelter also
provides occupational therapy and trains paraplegics to make
greeting cards and to knit, among other things.

Opy used to work at Gambir train station in Central Jakarta.
But her Rp 300,000 salary was not enough for transportation --
she had to go by taxi -- and diapers, which cost her Rp 5,000
each.

"I had to wear diapers because no one would help me go to the
bathroom. I couldn't enter the bathroom alone because it's too
narrow for my wheelchair," she said.

Nine, Mita and Opy are just a few of the disabled who have
managed to develop their skills despite their limitations. In
Indonesia, there are still millions of willing, capable disabled
people who are waiting for the chance to contribute to society.

Perhaps someday, they will get that chance.