Monday, May 12, 2008 Groups to organize support program for disabled
SEVERAL civic organizations have not only given wheelchairs to 550 physically-disabled individuals, they also assure they get enought support from their families.
They also aim to change society’s attitude towards persons with disabilities (PWDs) so that all will “look at people not for what they lack but for what they will become and what they can do.”
LifeWind International and Free Wheelchair Mission, which are based in Irvine, California, USA, and the Holisitc Community Development Initiatives (HCDI) will deliver 300 wheelchairs from May 8 to 20 to PWDs up to May 20.
Implemented
Recipients were identified in advance by community health volunteers in different areas of the country where HCDI’s community health education program is being implemented.
About 250 more wheelchairs, designed by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate especially for rugged terrains, will be given to pre-qualified recipients on May 17 at the Cebu International Convention Center.
Serenade
Singer Ray Ann Fuentes will serenade the PWDs and tell them stories.
But more than just giving out wheelchairs, the three organizations will also organize the families of PWDs into support groups to be monitored by the HCDI.
“Many children cannot go to school because of their disability. The reason could also be stigma-related. We wanted to reduce that stigma by mobilizing their parents to send them to school as well as connect to government and non-government resources,” said Terry Dalrymple of LifeWind in a press conference at Montebello Hotel yesterday.
Long term
He believes that they would create a long-term impact on the lives of the wheelchair recipients and will show how much people can do while working together.
“We learned from HCDI that escape from poverty should be initiated by the people themselves. In order to do that, they need tools, a vision, and access to certain resources, among others,” Dalrymple said.
Specifically, HCDI will help empower recipient PWDs and their families through job trainings and skills development. (NRC)
