Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Rights of PWDs violated daily, says group head
PEOPLE with disabilities (PWDs) are lobbying for the amendment of Batas Pambansa (BP) 344 or the accessibility law, which they said is already “outdated.”
Organization of Rehabilitation Agencies (ORA) president Geraldine Ruiz said that BP 344 needs to be amended because some provisions are not helping the PWDs.
She cited the need for grab bars in public comfort rooms as required by law as one of the provisions that need to be amended.
While there are grab bars in bathrooms in buildings that would aid PWDs in using the bathroom, the grab bars are of no use because these are horizontal, she said.
Grab bars commonly installed in bathrooms are horizontal bars that are supposed to assist the PWD in moving from the wheelchair to the toilet bowl.
But maneuvering from a wheelchair with the help of a horizontal grab bar is still difficult for them, and that the law should require a vertical grab bar instead.
A vertical grab bar would allow PWDs to pull themselves from a sitting position from the wheelchair to the toilet, and vice versa.
Bathrooms
BP 344, however, does not require a vertical grab bar in bathrooms.
“We need to be updated on the developments in other countries. All over the world, we are the only country that has a horizontal grab bar,” said Ruiz.
Ruiz further said that it is important to amend the law in order to provide access to everyone, including the orthopedically impaired, the visually impaired and the hearing impaired.
Buildings should have trail blocks for the visually impaired in order to guide them inside the building.
“You don’t have to get mauled or killed to classify the violation of human rights. Everyday, our rights are being violated because of the lack of access,” lamented Ruiz.
But she also commended Cebu’s growing concern for the PWDs. She added that buildings in the City are becoming more accessible for PWDs.
“Cebu is a trailblazer when it comes to accessibility,” said Ruiz.
Cyberspace
In Cebu City, accessibility is ensured even in cyberspace.
The City Government’s website was recently recognized as the “most accessible website for the vision impaired” and will receive the Apollinario Mabini Award for the feat.
The Apolinario Mabini Award is one of the highest honors given to people or institutions for changing the lives of PWDs.
From Cebu, Adela Avila Kono, vice chairperson of the Regional Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, will also receive the award. (EPB)
