Accessible education centers for PWDs pushed

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker has pushed for the establishment of “accessible education centers” in each state university and college (SUC) in the country for persons with disabilities (PWD), most of whom have not finished college.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing authored House Bill 5270 or the proposed “Accessible Education Act,” which seeks to establish the centers with the needed government funding.

“From a survey conducted in 2009, only 25 percent of the total respondents either reached or finished college education,” Suansing said.

Suansing said there is a need to help PWDs who have the academic capability to study in SUCs for them to complete their education and earn college degrees.

“Providing free auxiliary aids and services for the less privileged PWD students will help them achieve these goals,” Suansing said.

“More than a decade and several amendments later, there is still the need to improve legislation for PWDs, especially those who are underprivileged,” she said, referring to Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

She cited a paper published by the Institute of Developing Economies in 2010 that showed there is a remarkable income disparity among PWDs, which is associated with education and sex.

A similar 2009 study on PWDs in Metro Manila found a large variation among PWDs when it comes to income and education. A substantial number of PWDs have very low income and level of education, Suansing noted.

The proposed accessible education centers will not only provide free auxiliary aids and services but will also render the necessary support for all PWDs who are enrolled in these institutions of higher education.

 Finishing college will improve their prospects for landing better paying jobs, Suansing said.