Hiring PWDs good for business, proves sourcebook

MANILA, Philippines - Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), particularly those with Autism and Down Syndrome, can be valuable contributors to business.

“Given the right conditions, they can not only do the job, but do the job better than anyone else. They can excel,” stated Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi, executive director of Unilab Foundation Inc. (ULF).

Her bold statement is validated in a sourcebook recently launched by ULF. Titled “From Exceptionality to Exceptional: Inclusion of Differently Abled Persons in the Workplace”, the book is the result of the combined efforts of the Unilab Foundation and the De La Salle University Social Development Research Center (DLSU-SDRC).

“With the multidisciplinary research we conducted in partnership with the DLSU-SDRC, we proved that given the right conditions, workplace inclusion is beneficial for the differently-abled person, the team, and for the business,” Fresnedi said.

The research documented 28 cases of differently abled persons employed in various local business organizations. Results of the research were tackled in the clinical, business, social and legal framework.

Fresnedi lamented that most people are not aware of the current landscape of PWD employment in the country. There are 1,443 registered PWDs in the Philippines or approximately 1.57% of the population. The world average is 10%. Experts suggest the numbers are underreported, possibly due to low registry, which in turn is due to lack of awareness or social stigma.

Clearly, one of the challenges of PWD employment is the lack of implementing rules and regulations.

“While it is encouraged by law, people don’t really know where to start. This book is a way to start,” she said.

She and her team had seen the possibilities become reality  when in 2013, ULF hired Vico Cham, a graphic artist who, in his own words, is “proudly autistic”. As an administration and graphics assistant, Vico did artwork for ULF bookmarks, guidebooks and website. Vico’s biggest project is a mural of what to him is a healthier Philippines. The mural is used as the cover illustration of the sourcebook.

While the publication of the book is indeed a milestone, it is only a step in the continuing journey towards inclusion.

Fresnedi concludes, “Like all efforts of change, this will not count as one grand feat. It is the everyday kind of change that needs to happen on a regular basis until the change is permanently molded into the landscape.”

For more on Project Inclusion and other programs of Unilab Foundation, visit www.unilabfoundation.org.