Peterson Mathius, a lawyer – a graduate from the University of Papua New Guinea – a person living with disability is an advocate for individuals like himself.
He graduated in 2021 and was admitted in 2022.
As a young man he wanted to pursue medicine but when he was in second year of his under-graduation degree, he was told by the medical faculty management that it will not be possible for him to pursue a career in medicine because it will ‘compromise’ the dignity of his patients because he would require an assistant all the time.
Eventually, Mathius had to withdraw from the sciences because of the non-inclusive policies and apathetic management but he chose to study law instead, to advocate and to become the voice of his people.
Mathius, a wheelchair user, has broken barriers not just in academics but in mundane activities.
He mentioned that he is a regular visitor to the National Rugby Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
“It is not only the right to fun and recreation, but also about my right to dignity and be seen and respected in the same manner as any other”.
His regular visit has convinced the gatekeepers to open the disability access.
He said that the stadium was built accessible, but the management keeps the gates to the accessible area locked because no people with disabilities ever come to watch the game.
Consequently, they may have forgotten about the fact that it is actually meant for people with disabilities.
“One of the reasons why this is so, is probably because not many people with disabilities go to watch the game.”
According to Mathius, there are multiple reasons why a lot of disabled folks do not go out.
Most significantly there’s fear, fear of being rejected, of discrimination, of being stared at.
“Sometimes family members see them as a burden, so they will take them out for something they perceive as critical but not for fun and recreation.”
He mentioned that it was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, just a few days back; however, the significance of the day leaves much to be desired.
Countries celebrate 16 days of Activism as designated by the United Nations yet discrimination towards people living with disabilities still exists.
The People with Disabilities community awaits the National Disabled Policy 2015 -2025 to be revised.