“See our ability and not our disability and accept us into the community, accept us into the workforce and utilise us to the best in doing things in the workforce, community and in homes.”
This was the main call of the People with disabilities (PWD) from the Disable People Organisation (DPO) in East New Britain.
Making this call on behalf of the PWD Commander Barracks East New Britain Inspector Edward Gigi who is an amputee.
They made this call on Tuesday during the International Disability Day (IDD) celebration hosted by the provincial Division of Community Development division at Kokopo market park.
PWD guardians, parents, friends, health officers and the public gathered for the short program starting with a march from the Ralum police headquarter to the Kokopo public market.
The PWD accompanied by special students as well participated in the special event with the theme, ‘remove barriers, make rights real’.
The event aimed to promote injustice accessibility for people with special needs and those living with disabilities.
Inspector Gigi shared that most of them have disability and are employed and try their best to work hard to show that they can perform but others are being turn down due to their disability.
He said he is one that is fighting for the rights of the PLWDs to be recognised as there is no proper recognition and inclusive PLWDs to acknowledge their existence and involve them in program, development and the delivery of services.
“We get looks, discrimination in the village or in the work place and people we talked to and approached or the authorities that we work for it is not easy for us.”
“We are all covered under the constitution we are just the same as you able people and we all have challenges we will be put down and my encouraged to my fellow disabilities that we will not stop in participating in the development in the country,” said Inspector Gigi.
Chairlady of the Disable People Organisation (DPO) Ellen Royal said that PWD have always been categorized as people who are vulnerable and are to be sympathized with.
“Disability is not a new thing it has been here and is in the law before we gain independence so we are recognised and also have the right like any other normal people and we should not be treated unfairly and vulnerable or feel sorry for,” she said.
Mrs Royal thanked the current provincial government for recognizing DPO adding that now they feel that they are part of the government because the provincial government is supporting them now since the shift from health division to the government.
She appealed to the public to see PWDs as equal and stop stigmatizing them as they too have skills and talents but are hesitant to come to come out because of discrimination.
Mrs Royal said the community and the family needed to identify the skills and talents of the PWDs and assist them so that they can excel. She gave an example that despite her disability of low vision she can do house cores like any normal mother does.