RIGHTS OF DISABLED PERSONS

Disabled individuals in the Philippines are defined as individuals "suffering from

restriction or different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to
perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being".
[1]

Impairment
Impairment is defined as "any loss, diminution or aberration of psychological, physiological,
or anatomical structure of function."[1]
Disability
Disability is defined as "(1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or
more psychological, physiological or anatomical function of an individual or activities of
such individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an
impairment."[1]
Handicap
Handicap is defined as "a disadvantage for a given individual resulting from an impairment
or a disability, that limits or prevents the functions or activity, that is considered normal given
the age and sex of the individual."[1]

Prevalence
The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded a total of 1.443 million people in the Philippines
(1.57% of the total population) has disability as of 2010 and categorized them according to
age group, gender, and region.[2] In 2011, the Department of Social Welfare and
Development made and published the results of the survey about Philippine households with
PWDs with respect to their types of disability

GOVERNMENT POLICIES
Republic Act No. 7277
The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons is “an act providing for the rehabilitation, self-
development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream
of society and for other purposes.” It outlines the rights and privileges of disabled persons
and the prohibition on discrimination of PWDs. It was ratified on March 24, 1992.[8]
Batas Pambansa Blg. 344
The Accessibility Law is an act enhancing the mobility of disabled persons that requires
buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install some facilities and other
devices. This law required the installation of sidewalks, ramps and railings for the PWDs in
public spaces. It was ratified on December 7, 1982.[9]
Republic Act 6759
The White Cane Act declares August 1 of every year as White Cane Safety Day in
recognition of the visually impaired PWDs’ need for assistance and as a reminder for the
public of their duty to care for respect their brethren. The act was ratified on September 18,
1989.[10]
Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10754[edit]
This act is an expansion of the benefits and privileges of PWDs in the Philippines as an
amendment to the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. It highlights the basic and societal
benefits and privileges of PWDs. It was signed on December 1, 2016.[11]
Qualifications
Persons with Disability (PWD) are those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and
effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Identification Cards shall be
issued to any PWD with permanent disabilities due to any one or more of the following
conditions: psychosocial, chronic illness, learning, mental, visual, orthopedic, speech and
hearing conditions. This includes persons suffering from disabling diseases resulting to the
person’s limitations to do day to day activities as normally as possible such as but not limited
to those undergoing dialysis, heart disorders, severe cancer cases and such other similar cases
resulting to temporary or permanent disability.
Benefits
Under R.A. 10754, the benefits of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are the following:

1. 20% Discount and Value Added Tax Exemption on the purchase of certain goods and
services such as Lodging Establishments, Restaurants, Recreation Centers, Purchase
of Medicines and Foods for Special Medical Purposes, Medical and Dental Services,
Diagnostic and Laboratory Fees and Professional Fees of Attending Doctors,
Domestic Air and Sea Travel, Land Transportation Travel, Funeral and Burial
Services for the Death of a PWD
2. Educational Assistance
3. Benefits from GSIS, SSS and Pag-Ibig based on their respective charters
4. Special Discounts in Special Programs
5. Express Lanes
Tax benefits
The Bureau of Internal Revenue provides tax benefits and privileges to qualified persons with
disability (PWD) as well as their benefactor or someone who cares and lives with the PWD
under Revenue Regulations 5-2017. The BIR already provides tax benefits as early as 2009
through RR 1-2009.
The beneficiaries of BIR's regulation entitles PWD and their benefactors to at least 20
percent discount on the sale of select goods and services. RR 5-2017 specifically stated that
benefactors regardless of citizenship must have fourth civil degree of consanguinity or
affinity with the PWD while the previous regulation, RR 1-2009 did not have this restriction.

Education
The RA 7277 ensures that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have adequate access and
opportunities to quality education. Under this Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, it is
unlawful for any learning institution "to deny a disabled person admission to any course it
offers by reason of handicap or disability.
Special education
The SPED program offered by DepEd caters to learners with visual impairment, intellectual
disability, learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, communication disorder, physical
disability, emotional and behavioral disorder, multiple disability with visual impairment, and
those who are orthopedically handicapped, chronically ill, and gifted and talented.[12]
A SPED program may include a Self-contained/Special Class which is a separate class for
one type of exceptionality, Itinerant Teaching or where a teacher provides direct
consultations with the student at home or at school, or Inclusion wherein all children with
different types of disabilities are taught together in one classroom. Enrolling a child with
disability into a regular class may also be done through what is called Mainstreaming or
Integration.

Equal employment