The Battles of PWDSNs Educators, Defied
Authors: MIRANDA JR. ,SONNY O.|SALIPOD, MARK ANGELO R. |PACIFICO, KENNETH MARI A. |
HERNANDEZ, MARIA JENNIE ROSE| DELGADO, AZENITH R. | ARROYO, HARRY D.
Take this and think about it. Our
perceptions of equality and equity are
incoherent such that we always appeal
to the traditional sense of justice for all
people, regardless of race, status, sex,
and age, however, there are issues
arising from the disproportion between
how the public treats persons with
disability and special needs and the
ones who are without.
People are as fragile as the
argument that goes with how to treat
persons with disability and special
needs, that sometimes, our definitions of
democracy, which must essentially give
freedom to all people to be included in
the discussion of personal and
professional development and success
is opposed by our actions. Often our
appeal to be recognized and to discuss
inequalities end with us, and we tend to
forget there are others too, maybe born
with disabilities however gifted with
capacities we may never have, who
need the same recognition.
Considerably, as noted by Omar,
Zakaria, Puad, and Yaakub (2021), in a
study dubbed, “Enabling Employment
for People with Disability (PWD):
Readiness, Commitment, and
Disposition of Malaysian Employers”,
PWDs struggle with prejudices, narrow-
mindedness, and maltreatment. There
are many questions about how the
public serves them. The study calls for
action to empower employment among
PWDs.
Given the plight of persons with
disabilities and special needs
(PWDSNs), the Philippine government
has made policies such as the Republic
Act 7277, otherwise known as the
“Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”, to
protect and provide them with the same
rights as other people to their proper
place in society. The right and privileges
granted include equal opportunities and
access to education, health, auxiliary
services, telecommunications, public
transportation, political and civil rights,
and of course, employment. Following
this Act are Batas Pambansa Blg. 344
which stresses the enhancement of the
mobility of disabled persons and
persons with special needs, Republic
Act 10754 which guarantees the
expanded benefits and privileges of
persons with disabilities, and Republic
Act 10524, also known as “An Act
Expanding the Positions Reserved for
Persons with Disability”. It says, no
person with a disability will be denied
access to opportunities for employment.
These Acts are an important step in
reaffirming the rights of persons with
disabilities and special needs. As shared
by Seva (2020), studies regard mixed
reactions of employers in hiring PWDs.
Meanwhile, some companies in the
country are willing to hire them to help
improve their lives. The employment of
PWDs is considered to increase the
talent pool of companies, that also
creates profitability and competitive
advantages (Lindsay, Cagliostro,
Albarico, Mortaji, and Karon, 2018).
The government stresses, the
conscious development of transitional
methodology is essential in the cases of
persons with disabilities and special
needs, especially when considering their
education, before their employment.
Considerably, some employers have
apprehensions about their ability to
handle and train PWDSNs, because
while there are evident disabilities there
are invisible disabilities, too, and
preparing them for suitable jobs is a
challenging task. Meanwhile, the
transitional methodology engages
PWDSNs in a protective environment
where they are given opportunities to
achieve autonomy for coping with the
rigors of open-work situations. To help
prepare PWDSNs to join the workforce
and perform a job that suits their
impairment, studies advocate for
understanding the work culture where
they are particularly employed and
seeing how they are treated and
supported. People’s attitudes,
discrimination, harassment in the
workplace, and communication of
information are perceived critical
barriers to the best performance of
PWDSNs.
On this note, in the context of the
education system, the Department of
Education (DepEd) can help reframe the
adverse ecosystem and help address
maltreatment from other members of the
education system that PWDSN teachers
experience. It is in this sense that
commitment to serving the best benefits
Sources:
Capistrano, Z. (2021). Defying difficulties: PWD teacher from Davao del Norte inspires
students with story of resilience.Manila Bulletin Latest News.
Lindsay, S., Cagliostro, E., Albaricco, M., Mortaji, N., and Karon, L. (2018). A
Systematic
Review of the Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities.
of the government policies that uphold
the rights of PWDSNs will truly ensure
that PWDSNs possess moral support
that will boost their confidence and self-
esteem, employment support services
that will make them feel more at ease in
the workplace, and instructional
approaches that will help them
overcome work issues, and essentially
make them fully strive and function as
productive employees similar to others.
Reskilling and upskilling are necessary
actions to help them regard the issues
that challenge their capacities. Similarly,
DepEd can address indifference in the
community. The talents and skills of
PWDSN teachers are equally significant
as that of others. This has been proven
by the story of a PWD teacher from
Davao del Norte who inspires students
with his story of resilience and defies his
difficulties with the statement, “Do not
allow disabilities or poverty to be a
hindrance from reaching your
dreams…”.
PWDSNs may have disabilities or
special needs but, likely, they have so
much more gifts as well, and thus give
them space to be so much more, not
reducing them to their disability. If
everyone is committed to embracing
differences, our actions will seed the
thought of change, and defy their
battles…in our differences, we can say,
“I see you!”.
Omar, M.K., Zakaria, A., Puad, M.H.M., and Yaakub, M. (2021). Enabling Employment
for People with Disability (PWD): Readiness, Commitment, and Disposition of
Malaysian Employers.

PWD Philippines: 4 Important Things You Need to Know (2021). Accessed through PWD
Philippines: 4 Important Things You Need To Know (mobilitysupplies.com.ph).

Rayadurgam, N. (2019). Employment of PWD – Should Educators be Concerned?.

Seva, R.R. (2020). A Productivity Assessment of PWD Employees in a Philippine

Company.