In 1992, at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons to celebrate and acknowledge the experience and capabilities of people with disabilities (PWDs).
Employment is one of the main issues for PWDs. In explaining this year’s theme “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities,” UN Enable highlights Article 27 titled “Work and Employment” of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
…
In every society very few persons with disabilities are gainfully employed. In fact, in most countries up to 80% of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed. Most others are under-employed or will never have access to the labour market. Everywhere there is a sizable gap between the working conditions and employment trends of persons with disabilities and those without a disability. All too often persons with disabilities are dependent upon begging, hand-outs, and welfare for their livelihood, not through any meaningful employment. The denial of opportunities and negative attitudes are the main reasons why persons with disabilities are disproportionally absent from the workforce.
This year’s International day of Disabled Persons focuses on how to ensure decent work for persons with disabilities and on ways to tap into the abilities of this marginalized talent pool. The recently adopted Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes in Article 27 the rights of persons with disabilities to work and employment on an equal basis with others. It stresses the right of persons with disabilities to earn a living from freely chosen work, and to work in an environment that is both accessible and accepting.
…
Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1157 last October 16, 2006 declaring December 3 as “International Day of Persons with Disabilities in the Philippines.” The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) is the lead agency with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) as partner agencies.
Employment Resources for Persons with Disabilities
According to Australian JobSearch, there are three main employment services to support people with disability. These are Job Network, The Disability Employment Network (DEN), and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS). An additional support tool is JobAccess which is an information and advice service that offers practical workplace solutions for people with disability and their employers.
DisabilityInfo.gov in the US is a comprehensive online resource designed to provide people with disabilities with quick and easy access to the information they need. The employment section covers a variety of topics related to employment of people with disabilities: advice for individuals with disabilities seeking work; help for employers looking for hard-working and dedicated employees; information on employment rights, laws and regulations; resources for employment programs and job accommodations for people with disabilities.
In Canada, Persons with Disabilities Online provides career information links like LinkUp Employment Services and WORKink. LinkUp is a charitable, not-for-profit employment services agency. WORKink is a virtual employment resource centre for job seekers with disabilities.
Tulong Alalay sa Taong may Kapansanan (TULAY) is a program of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) in the Philippines to assist in the integration of persons with disability in the mainstream of society through training and employment.
Click here to read an article by Candy G. Villanueva in JobMarket Online titled “Working at Home Makes the ’Differently-Abled’ Self-Sufficient.”
…
Speaking of the disabled, don’t you just wish there are always medical missions available for them, especially for those who are less fortunate? Things like free rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills, California would be great for kids with extreme cleft palates. These would definitely make their lives a little easier to live.
Leave a Reply