Bill to help PWDs finish college

MANILA, Philippines—Persons with disabilities (PWDs) deserve an equal chance to finish school in spite of their disadvantages, according to a lawmaker.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing has filed a bill in the House of Representatives proposing the establishment of centers in schools to provide services to PWDs and help them complete their college education.

The goal is to correct a “remarkable income disparity” between regular people and PWDs that is associated with education and sex, said Suansing in the explanatory note to House Bill No. 5270.

The bill, to be named the “Accessible Education Act” when passed, proposes the establishment of “Accessible Education Centers” in all state universities and colleges that will provide support to PWDs.

“From a survey conducted in 2009, only 25 percent of the total respondents either reached or finished college,” Suansing said.

“Providing free auxiliary aids and services to the less privileged PWD students would help them achieve these goals,” she said.

HB 5270 has been referred to the House committee on higher and technical education.

The proposed centers will not only provide free auxiliary aids and services but also support for all PWDs enrolled in institutions of higher learning.

They will assist the PWDs in finishing their college education and, thus, “help them get better opportunities for better-paying jobs,” said Suansing.

The author cited a discussion paper published by the Institute of Developing Economies in 2010 showing a remarkable income disparity among PWDs which was associated with education and sex.

A similar 2009 study on PWDs in Metro Manila found “a large variation” among PWDs when it came to income and education.

Under the proposed law, the Accessible Education Centers will determine at the start of every academic year the number of qualified students with disabilities, and coordinate and customize the number of resources they can offer to accommodate a wide range of disabilities.

The centers will also receive complaints of discrimination against students with disabilities by faculty, staff and other students, and refer these complaints to the proper university or college officials for action.

The centers will also conduct regular consultations with qualified PWD students, the faculty, staff and other students on how to improve reasonable accommodation, infrastructure and services for qualified students with disability.