In line with the celebration of the 22nd Women with Disabilities Day, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called for unified efforts to prioritize the welfare and protection of women and girls with disability.
“Filipino women and girls with disabilities often face intersectional discrimination, which is rooted in their gender, disability, and status in a developing nation. When seeking social services and opportunities, they face disproportionately higher obstacles, particularly in the lack of equal access to education, livelihood opportunities, and healthcare,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said a statement on Monday.
She said the multiple layers of discrimination experienced by women and girls with disability must be immediately addressed through a whole-of-society approach.
“The DSWD has been very vocal in calling for a unified stand to support the plight of women and girls with disabilities. We continue to urge the government and all stakeholders to prioritize policies, programs, and services where women with disabilities can fully participate in nation-building,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD, in coordination with its attached agency, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), implements programs and services to support persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Currently, the DSWD provides community-based and center-based programs to help PWDs to enhance their knowledge and capabilities to acquire income-generating opportunities so that they can support themselves and their families as productive members of the society.
The DSWD’s initiatives include the Persons with Disabilities-Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS); Therapy for Fee (TheraFee) Project; Developmental Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment (DARE) for Children with Disabilities Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment Caravan (CAREvan); the Sensory Lab; and the Project Aruga.
The PWD-ETS project under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) aims to provide livelihood grants to PWDs who are members of SLP associations to purchase electric vehicles that are disability-friendly.
The TheraFee Project under the Cash-for-Work Program for Persons with Disabilities (CFWP-PWD) of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) supports family and community members caring for persons with disabilities with high support needs by incentivizing their duty as care workers through cash-for-work.
The DARE CAREvan provides help to children with developmental delays and neurodevelopmental conditions and their families by offering free developmental assessment and accessible and community-based interventions.
The Sensory Lab, on the other hand, is a project that offers free sensory-friendly spaces in SM Malls to cater to the needs of children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder, anxiety, or other sensory sensitivities.
Meanwhile, Project Aruga is a community-based initiative that aims to support children with disabilities and their families through financial assistance, strengthened case management, and improved access to essential services.
Dumlao said the DSWD plans to expand the projects to support more families and provide holistic interventions to PWDs to align with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that vulnerable sectors will be given the necessary social protection assistance.
With the theme, “Landas ng Makabagong Babaylan: Pantay, Inklusibo, at Lahat May Kakayahan” (Path of the Modern Babaylan: Equal, Inclusive, and All Capable),” the 22nd Women with Disabilities Day aims to highlight the significant role of women with disabilities as leaders and pioneers who can meaningfully contribute to nation-building. (PNA)
