IN A bid to strengthen sectoral representation, the Sanggunian Commission on Disability Inclusion (CDI) will launch the Students with Disabilities (SWD) Support Group in mid-January 2023. CDI Co-Commissioner Nina Camasura said that the Support Group aims to connect the SWD sector members with each other and collectively foster a safe space for them.

As CDI’s flagship project, the soon-to-be-established SWD Support Group will serve as a platform for SWDs to voice their opinions and propose policies to make LS more inclusive. Once established, SWDs in the Loyola Schools (LS) will hopefully be able to connect by finding different ways to cope with their disabilities.

An interest check regarding the SWD Support Group will be sent through emails and a post in the LS OBF once CDI has coordinated with the LS’ Department of Administrative Affairs.

CDI also placed great importance on the institution of the SWD Support Group, which is needed to attain sectoral establishment in the Sanggunian’s Central Assembly (CA).

For SWDs, by SWDs

Camasura credited the SWD Support Group’s creation to the population of the SWD sector in the LS. Although no specific data was provided, CDI relies on the engagements from social media posts, particularly the ADMU Freedom Wall (ADMU FW) and the LS One Big Forum (LS OBF).

Attributing it to the fear of being discriminated against, Camsura also said that one of the support group’s driving forces is the SWD sector’s subtleness in the LS. Given the confluence of factors, many of the sector’s members do not publicly declare their conditions even to the Office of Health Services.

“You can hear students saying that they have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or autism, but they don’t declare it out to their classmates, or professors, or like staff in fear na they’ll be discriminated against, considering how conservative Philippine culture is.” Camasura elaborated.

Through the SWD Support Group, Camasura stated that CDI wants to continue the promotion of disability inclusion given that SWDs in the LS are relatively not familiar with inclusivity towards Persons with Disabilities (PWD). CDI was launched in 2021 with the aim of promoting the topic of disability issues and celebrating diversity and inclusion in the PWD sector.

Working towards better representation, Camasura mentioned that the commission has consulted the Ateneo Commission on Elections regarding the process of sectoral establishment in the CA. However, the co-commissioner asserted that CDI will only proceed with said process once they fully understand the context of SWDs through the SWD Support Group.

CDI also works closely with the Ateneo Special Education Society (SPEED) in externalizing advocacies related to disabilities. Despite their shared advocacy, Camasura clarifies that SPEED is focused on the PWD sector in the Philippines as a whole while CDI focuses on the SWDs within the LS.

Special needs and deeds

Being a newly established commission, bringing SWDs together through the SWD Support Group will aid in CDI’s current goal of establishing its presence in the LS. However, CDI tallied a total of zero allotted funds, which could have been utilized to implement their support group initiatives, in the CA’s first semester budget proposals.

Furthermore, the CDI’s approved zero-peso budget seemingly contradicts the Sanggunian’s protest against the junking of the Department of Education’s funds for their Special Education programs.

Acknowledging this, Camasura explained that the zero budget is not detrimental to the commission given that their projects mostly consist of infographics and advocacy posts. The co-commissioner further added that CDI relies on the whole Sanggunian’s manpower for their engagements.

Moreover, CDI services such as PWD training sessions will be offered across LS organizations and will be personalized according to the participating organization’s advocacies and initiatives.

Camasura also enumerated a few of their past initiatives such as the list of food stalls that offer PWD discounts and the infographic detailing PWD-friendly buildings in the LS. SWD concerns aired in the ADMU FW like establishments not having PWD discounts prompted the creation of these initiatives.

A future of inclusivity

In line with supporting the SWDs’ needs, Camasura emphasized the importance of the SWD Group, claiming that it “has been a major request by Atenean SWDs for so long.”

“We will maintain this [the SWD Support Group’s existence] by making it a major priority for our commission. This means that the new co-commissioners, deputies, and members will be made aware of this, and will be trained to handle the group accordingly,” Camasura stated.

Beyond establishing a safe space for the Ateneo community, Camasura expressed that CDI wants to be seen as a commission that SWDs can join and not feel minimized and invalidated by.

Ultimately, Camasura further expressed CDI’s hopes to spark a flame of change among its members who are still exposed to derogatory and inaccessible practices in the Ateneo, and to empower those in the sector in becoming proper advocates.