DSWD Partners with Schools to Enhance Education & Jobs for PWDs

• During National Disability Rights Week, NCDA is exploring partnerships with state universities to improve education access and job readiness for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
• The initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, addressing qualification challenges many PWDs face despite existing job reservation laws.
• NCDA is also hosting inclusive job fairs in Cebu (July 18) and Cagayan de Oro (July 22), connecting PWDs to opportunities in BPOs, courier services, and more.

While the country celebrates the National Disability Rights Week from July 17 to 23, the attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), is considering partnerships with educational institutions to make more Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have access to education and ultimately get jobs.

"Ang ating mga partnership forums sa state universities and colleges (SUCs) para makatulong sa researches on ano yung mga need natin na mga move for education sa ating mga (to help in researching what moves we need to undertake for the education of) persons with disabilities", NCDA Regional Programs Coordinator, lawyer Walter Jason Alava, told the media during a media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

The intended partnership, which falls in line with the theme of the celebration 'Innovation for Inclusion: Building Inclusive Communities Together', seeks to span the transition between education and employment of individuals with disabilities.

Although Republic Act 10524, which provides that at least 1 percent of vacancies in government agencies, offices or corporations shall be reserved for individuals with disabilities, was enacted, Alava admits there are still issues about their qualifications.

"In so far as qualification, doon tayo nagkakaroon ng (that's where we are having) challenges and gaps because most of our persons with disabilities ay hindi po nakapag-aral (have no education). So, we are moving to forge partnership forums with SUCs and schools para matulungan tayo to augment yung kakulangan sa education (to help us augment the gaps in education)", he said.

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He revealed that the NCDA is currently negotiating with SUCs and other institutions to implement inclusive programs that will provide opportunities for scholarships and other benefits for qualified individuals with disabilities.

The NCDA representative said the council also connects PWDs to firms providing job opportunities like business process outsourcing (BPOs), courier services, and restaurants, among others.

Hindi naman tayo [namimili] kung anong klaseng disability. So long as mag-submit sila ng application nila and the company will hire them, we will help them process na makakuha sila ng job (We are not selective as to the nature of their disabilities. So long as they submit an application and the company hires them, we will help them process to get the job)", Alava declared.

As part of the observance of National Disability Rights Week, the NCDA and its allies are conducting job fairs for people with disabilities on July 18 in Cebu City and on July 22 in Cagayan de Oro.