MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa together with MCCID deaf leaders Mark Sampang and Lucky McGill Paltep took part in the 1st National Disability Summit hosted by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) from September 24-25, 2009 held at the Manila Pavilion Hotel.
The two-day event focused on the theme “Accessibility and Development for ALL”. It was attended by government and non-government agencies who are the stakeholders of the sector. They were grouped according to Health, Inclusive Economic Development, Education and Accessibility. Key government agencies presented their platforms of concerns and assessed their inadequacies regarding the issues confronting the sector. Among them were from the Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation and Communications. All of these agencies seat into the governing board of NCDA.
Sir Jojo was tasked to assist in facilitating the group on accessibility in matters of information and communications technology. He presented the concerns of the sector to the Accessibility group as well as the main plenary session on the last day. He was also assigned to provide an insight of an academe during the closing ceremonies. He stressed the need for full participation of all sectors in discussing issues which concern them, especially those who are with hearing impairment. He also emphasized on the respect of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on matters concerning sign language, inclusive education and deaf community.
NCDA Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz was the event’s overall coordinator. She encouraged all sectors to assist the government in finding ways to respect the law and follow its provisions to the fullest extent with consideration of “reasonable accommodation”. She also addressed the need to discuss and resolve issues of concerns with highlights on the role of PWD organizations and civil society in monitoring the implementation of the UN CRPD.
