Abilities behind

Inabilities: Lived
Experiences of PWDs
in Mainstream
Employment
HORTELANO, MAZEL P
M A L I P O T, B E N N E T H S .
RICAFRANCA, COOKIE ANTOINETTE K.
SAMBOLA, RIEZEL JANE A.
S AT O , F E L I C H I U .

Rationale
According to Rojas (2012), in the Philippines, out of 76, 506, 928 total Filipino
population, almost one million (942, 098) is comprised of PWDs. More than half
(58.13%) of them belonged to the working age group of 15 years old and over
(NSO 2002 Census) As the number of PWDs continues to grow, many
unemployed PWDs are present.
Many PWDs continue to experience work discrimination, unequal rights, and
limited opportunities. They are hardly equipped for competitive and gainful
long-term employment (Fojas, 2012).

Realizing the presence of discrimination, prejudices, inequality and other

negative attitudes toward PWDs, there is a need to seek reasons behind such
and to find solutions to these problems.

Objectives
This study aims:

To gain the first-hand experiences contributing to their success in

their jobs which is lacking in previous studies;
To capture their joys, challenges and coping mechanisms in their
jobs; and
To address this gap of knowledge about SPECIAL EDUCATION.

Methodology

Qualitative Method

Phenomenological study
Interview (15 employed PWDs in mainstream employment within Cebu City)
10 Visual impairment
2 Orthopedic impairment
2 - Speech impairment
1 Hearing impairment
Cross-examination (1 co-employee and 1 employer for every participant)
Sound recording and note-taking
Questions were in English but translated in Cebuano during interview

Results and Discussion

Theme 1: Earning for a Living
All the participants described their individual reason for having a
particular job in order to survive and support their family needs. A common
theme in a participants narrative was the idea of pursuing a particular job for
the sake of their family.
Sa kadaghan nakong naagiang trabaho, tanan lisud apan,alang sa
akong pamilya mangugat jud ko ug magkugi(P9) (..All those jobs that I have
encountered, none of them is easy, but for the sake of my family, I work
hard.)

Results and Discussion

In addition, having a job which they think they have the skill and is easy to
handle.
Gipili ko ning trabahua kay makabuhi ug pamilya ug gaan pa gyud.
(P4) (I chose this kind of Job because it can support my family and it is easy
to handle.)
...Mao may naandan nga trabaho, basta kay makakaon lang ang akong
mga anak.(P5) (I am already used to this job as long as I can provide food
for my children).

Results and Discussion

Theme 2: Its how you look at it. (Optimism/Acceptance)
Participants revealed that how they view their disability in their work
affects their attitudes toward life and performance in their work. Acceptance is
a great factor in enabling them to be optimistic and to function well in their
jobs.

Naka-experience kog challenges tungod sa akong disability, na-reject ug

napakauwawan pud ko. Naa gyud bitaw mga limitation pero pagdugay-dugay
nadawat ra nako nga ing-ani ko. Maningkamot jud ko. (P13) (I experienced
challenges because of my disability, rejected and humiliated. I have
limitations but later on I accepted that I am like this. Still, I should work hard.)

Results and Discussion

Participant 8 shares the experience of how other PWDs influenced her in
becoming motivated to engage in work.
Sauna, di jud mugawas sa balay kay mauwaw ko. Sakit kayo sa akong
buot nga ingon ani ko. Pero pagkakita nako sa ubang mga VIs (Visually
Impaired) sama nako, aw na-inspire ko nila na nakatrabaho na bisan buta.
Nagpangutana ko about sa mga trainings nga ilang giapilan (P8) (Before, I
do not go outside the house because I am ashamed. I am very hurt because of
my condition. But when I saw the other VIs like me, I was inspired b them
because they are employed. I asked about the trainings they had joined...)

Results and Discussion

Another participant described the experience of choosing to be
functional rather than dwelling on inabilities.
Disabled man ko unya kaya man nako ang trabaho... Di gyud ika-uwaw
ang pagkatawo bisan disabled o dili. (P2) (I am disabled but I am capable
of doing the job It is not something to be ashamed of whether you are a
person with disability or not)
Being employed is also a privilege and success in their jobs matter as to
how they adjust, manage and respond to their tasks and their work
environment.
(It is good to have work. Not all are lucky to be employed. That is why
I have to do my best.) (P7)

Results and Discussion

Theme 3: Disability is not a hindrance.

All 15 participants stated that the disability of a person should not be the reason
not to continue on whatever they want to pursue or achieve in life. This theme emerged
as the participants gave advice to other PWDs who are in mainstream employment.
Ang ako ra jud mahatag nga pulong sa uban nga PWDs kay ang pagkaanaay
disability sa usa ka tawo dili jud himoong babag sa gusto nilang buhaton o abton sa
ilang kinabuhi, kay sa akoang na experience una nakong gibuhat nisalig ko sa ginoo
hingsunod ang pagpangitag laing pamaagi para magkanaag mas maayongkahimtang
akong kinabuhi. Maski sa akong diperensya sa mata kabalo kong anaa pay laing
magamit gawas sa akong mata.(P5) (The words that I can just give to the other
PWDs is that having a disability of a certain person should not be the reason in not
pursuing their wants in their lives. Because on my experience what I did first is
having trust to the Lord and then seeking other ways to have a better life. Even
having problem with my eyes I still knew that there is still other way to live.)

Results and Discussion

Another participant really expressed the thought of having positivity in
life. Thus, giving the idea of not to focus more on the disability of a person. As
stated,
Maningkamot lang gud kay bisan ingon ani ko nga nay deperensya, naa
man gihapoy mabuhat. (P6) (We just have to try our best, because even I
have this disability, there are things that I can still work on).

Results and Discussion

Theme 4: I had new experiences and learnings.
Most of the participants revealed that they are already lucky to be
employed in the mainstream environment, knowing the demands of the society.
They also shared that if they stop working on their jobs, it would be very difficult
for them to look for another job. This was reflected by one of the participants
(P6) which states:
.wa may lain trabaho, lisod na kaau mangita pa ug lain. Ug wa na sad
siguroy mudawat nako. (P6) (No other job available, its very hard to look
for another job, and I think, no other company will accept me.)

Results and Discussion

Most of them also shared that having a job, makes them functional,
because they were able to experience new things as P1 shared:
para bag-o sad nga experience,unya malingaw ra man sad ko. (P1)
(For a new experience, and I enjoy doing this also.)

Results and Discussion

It was also the same with P3 that he also experienced new things and that
he also learned on how to adjust with the people around his environment.
kanang pagdakop ug kawatan. First time namu pagdakop ug kawatan
human among gipapriso among gifaylag kaso sa Capitol, kami mismo midala,
dayun gidala sa prisohan sa Kalunasan. Okay ra mi diri pero naa man gyud na
sa trabaho ang selos-selos ug mga away2 ginagmay. Usahay maayo ra mu,
unya usahay magkalalis pud. (P3) (When we first arrested a thief, and then
we sent him to prison, and then we filed a case for him, at the Capitol which
we ourselves bring him there, and afterwards, he was sent to Kalunasan. We
are okay here, but jealousy and misunderstandings are inevitable in work.
Sometimes, you all are good, and sometimes you argue also on some things.)

Results and Discussion

Being at work also made them realize that they can do things which they
think they cant do, because they are also provided forums and seminars to
enhance their skills and abilities. This was reflected on P3s answer:
pirmero wa ko kahibaw unsay kondisyon sa akong trabaho pero
kadugayan sa daghang seminar among naapilan mao na nakamao mi. (P3)
(At first, we dont know the nature of our job, but later on, there are many
seminars provided, so we learned about it.)

Results and Discussion

Theme 5: Accomplishing things that we can handle.
The theme has surfaced the essence of what the participants can do
rather than what they couldnt. It brings out the value of pushing through the
fullest potentials; pursuing tasks despite of having deficits and savors the
abilities in spite of focusing on inabilities by being productive.
Kayanon jud bisan may deperensya ka. Kutob sa mabuhat, buhatun
basta naa lang tay mahatag o maka tampo sa mga gastuhunon; pampalit ug
tambal nako ug pang gastos sa pang adlaw- adlaw nga kaon. (P1) (We have
to bear it despite of deficits to the extent of our full capabilities. We ought to,
in order to give or to contribute to the expenses; medicine expenses and day
to day banquet.)

Results and Discussion

Another participant has described his experience in accomplishing his desired goals which
in his own view was at first impossible.
Lisud jud ang mabuta, mawad-an kag klaro nga panan-aw labi na ug naanad jud ko sa
sugod nga makakita ug wala juy deperensya. Pero bisan nawala akong panan-aw, ako jung
napadayun akong pag eskwela pinaagi sa tabang ug suporta sa akong ginikanan ug diha nka ingon
sab ko nga bisan wala tay panan- aw, dili gyud ni maoy ma hinungdan nga dili na sab ta mag tanaw sa atung panlantaw sa atung kaugalingon ug para sa atung kaugmaon. God is always around
to guide us jud diay, basta atu lang sad jung tabangan atung kaugalingon nga mahimo pang better
or mas labaw kaysa sa bisan unsa pang mga pagsulay. Ug karon, wala sab ko magatuo nga
mahimo nakong Professional, licensed teacher nya nka human nsad ko sa akong Masteral nga
sauna mkahuman ra ug college ang akong tumong. (P15)

Results and Discussion

(P15) (Its really hard to become blind, you will lose a clear sight
especially when I, personally was able to see from the start and had no
deficits. But, even if I lost my clear sight, I was still able to pursue my studies
through the help and support from my parents and then I could say that the
absence of sight does not create reasons for us not to foresee our visions for
our self and for our future. God is always around to guide us, so long as we
also are willing to help ourselves and to be better or greater than our
struggles. And now, I cant believe I could be professional, a licensed teacher
and I was able to finish my Masters Degree when back before, to be able to
finish College was just my only goal.)

Conclusion
PWDs in mainstream employment experience challenges in their
jobs. Still, they prove that their deficits do not create their
inability to earn a living and to grow holistically as an individual.
Therefore, Special Education must emphasize the need for
training of skills for a mainstreamed employment. Invisible to the
spectrum of the human eye, are their heartfelt stories, their
outlooks and coping mechanisms that move their inabilities to
ABILITIES. In this study, we have extracted the thought that we
really are MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT.

Source:http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/disability quotes.php#sthash.srks0vaX.dpuf