transcending disabilities

“DISABILITIES” as defined by the World health Organization (Who), “is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.”

WHO views disability not only as a health problem but a complex phenomenon, “reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.” One of them is Wilmo B. Capoy, who was diagnosed with congenital visual impairment, a hereditary disease which can skip about six to eight generations.

Being the eldest out of five siblings, three of them are affected of this disease.

Education is a struggle Life was not easy for Capoy, growing up with his disability during the time where there are still no special schools present yet for persons with disability (PWD) and he has to finish his elementary and high school education together with normal students.

“Kung naa kay disability lisud gyud siya mu-eskwela especially sa ako-a, sa panahon sa akong pag eskwela wala pa may school for the blind, I have to be in a regular school (If you have a disability, it is really hard to go to school especially for me, there is still no school for the blind during my time I have to be in a regular school),” he recalls. Then there is the mockery that comes with the bullying. Capoy remembers that during his elementary years, his teachers would often tell him that he cannot finish high school but he did and during his high school years his classmates would tell him he cannot finish college but he did. With his low vision during that time, Capoy finished school without the help of Braille. He would read his books with his nose almost touching the pages.

Capoy learned Braille at the Davao Special School before he went to college. He finished his bachelor’s degree in education major in English and law from the University of Mindanao.

“It’s a childhood ambition (lawyer), I’ve entertained that one since I was a child but I was not lucky enough, I did not make it in the bar,” he said.

He took his law studies while he was teaching English to the student of the Davao School for the Blind.

Local scene for PWDs

With most local government units (LGUs) in the region having established the required Persons With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) pursuant to Republic Act 10070 or the amended “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”, Department of Social Welfare and Development XI regional focal person for PWDs Cythina Umdaña said that education and unemployment are still a challenge faced by most PWDs in the region.

Umdaña said that not all public schools that offer special education are accessible to those PWDs especially the ones in the far flung areas and even though they have finished school not all of them are given a chance to be employed.

But she added that, with their continued measures in raising awareness together with private support groups, most of the PWDs, in the region are now aware of their rights and privileges through the many activities initiated both by the government and private organizations to advocate such. Just like the recent celebration of the 37th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week last July 17-23 wherein their talents were showcased and services and seminars not only for the PWD sectors but also to the business sectors were conducted in order to raise more awareness to the laws in support for PWDs.

A vision for others

Now at 61, Capoy serves as the principal of the Davao School for the Blind wherein he is also teaching English subject to his students and serving as an inspiration to them.

Their school, supported by a German organization, provides free elementary and high school education for children with visual impairment, helping them live a normal life.

“I want them (students) to be a productive member of the society through any endeavor that they will enter as long as it’s a dignified way of living the most important there is they know how to persevere. This is a highly competitive world, likened to a race you have to have proper stamina to survive, I always tell my students: you always prepare yourself, double your efforts so you can be at par with the sighted individuals because if you can do that I’m sure you will have a place under the heat of the sun,” he said.