Humiliation of Disabled Activists and Their Daily Travails

Do you remember the case of Franklin Corpuz [Deaf], husband of Racquel, when he was not allowed to board a plane bound for Qatar to attend a Chef’s training just because he is Deaf? Well, similar incidents occur, and much more problems are there when it comes to accessibility and attitudinal barriers elsewhere in the world, in India for example as shown in the following recent report:

“Disabled activists being humiliated on domestic flights make headline news. But the daily travails of the disabled who attempt to travel by bus, rail or tram never get any attention. Isn’t it more important to ensure that the poor and disabled are brought into the arena of rights, asks Shampa Sengupta.

All those working for disability rights in India were outraged at the treatment meted out to activist Jeeja Ghosh by Spicejet Airlines whilst on a flight from Kolkata to Goa where an international seminar was being held. The media gave the incident ample coverage, alleging that such behaviour towards disabled passengers was totally unacceptable. Several groups came together to express solidarity and to organise a protest meet in Jeeja’s home city  Kolkata. More satisfyingly, it was soon learnt that India’s newly appointed chief commissioner of disabilities had issued a show-cause notice, based on media reports, to the concerned airline.”

[To read the full article, click: http://www.infochangeindia.org/disabilities/analysis/getting-grounded-on-the-disability-issue.html%5D

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Stop AUDISM! Stop Deaf Discrimination!

I sent the following letter addressed to Atty. RONALDO LEDESMA, OIC
of the Bureau of Immigrations’ Department of Justice Action Center:

I am at one with the rest of those who are condemning the discrimination made to Mr. Franklin Corpuz [Deaf] who was stopped by your Immigration Officer to fly via Qatar Airways. I know the man to be very kind, and a hardworking person. I stayed at Hotel Veniz in Baguio City where he is working, and I can attest to his skill as a very good chef. I also personally know his wife Racquel Corpuz, President of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf.

I understand that majority of the people in our society are not aware of Deaf plights, problems and their experiences, the reason why I made a film on Deaf Filipinos. If you want your employees at the Immigrations Office to know who Deaf Filipinos are, and what they can do, especially know that there is such thing as UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I am offering to show you my 92-minute documentary, SILENT ODYSSEY [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFUeGiYyH6I] to educate you all about our Deaf brothers, and remind you that human rights, and linguistic human rights do exist and must be respected. The film will show next week in Camarines Sur and Naga City but since Bicol is very far, I can show it to you anywhere in Manila. But the best venue I guess would be at the Bureau of Immigrations Office itself so that you can require ALL your employees and ALL the Immigration Officers you assign at the airport to watch, and I repeat, be educated. It is my film’s objective to make the hearing society know that “DEAF CAN” and to know their BEING.

By the way, Mrs. Corpuz is in the film, under the segment on AUDISM [Deaf Discrimination]. I think you must include that in your vocabulary from now on. Let us STOP AUDISM!

BI Discriminates Against Deaf Passenger

Update on Franklin Corpuz