Coalition formed to beef up disability services

Local institutions have joined forces to step up efforts at improving the quality of services offered to individuals with disabilities by forming a coalition comprised of representatives from disability-oriented agencies.

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Director Tee Abraham said the group’s inception was spawned by a court case involving Dwayne M. Sibetang, an individual with mental illness who is currently facing first degree murder charges for the slaying of nonresident worker Ma Dong Che on March 16, 2000.

Ms. Abraham said the State Independent Living Council expressed concerns that individuals with mental health problems are not given enough services appropriate to their situation.

This was also the concern raised by the Superior Court recently, after it ordered the Department of Public Safety and Department of Public Health to provide adequate facilities that are sufficiently staffed with qualified mental health professionals to attend to Mr. Sibetang’s needs.

Superior Court Judge Timothy H. Bellas, in a decision, ordered DPH and DPS to ensure that the murder suspect gets appropriate treatment while in prison.

“We lack available services on island. And that’s why the council has sought the assistance of the governor on this issue,” said the OVR director.

Disability-oriented agencies have then agreed to collaborate and co-share responsibilities with respect to the provision of disabilities services to those affected with mental, physical, or other impairments.

The new coalition has disclosed plans to develop a directory that would contain all the services available in the CNMI for persons with disabilities.

“This directory will publish all services available in the community accessible to everyone. We will print all the necessary information and all agencies will share the expenses with the cost of publication,” said Ms. Abraham.

Agencies involved in the coalition include the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council, OVR, the Public School System’s Special Education Program, Mental Health Planning Council, SILC, Ayuda Network, and the Northern Marianas College’s University Affiliated Program.

“This is an informal association where a chairman will be elected on a quarterly basis,” she said.