SILC: Disability a sign of changing times

Bishop Thomas J. Camacho officiated a Special Mass Sunday at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in recognition of hundreds of individuals with disabilities and advocating agencies in the Commonwealth.

CNMI State Independent Living Council Chair Brian Farley said the Special Mass was to celebrate the Disability Recognition Month declared earlier by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.

In his remarks, Mr. Farley explained that disability is a sign of the changing times, a time to recognize that having a disability is a normal part of the human experience.

“Disability is not the experience of a minority of Americans, rather, it is an experience that will touch most Americans at some point during their lives,” the chair said quoting US President George W. Bush.

SILC, along with other agencies, acknowledged the bishop’s assistance and generosity in organizing the mass and for touching the lives of every individual with disability in the Northern Marianas.

The governor last month signed a proclamation endorsing March as Individual with Disabilities Month, in recognition of the fact that an estimated 79 percent of individuals with disabilities in the Commonwealth are currently living in with their immediate relatives while almost 14 percent are on their own.

Based on the result of the 1998 Individuals with Disabilities Consumer Survey released by the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council, only 32.1 percent of the 78 respondents from Tinian, Rota, Saipan and other government agencies are individuals with disabilities and the remaining respondents are family members and representatives .

The survey disclosed that the type of living arrangements are as follows: 14 percent are alone; 79 percent are with their families, and 7 percent are either in a nursing home or an institution.

According to Assistive Technology program coordinator Dr. Celia B. Lamkin, the results of the survey will serve as the baseline for the strengths and weaknesses of assistive technology devices and services to improve programs where individuals with disabilities can fully participate.

This month, GDCC and other advocating agencies like SLIC and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation lined up major activities to tackle programs and measures for persons with disabilities. (EGA)