Jakarta, Kartunet.com - In several previous articles, explanations have been provided regarding what is meant by persons with disabilities, various types of disabilities, the needs of persons with disabilities, ways to assist persons with disabilities, and various other matters concerning persons with disabilities. Although these explanations have been given, many people still question the use of the term “persons with disabilities” to replace “disabled persons”.
Many people believe that it is better to use the word “difabel” (differently-abled) instead of “disability”. This article will not explain what is meant by disability, difabel, disabled persons, and the differences between these three terms. This article will explain the legitimacy of using the term “persons with disabilities” to replace “disabled persons”.
Law No. 4 of 1997 concerning disabled persons was the first law to specifically regulate matters concerning persons with disabilities. Since then, there seemed to be a legitimacy for using the term “disabled persons”. The use of that term, whether consciously or unconsciously, has shaped public perception that disabled persons are individuals who need assistance, are unable to perform activities like non-disabled people, and require pity from others.
As time progressed, many tools and technologies were created to support the activities of persons with disabilities. This has enabled persons with disabilities, previously referred to as disabled persons, to perform the same activities as others, in their own way, and has made them more independent. Based on these facts, the opinion began to emerge that the term “disabled persons” was no longer appropriate for use.
This opinion did not only come from persons with disabilities themselves but also from various segments of society concerned with disability issues. A fresh breeze of change in terminology began to emerge when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly issued Resolution Number A/61/106 concerning the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on December 13, 2006, which was subsequently signed by the Indonesian government on March 30, 2007, in New York, United States.
Exactly three years after the signing, specifically from March 29 to April 1, 2010, the Ministry of Social Affairs organized a meeting to prepare the ratification materials for the international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Finally, the convention was ratified on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. The law that ratified the convention is Law No.
19 of 2011 concerning the RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. Based on the title of this Law, it can be concluded that the term “disability” has been recognized as a term replacing “disabled persons”. Therefore, if there is still a debate regarding the use of the term “persons with disabilities,” one can refer to the legitimacy of its use in Law No.
19 of 2011. Rafik editor: Herisma Yanti