A coalition of children and youth with disabilities presented a new manifesto titled “Hear Our Voices” to government officials and social workers at the National Conference of Children and Youth with Disability in Manila on Thursday.
The event organized by the NORFIL Foundation Inc, provided a platform for young people to speak directly about the barriers they face in education, healthcare, and social acceptance. The manifesto is not just a list of demands but a “measure of the country,” challenging the government to move beyond tokenism.
“We are children and youth with disabilities from different parts of the Philippines who came together through a series of regional and national conferences to share our lived experiences, challenges and aspirations,” the manifesto states.
“Discrimination and bullying remain among the most painful and common experiences we face,” the manifesto reads. “In schools, communities and even workplaces, children and youth with disabilities are often judged based on their conditions rather than their abilities.”
The manifesto calls on families, communities and institutions to make space not only for access, but for dignity.
