‘Businesses could do more for those with disabilities’

Business establishments should operate from a perspective that people with disabilities have the right to perform jobs just like any other ordinary individuals, according to a rehabilitation counselor from Insight Consultation and Training Services.

Speaking to members of the Rotary Club of Saipan in Tuesday’s regular session at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, Melena A. Slaven said that disability is quite a natural thing and about 20 percent of the world’s population—or one in five people—have disabilities.

“The percentage is much higher in the CNMI,” she said. “What is disability like in a CNMI culture? This is quite challenging.”

Slaven, who stayed for a year on Tinian and is now based on Saipan for the past two years, said there is a need to send an important message to business establishment owners that they can do more if they know how to get about it.

She said she wants to make businesses accessible to persons with disabilities.

“Disabilities should not be considered as work barriers because if we can change the attitude and negative perception about persons with disabilities, it can help us all,” she said.

For instance, people who are confined to wheelchairs will find out that they can grab a life if they are given the right treatment.

“The truth is that many persons have disability. Sometimes it’s temporary and for others permanent,” Slaven said.

“The older the population gets, or as the lifespan increases, the chance of having disability increases, too,” she said.

Slaven’s company offers trainings about disabilities counseling to any interested group or business establishment.

She said her company offers the training for free, supported by the CNMI Development Disabilities Council.

“We conduct sessions for about 30 people so businesses could get together to make a team,” she said. The contact number is 483-4411.

Among the issues that they have prepared for discussions are definitions of what disability means to the CNMI, the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities, benefits of accepting disabilities, and making oneself accessible both physically and attitudinally.

They also provide video presentations on communication and interaction guidelines.

One of these guidelines is the “Ten Commandments of Etiquette for Communicating with People with Disabilities.”

The first commandment states that when talking with a person with a disability, it is best to speak directly to that person rather than through a companion or sign language interpreter.