Political participation of the differently abled in the association of disabled persons-Iloilo (ADP-1)

Abstract

The study is done in order to determine how the differently abled in the Association of Disabled Persons in Iloilo (ADP-1) participate in political activities and to examine the factors that influences the extent of their political involvement. The objectives of this study are: (1) to describe the political participatory acts that the differently abled are engaged in, (2) to determine the extent of their participation, (3) to identify the factors that influence their involvement, and (4) to find out the impediments to their political involvement. The study was a descriptive-analytical that made use of survey, focused group discussion and key informant interview. Through stratified random sampling without replacement and proportional allocation, the study involved sixty-five (65) PWDs as respondents. The study made use of Key Informant Interviews to exact the views from different concerned agencies of the government tasked to implement the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons and the Accessibility Law. Non-parametric statistics was used in data analysis with five point rating and Likert scales measuring the level of awareness, trust, efficacy and extent of political participation. The statistical tools employed to determine the relationship of factors identified to political participation were Cramer’s V, Contingency Table, Gamma and the Spearman’s rank order Rho. The findings of the study showed that large number of differently abled persons is involved with participatory acts such as voting, communal activities and contacting public officials. They opt to participate in activities in consideration to whether it is regularly held, non-costly to participate, accessibility and distance of the activity where it took place, can directly influence the official’s public policy, if specific programs and policies include their welfare and concerns and if activities may caused bodily threat. The majority of the respondents infrequently employed the other participatory acts due to lack of time and opportunities for participation and they also have livelihood to sustain. The findings also showed that most of the PWDs have low levels of political participation. Moreover, educational attainment and the disability of the person were strong predictors of political participation. In addition, awareness of rights, trust in governance and the association as well as political efficacy has a weak though, positive relationship with political participation. Furthermore, the study also confirmed the existence of structural and attitudinal impedances such as negative attitudes towards the differently abled, inaccessibility of voting centers, lack of support or assistance programs and weak implementation of the Magna Carta and Accessibility Law for the differently abled that hinders the political functioning of differently abled persons as citizens and their full integration to the mainstream society. In view of the findings of this study, recommendations of the researchers include the use of special education (SpEd) Centers as voting precincts for the differently abled voters, the active involvement of the ADP-I in local government development programs, creation of the Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPDA). Future studies regarding the involvement of the differently abled in governance should focus on the differently abled women’s situation in development and political involvement or gender issues, and the perception or attitudes of the public towards the competency of differently abled elected officials and voters.