Respect people with disabilities

By ROSELYN ELLISON
THE public in East New Britain (ENB) have been encouraged to respect people living with disabilities and not discriminate them.
This concern was raised by chairlady of the Disabled People Organisation Ellen Royal during the National Disability Day held in Kokopo recently.
Royal said people living with disabilities or special needs deserved equal treatment.
“We cannot sit and always be treated this way as helpless and vulnerable people for people to be feel sorry for,” she said.
Royal told people living with disability that were there to witness the Day at Callan Centre Vunapope that, disability was not the end and they should not feel ashamed of way they were but come out and show their skills.
She said the community and family needed to identify the skills and talent of the people with disabilities and assist them so that they could excel.
“Despite my disability of low vision, I can still do household chores like any normal mother can do, and I believe you all can do the same too,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of Tropicana Ltd managing director Dame Sandra Lau, Sharon Tan said they were firm believers and supporters of education and health and the Callan Service in the province had always been close to their hearts.
Tan said the retailer’s management was proud of the opportunities Callan Services provided to those people living with special needs.
Meanwhile, Callan Services ENB coordinator Emmanuel Melchior thanked the businesses and stakeholders for their support.
Melchior urged the public to continue to create a safer environment for people with disabilities by including them in activities and not to discriminate them.