Evaluating of disability support programs in Maasin City, Philippines: Bridging gaps in social inclusion in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study evaluates the implementation of disability programs in Maasin City, Philippines, focusing on the extent of social inclusion for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs). Using a descriptive research design, the study gathered data from a sample of PWDs to assess the effectiveness of programs across five key areas: employment, education, health, auxiliary social services, accessibility, and political and civil rights. The findings of the study show that health, accessibility, and political and civil rights programs are implemented adequately with a mean score of 2.59, 2.79, and 2.70, respectively, however, employment, education, and auxiliary social services are inadequately implemented with a mean score of 1.96, 2.23, and 2.26, respectively. The identified problems impede the very inclusion of PWDs in the community; thus, interventions are needed to address it. The findings of this research conclude that even if there is progress in some areas, full implementation of the program is still lacking, as revealed by the grand mean of 2.42. This study emphasizes further that there is a need for improvement in service delivery with specific recommendations to upgrade or improve the infrastructure, create programs that are solely intended for PWDs in order to significantly reduce social exclusion gaps. Such results are crucial for developing policies and managing resources for an inclusive Southeast Asia society for PWDs.