Real Talk

What Families Need To Know About National Disability Rights Week

by Kevyn Gohu
July 14, 2025

As Veterans Medical Hospital celebrates National Disability Rights Week, this is what families need to know

July is a month of celebrations. From nutrition, resilience, to diabetes, it’s also a month where Filipinos now have to recognize National Disability Rights Week. Now reinforced by Presidential Proclamation 597, National Disability Rights Week will run from July 17 to July 23 to help Filipinos become more aware and to work with organizations in building a more inclusive community. According to the same proclamation, the one leading the efforts would be the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).

When did the Philippines have National Disability Rights Week?

National Disability Rights Week was quite an old celebration, but it never had a specific date. In 1870, the late and former president, Ferdinand E. Marcos, signed a proclamation that made the “third week of July” and was called the “National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.” The same proclamation would then assign the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to come up with projects and programs for those with disabilities and inform the public of how they could join the programs.

Another proclamation in 2000, declared by former President Joseph Estrada, would make the date more concrete. July 23 would be the culminating day as it would also celebrate the birthday of one of the Philippines’ most famous heroes, the Sublime Paralytic Apolinario Mabini. Under the same declaration, it would invite and encourage other organizations such as the Pilipinong MayKapansanan Foundation, Inc. to assist in lifting the social and economic conditions of those with disabilities. Funding or any financial contributions, according to the same proclamation, would be “tax-exempt.”

The new proclamation from President Bongbong Marcos reaffirms the efforts but amends a few things. Some of those things include being consistent with the principles and goals of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and that there’s a specific date now: July 17-23.

The Theme of National Disability Rights Week

For 2025, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) revealed the theme, “Innovation for Inclusion: Building Inclusive Communities Together.”

Along with the theme, they announced that they would push harder to make an environment that would further foster respect and dignity for the disabled. Much of their work will follow what they call the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities” or Republic Act 7277.

Veterans Hospital has already begun some efforts, celebrating it a bit early from July 14 to July 18. The celebration would be open to their patients and their dependents, helping them navigate their lives.

The Battle For Making An Inclusive Community

The biggest hurdle most families have to face is getting people to understand that disabilities are not always so obvious. An amputee or a cripple is something blatant and obvious, but with the rise of false PWD IDs, it’s no surprise that some businesses have been wary about abiding by the rights entitled to those with disabilities. Last February 2025, restaurant owners sent out social media posts to warn other restaurant owners and families about these fake IDs.

“The PWD discount was created to support those who genuinely need it, but widespread abuse of fake PWD cards is now putting a serious strain on restaurants and other businesses,” shared the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines on the post. “Many people don’t realize that it’s not the government covering the 20% discount– it’s the businesses themselves. Every fraudulent discount comes directly out of a restaurant’s pocket, cutting into already thin margins.”

The post on social media became viral, triggering a discussion among other citizens who have unseen disabilities. Some of these disabilities can include autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders (e.g., Tourette’s, Stroke, and many others), mental disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, etc.), and developmental delays (e.g., autism), which are known to have good days and bad days, assuming the person can afford the medication.

It’s a call to be more informed

However, this doesn’t mean we can’t read about it. With the internet, Google, and data everywhere, there’s always a place to start. What can be a little hard at first is asking the right questions. Sure, it can feel kind of scary to ask something so personal. But, where else can we start? Books can only give something theoretical. The in-depth experience comes from stories of those who do live with that disability and have developed ways to cope with it.