11/07/2025
As an advocate of Autism, ADHD and children with special needs.
A mother of one!
I proclaim these!
Do not violate their rights! Feel free to share! Salamat po!
To all, to the other parents, to the teachers and to all normal!
📜 Rules and Rights of PWDs with Autism or Learning Disabilities (Philippines)
Under Republic Act No. 7277, also known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, and strengthened by RA 9442 and RA 10524, persons with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities are officially recognized as PWDs — entitled to equal rights, privileges, and protection under the law.
🛡️ NO, PWDs Do NOT Owe Anyone Their Diagnosis
Let’s be 100% clear:
> 👉 A PWD has zero obligation to disclose their diagnosis to the public — including employers, schools, or strangers — unless it is required for reasonable accommodation or legal documentation.
That’s like demanding someone to hand over their medical records just to be treated with dignity — nope. Boundaries matter. Privacy matters.
✅ Basic Rights of PWDs with Autism or Learning Disabilities
Here’s what the law guarantees them (and what society should honor, too):
1. 💼 Right to Non-Discrimination in Employment
Employers cannot refuse to hire or dismiss someone just because they have autism or a learning disability.
PWDs must be provided reasonable accommodations, like adjusted work hours, job coaching, or assistive tech.
> 🔖 Legal Basis: RA 7277 Sections 5–7, and RA 10524 (equal opportunity employment)
2. 🏫 Right to Inclusive Education
Schools must admit and support students with autism/LDs.
This includes special education services, individualized learning plans, and non-discriminatory assessments.
Students must not be bullied, excluded, or denied participation in class or extracurriculars.
> 🔖 Legal Basis: RA 7277 Section 12, DepEd Order No. 72, s. 2009
3. 🏥 Right to Accessible Healthcare
PWDs have the right to:
Early diagnosis and intervention
Therapy (OT, speech, behavioral)
Mental health support
Public hospitals must be accessible and equipped to assist neurodiverse patients.
4. 💸 Right to Government Discounts & Benefits
With a valid PWD ID, individuals are entitled to:
20% discount + 12% VAT exemption on:
Medicines
Professional fees (doctors, dentists)
Transportation (land, air, sea)
Restaurants
Cinema, amusement parks
Educational assistance: Scholarships, tuition discounts
PhilHealth coverage
Tax incentives for parents/guardians
> 🔖 Legal Basis: RA 9442
5. 🏛️ Right to Accessibility & Participation
Public infrastructure must accommodate PWDs.
This includes:
Clear signage
Trained staff in public service
Priority lanes
Assistive tech in schools and offices
They have the right to vote, be heard in public consultations, and engage in civic life without discrimination.
6. 🤝 Right to Respect and Protection from Abuse
Verbal, emotional, physical abuse or mockery of their disability is illegal.
RA 9442 criminalizes public ridicule and vilification of PWDs, including jokes that mock their condition.
⚖️ Penalties for Violating These Rights
Fines up to ₱200,000
Imprisonment up to 6 years
Businesses may have licenses revoked
Civil suits can also be filed
💥 Real Talk: What Still Needs to Be Done?
Despite legal protection, many PWDs still face:
Stigma and bullying
Barriers to diagnosis and therapy
Workplace tokenism (hired but not really included)
Overlooked in policies and disaster planning
That’s why public awareness, training, and PWD voices must be centered in decisions that affect them.
🔐 Final Word: Privacy is Power
Autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities:
Don't owe you their diagnosis.
Don’t need to “prove” they’re struggling.
Don’t need to be "high-functioning" enough to deserve dignity.
What they do deserve? Full rights. Respect. Inclusion. No questions asked.
🎓 RIGHT TO EDUCATION for Students with Autism or Learning Disabilities (LDs)
🔍 What the Law Says (Philippines + Global Context)
1. RA 7277 (Magna Carta for PWDs) – mandates inclusive education at all levels. That means:
Public and private schools must accommodate learners with disabilities.
No discrimination, no exclusion just because of a diagnosis.
2. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – which the Philippines signed and ratified:
Article 24: Learners with disabilities have the right to inclusive, quality education in the general education system.
They should not be excluded based on disability.
3. DepEd Orders:
DO 72 s. 2009: Guidelines for inclusive education.
DO 21 s. 2019: Strengthens Child Protection Policy, prohibits labeling, expulsion, or unfair treatment due to disability.
🚫 Can They Be Ousted If They're “Coping Fine”?
Nope. Not legally. Not ethically. Not even academically.
🧠 Autism or LD ≠ Unfit
> A student being “on the spectrum” or having dyslexia, ADHD, or processing issues doesn’t disqualify them from education — even if they struggle a little. That’s what accommodations are for.
Unless:
The school is fully documented as incapable of supporting (which is rare),
And a multi-disciplinary team recommends a better-fit learning setting,
you can’t just expel, force transfer, or discourage a PWD from staying.
🛡️ Their Rights in Education Include:
✅ Right to:
Be enrolled without discrimination
Access special education services or accommodations (e.g., extra time, note-takers, assistive tech)
Learn at their own pace with support
Be evaluated fairly (not based on neurotypical-only standards)
Receive non-stigmatizing support
Be protected from bullying and exclusion
💥 If a School Says “They Can’t Stay Anymore”…
🛑 STOP. That’s a red flag. That can be:
Illegal expulsion
Discrimination under RA 7277 and RA 9442
Violation of DepEd’s inclusive education mandate
You can file a formal complaint with:
DepEd Regional Office
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
NCDA (National Council on Disability Affairs)
🧑🏫 Final Word — They Belong
Autistic learners and those with LDs don’t need to be "exceptional" to earn their spot in school.
> 📢 They just need to be students. That’s it.
💡 Schools exist to teach, not to gatekeep. Let’s stop trying to fit kids into a rigid mold and start shaping systems that flex.
