Overview:
A growing number of Palauans living with disabilities say they feel invisible in national conversations—even as advocates rally for greater government action and support. Non-governmental organizations like Omekesang, the nation’s leading advocate for persons with disabilities, have stepped forward, raising funds and demanding concrete change to ensure equal opportunity, access and dignity for all.
KOROR, Palau — Tessy Nobuo knows what it means to wait. As president of Omekesang, the only NGO solely dedicated to Palau’s disability community, she’s spent years seeking improved access and independence for the estimated 2,600 Palauans living with disabilities. “This is not just about transportation—it is about access, independence, and upholding dignity,” Nobuo explained, referencing her latest effort: a campaign to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van and a 12-seater vehicle to help those with mobility challenges get to school, medical appointments, and community activities.
The organization’s August request to the Senate called for $134,000 in budget support to fund the vehicles—an essential service, Omekesang argues, and a bridge to inclusion and opportunity. They cite Palau’s own Persons with Disabilities Act and its commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a mandate for decisive action.
Omekesang’s advocacy is not alone. At a recent Senate hearing on the cost of living, members of the public and special needs advocates highlighted daily hardships, from grandparents struggling on fixed incomes to families battling barriers in transportation, employment, and healthcare. “We all feel the hard life here, while the government continues to tax people,” a former legislator said. These stories underscore a hard reality: many Palauans with disabilities face obstacles that affect every aspect of daily life.
Nobuo says Omekesang-USA, the group’s diaspora chapter, is raising funds abroad to make the vehicles a reality. But for full success, government partnership is crucial: “Your support would not only bridge a critical gap but also demonstrate the Senate’s leadership in fostering a truly inclusive Palau,” she appealed in her letter to lawmakers.
Currently, families and service providers struggle with limited transport options. “These vans are not merely vehicles, they are tools for independence, dignity, and equal opportunity,” Omekesang states in its budget justification.
At hearings this month, community organizations insisted that special needs citizens deserve visibility in the national budget. “Talk is cheap,” said one attendee. “What scenario do you envision years from today?…what would have changed?”
For Palau’s disability community, the answer depends on whether the government listens—and acts. – By: L.N. Reklai
