Disability advocates celebrated a landmark moment on Tuesday as Parliament began debating the 2023/2030 National Disabilities Policy, aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities across the island.
Speaking from the well of Parliament, the newly appointed president of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Patricia Blackman, described the occasion as “highly significant” for both council members and the wider community. Seated alongside former president Kerry Ann Ifill, Blackman said the council had long campaigned for sweeping reforms in the treatment and support of disabled people.
“Today marks a significance in terms of the many areas that we would have advocated for,” Blackman said. “We sincerely hope that all the areas like for instance, in the areas of health, education, advocacy, employment, housing, transport, sport, all of those areas that would impact the lives of people with disabilities, especially the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society at this point. We give sincere appreciation to those persons whose shoulders we would have stood upon to bring us to this point, and we are looking beyond for more things to come.”
Special Envoy for Persons with Disabilities Roslyn Hurley, who has cerebral palsy, characterised the occasion as historic and praised MP Edmund Hinkson for his consistent support. “I know the hurdles that we had to fight to get to this stage, and I hope that the younger disabled persons will carry on the fight,” she said.
Transport emerged as a key concern, with Antoinette Chandler, Secretary-Treasurer of the Rehabiting Enabling Society for Amputees (RESA), highlighting the substantial costs faced by disabled people.
“For our meetings, we have to spend like $500 a month just for that one day to get people to our meetings,” she revealed. “This is a long fight, a real long fight that the disabled community has been fighting for. So I am very pleased to be here this morning for the proceedings. [Transportation] is the biggest challenge all disabilities have. As an amputee we just can’t get in everything and anything, we need a lift and bus, and it is really difficult and really expensive.”
Disabilities advocate Christopher Gilkes emphasised the importance of addressing both transport and employment issues, while 2024 Pic-O-De-Crop finalist, Granville Mr DJ Carter, who is visually impaired, pointed to stark employment statistics.
“Ninety per cent of people with disabilities do not have jobs, and when this is enacted I think that things will begin to happen,” he said.
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