The Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs underscored its commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowering persons with disabilities at a graduation ceremony held at the Derrick Smith School and Vocational Centre on Sunday evening.
The event celebrated the achievements of 80 individuals who completed sign language courses and 15 who finished flower arranging programmes.
The sign language graduates, spanning basic to intermediate levels, completed their studies across six locations between September and December.
Gregory Cummings, valedictorian for the sign language cohort, urged his fellow graduates to recognise the broader impact of their newfound skills.
“Whatever your reason for taking the course, let us recognise the real significance of having more people know sign language. It is about connecting, it is about including, it is about breaking down barriers, it is about opening doors to new friendships, and so to us, some of us at least, it is about an exciting new world,” Cummings said.
He also highlighted the responsibility that comes with this knowledge.
“This evening we are graduating with new skills. I am also graduating with a responsibility to use what I have learned to amplify voices that deserve to be heard, to breakdown employment and social barriers and to create a better Barbados for both the hearing and the hearing impaired,” Cummings added.
Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, stressed the need for a more inclusive society in Barbados.
“Our buildings have to be more disabled friendly; our streets have to be more disabled friendly, and our people have to be more friendly to persons with disabilities,” Humphrey asserted.
He highlighted the importance of the ministry’s work in this area.
“I feel as if the work that we are doing in the space for persons with disabilities is probably the most important work that this country can do at this moment,” Humphrey remarked. “I am convinced that we have to find spaces for inclusion for persons with disabilities, and that inclusion must stretch across all facets of life.”
Discussing legislation aimed at protecting the rights of people with disabilities, Humphrey noted its transformative potential and the need for robust policies.
“Therefore we have to do things that make sure that this country offers the best of its promise to everyone,” he said.
Humphrey revealed the government’s initial plan to include mandatory employment quotas for people with disabilities in the legislation.
“I am promising you that in three years, if we do not see a change in the number of persons who are employed, then we are going to have to make it mandatory,” he said. He added that the government has already shown progress by employing eight or nine people with disabilities in the past year.
Highlighting the importance of sign language education, Humphrey advocated for its inclusion in school curricula.
“I have said before that I think this should be taught in all schools. You know how easy this is for a child at primary school to learn? It becomes difficult when you get older. For a child at primary school, sign language is the easiest thing to learn,” he noted.
Humphrey also acknowledged the crucial role of organisations like the National Disabilities Unit and the Barbados National Organisation of the Disabled (BARNOD) in delivering services to the disabled community.
“I believe that we can best deliver services to the disabled community through those associations, and you would see if you look at our budget over the last three years, particularly, every year we are increasing funds to the associations. I believe in my heart that is the best thing to do,” he stated. “Let the agencies that have legitimacy in that space take the lead and that is why we have increased the funding.”
(STT)
Participants in the sign language class showed off their skills.Participants in the sign language class showed off their skills.
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