Govt moving to boost access for disabled

The public service is set to embark on a major infrastructural redesign.

New Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde said he has instructed that a study be done to see how best to retrofit all public buildings, including Parliament, to ease access for those with physical challenges.

“Not only the facilities under the remit of our ministry, but also to have a study of the facilities in all Government departments. So we can be sure, with the guidance of the [Barbados Council for the Disabled], that they are the right facilities for persons with disabilities,” he said.

Forde was addressing the congregation at St Leonard’s Anglican Church in Westbury, St Michael, yesterday during a service to commemorate the Barbados Council for the Disabled’s 50th anniversary, under the theme BCD50: Honouring The Struggle, Igniting The Future.

He said he had taken to heart the council’s motto of Nothing About Us, Without Us, so this study would include input from the disabled community.

‘Saw no reason’

In addition to public buildings, the minister said he “saw no reason” why every public park and beach could not also have similar facilities to allow for greater access for the disabled community, so they could “appreciate the environment like anybody else.”

Forde also revealed his ministry was about to embark on a major public awareness campaign.

“Over the next couple of weeks, we will start to disseminate a national disabilities policy . . . as a lot of insensitivity still exists. A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and we are seeing some changes, but we need better PR (public relations),” he said.

He said they will be encouraging the private sector to hire more disabled people. Forde said while the disabled already sit in the Upper Chamber, they must also “sit on boards”. A public awareness campaign was proven to be more effective than punitive measures and fines.

Forde called for greater partnership between the council and Government as progress meant nothing “unless your lives are able to improve”.

The service was attended by Human Rights Commissioner The Most Honourable Kerryann Ifill, Senator Janeil Odle, Special Envoy for the Disabled Roslyn Hurley, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment Wayne Marshall, interim executive director of the Social Empowerment

Agency Colleen Walcott, acting director of the agency Wayne Nurse – who performed a saxophone solo of Hallelujah – BCD president Patricia Padmore-Blackman and Dr Allyson Leacock, who lent her support.

One highlight of the service was the combined 50th anniversary choir, made up of members of the Barbados Defence Force Band and members of the disabled community, who performed Total Praise to rousing applause.

The officiating minister was Reverend Canon Noel Burke, while the sermon was delivered by rector of the church, Reverend Canon Dr Sonia Hinds. She said Jesus was the great Gardener, and just as plants had to be watered, the BCD had been watered and was growing.

“You are reminding all of us that you, like all others, are children of God. Even with all that is going on in the world . . . we have to remember, though, that Jesus, who is our Gardener, will continue to be with us and continue to want to inspire and motivate us so that we will be able to do God’s will,” she said.

Hinds noted that Barbados still had a ways to go when it came to facilitating and appreciating the disabled, admitting her own church was not paying enough attention to this.

“I want you to be in a position where you can teach us, and continue to teach us, what we need to know regarding embracing the gifts that God has given to you. Your future and our future are in God’s hands, and we want to do our part, just as you are doing your part, to make sure that all of us in this society, all citizens, whether we are disabled or not, are able to appreciate what God is calling us to do.” (CA)

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