Dear Editor,
Gone are the days when members of the disabled community would be locked away from the wider society. Disability affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Research shows that between 10 and 15 per cent of the world's population lives with some form of disability. Interestingly, the disabled community is the largest minority grouping in the world.
Having a physical disability does not mean one is unproductive. In fact, there are many individuals who live rather enriched and productive lives. Recently, while driving through the parking lot of a major shopping mall in Half-Way-Tree I saw a young male struggling to get a wheelchair-bound, middle-aged-looking woman from the paved area to the elevated passageway of the shopping mall. After a few failed attempts, two men came to her rescue and joined in the effort. As I drove along further, I realised that there are no ramps for the physically challenged in many of the shopping malls. The problem is even more widespread since, in many instances, several places of commerce, education and other public institutions are also inaccessible to the physically challenged. The society can and indeed need to do more to give ready access to all public institutions. Our building codes need to be revisited to cater to the special needs of the disabled community. It is inexcusable that we continue to build public structures without the required support facilities necessary for the disabled community to gain access. The disabled community also faces many forms of discrimination. A 2004 International Labour Organisation-funded study found that only 35 per cent of working-age Americans with disabilities are in fact working, compared to 78 per cent of those without disabilities.
Our trade unions need to become more involved in the return to work of those with disabilities by using specially designed disability management programmes in the workplace. As the Government moves forward with the introduction of the flexi-workweek, we hope that the special needs of the disabled community are taken into consideration.
Our Special Olympians and Paralympians, for example, have brought much pride and joy to Jamaica over the years as they have competed and medalled on numerous occasions. We need to look out for their interests.
Those who lobby on behalf of the disabled community must become more vocal and increase their advocacy. We must remember at all times that those who are able-bodied are just one incident away from losing their sense of mobility. Our disabled community must be empowered with a renewed sense of independence which will allow them to feel an active part of the mainstream society.
We need to change how the society views members of the disabled community.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Empower the disabled community
-->
Gone are the days when members of the disabled community would be locked away from the wider society. Disability affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Research shows that between 10 and 15 per cent of the world's population lives with some form of disability. Interestingly, the disabled community is the largest minority grouping in the world.
Having a physical disability does not mean one is unproductive. In fact, there are many individuals who live rather enriched and productive lives. Recently, while driving through the parking lot of a major shopping mall in Half-Way-Tree I saw a young male struggling to get a wheelchair-bound, middle-aged-looking woman from the paved area to the elevated passageway of the shopping mall. After a few failed attempts, two men came to her rescue and joined in the effort. As I drove along further, I realised that there are no ramps for the physically challenged in many of the shopping malls. The problem is even more widespread since, in many instances, several places of commerce, education and other public institutions are also inaccessible to the physically challenged. The society can and indeed need to do more to give ready access to all public institutions. Our building codes need to be revisited to cater to the special needs of the disabled community. It is inexcusable that we continue to build public structures without the required support facilities necessary for the disabled community to gain access. The disabled community also faces many forms of discrimination. A 2004 International Labour Organisation-funded study found that only 35 per cent of working-age Americans with disabilities are in fact working, compared to 78 per cent of those without disabilities.
Our trade unions need to become more involved in the return to work of those with disabilities by using specially designed disability management programmes in the workplace. As the Government moves forward with the introduction of the flexi-workweek, we hope that the special needs of the disabled community are taken into consideration.
Our Special Olympians and Paralympians, for example, have brought much pride and joy to Jamaica over the years as they have competed and medalled on numerous occasions. We need to look out for their interests.
Those who lobby on behalf of the disabled community must become more vocal and increase their advocacy. We must remember at all times that those who are able-bodied are just one incident away from losing their sense of mobility. Our disabled community must be empowered with a renewed sense of independence which will allow them to feel an active part of the mainstream society.
We need to change how the society views members of the disabled community.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Empower the disabled community
-->