A plethora of challenges must be surmounted, if the needs of persons with disabilities are to be properly addressed.
This was made clear recently when Director of the National Disabilities Unit (NDU), John Hollingsworth sat down to an interview with the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS).
Identifying transportation as a major hurdle for almost all persons with disabilities (PWDs), Mr. Hollingsworth outlined that the key to addressing this was through more adequate provision, whether through the Transport Board, the NDU itself, or private providers who would be able to get PWDs to medical appointments, therapy and children to and from school on a more regular basis.
Pointing out that some parents had vented their frustration with the transport system and how its inadequacy had prevented their children from attending school regularly, he said: “And, this is particularly so for those children who use wheel chairs; there is very limited public provision for children who use wheel chairs. We do have [transportation] but because of our limited capacity, we tend to concentrate on those who need to go to medical appointments in order to maintain their health because we wouldn’t want a situation to arise where persons because they use a wheel chair can’t get the medical treatment that they need and have to wait.
Mr. Hollingsworth also pointed out that outside of that there was a dire need for more recreational activities for the disabled. Elaborating, he said: “They spend most of their time at home or within school; but clearly because of their limitation(s) they are unable to participate in a lot of what mainstream children participate in, such as going to the beach and other recreational and cultural activities.
“So, there is an attempt by us to expand our reach to those children who need those kinds of activities. But again, we are limited because of our resources and the consequent inability to facilitate all needs. Remember we don’t only cater to children with special needs; we cater to all persons with disabilities.”
Also emphasizing the need for Barbadians and others to be empathetic to the feelings and needs of those with disabilities, he highlighted the perennial problem of persons parking illegally in spaces designated for PWDs. He stressed: “I would like to encourage the general public not to park in spaces designated for them; I think that is an important concern not only for us but for persons with disabilities, themselves.
“They have expressed that that is a major concern for them because when they want to utilise the space, then some able-bodied person may already have it occupied and that puts them at a disadvantage. It’s reaching alarming proportions and I think that we have to be, as a public, more sensitive and as an agency [the NDU], we need to increase the sensitivity of the general public as to the purpose of these designated parking spaces.”
The Director of the NDU reminded the public that this is an offence punishable by law. He said through the Road Traffic Act, a fine of $500.00 can be imposed on persons illegally parking in these spaces.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hollingsworth is also encouraging Barbadians, wanting to suggests ways in which the lives of PWDs can be improved, to do so by attending the upcoming town hall meetings, to be held on September 15, 21 and 29, by the Advisory Committee to Guide the Establishment of a Commission for Improving the Lives of Persons with Disabilities.
The public meetings, which will be in person as well as virtually, will run from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The first meeting will be on Thursday, September 15, at the Hugh Springer Auditorium of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Solidarity House, Hindsbury Road, St. Michael. The link for that meeting is https://is.gd/1PwD_Bds.
On Wednesday, September 21, the meeting will be convened at the Ivan Harewood Centre, Christ Church Parish Church, Church Hill, Christ Church. The link for the second meeting is https://is.gd/2PwD_Bds.
The final meeting is on Thursday, September 29, at the Alexandra School, Queen’s Street, St. Peter, and the link is https://is.gd/3PwD_Bds.
Members of the public are further reminded that they may submit their policy and legislative recommendations on how to improve the lives of Persons with Disabilities to inclusion@barbados.gov.bb. The deadline for submissions is Friday, September 30.