By Jhaneil Grey
Although all humans are created equally [in the eyes of God], we know that amongst us there are differences to be seen in our accessibility to food, shelter, and water; our wealth and rate of material and economic gain; our wisdom on how to navigate life; or the extent to which we may be classified as a fully-functioning, able-bodied person.
Think of those among us who were born with disabilities, or developed one later in life. Blindness, deafness, having a speech impediment, unable to walk – all these may be classified as disabilities. How is society catering to the needs of these persons?
UNFORESEEABLE OUTCOMES
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines a disability as any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions). A disability renders a person handicapped, that is, having one or more of their major life activities restricted or hampered. This is unfathomable when one considers that humans are social creatures; how can persons so impacted still prevail in life?
There are many who were not born with a disability; some discover that they had a pre-existing one later on in life; while others gain one along the way. One true story tells of a woman who suddenly went blind without any warning that this would be her new normal. Then there was the instance when an ambitious and impactful man was, by a dismal turn of events, calamitously rendered to a wheelchair. Hit by a speeding car, he was taken onto a totally different path of life.
We don’t know when the unforeseeable will come our way. The truth is, no one is ever prepared for these outcomes; nevertheless, as with all things, we as human beings can learn to adjust.
BRAILLE ON JAMAICA’S NEW BANK NOTES
The re-designed Jamaican dollar notes, controversial as they are, now carry Braille markings on them on the top right-hand corners. Braille, the ‘language’ used by the blind, has characters represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.
In making the new banknotes accessible to the visually-impaired, this group of persons view this as a sign of “inclusionary care,” as now they can better distinguish between each note.
As human beings and knowing the social creatures that we are, hearing the blind express that they feel as though special attention was paid to serve an at-times neglected minority in the society was a breath of fresh air for those within and outside of the community.
We thank God that something noticeably good has been done for them.
OTHER COMMENDABLE STEPS BEING TAKEN
The Jamaican society is actively and commendably implementing other initiatives to cater to the disabled community.
Within the public transport system (Jamaican Urban Transit Company – JUTC), the disabled have been allocated a designated bus for transporting them, and they are also provided with special seats on other buses within the system.
In the depot at Half-Way-Tree, disabled persons are allowed to enter buses without waiting in line.
Parking lots are ensuring there is designated space for the disabled, ramps are being installed in schools for wheel-chairs, special education facilities have been built – like the Santa Cruz Special Education Center which opened in April 2023 and the Special Education block that was added at the Albion Primary School in March.
Recently, it was alleged that a high school in Kingston rejected an incoming Grade 7 student on the basis of her physical disability. This matter prompted the Jamaica Government to act quickly by announcing they would grant the high school $2 million dollars to adequately outfit the premises so this can never be an issue for any student.
The journey continues and we want to encourage the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, which was able to further safeguard the welfare of the disabled with the finalising of the monumental Disabilities Act in February 2022.
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC
It is important that the Jamaican public is educated in dispelling misconceptions regarding the disabled community and that there be increased awareness of the difficulties faced by individuals with disabilities. If given the levels of protection they require, persons with disabilities can be empowered to become capable and competent members of society, for they are more than the disability within which they exist. They can be productive citizens, too.
May we be incited to exhibit higher levels of compassion to the community as we continue to celebrate all that has been and is being done to assist the disabled in Jamaica and “to pledge the love and loyalty of our hearts, the wisdom and courage of our minds, the strength and vigour of our bodies in the service of these, our fellow citizens…”
