BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PRESIDENT of the St. Kitts and Nevis Disability Association Anthony Mills has expressed the desire for more emphases to be placed on people with disability.
Mills said his association hopes to achieve at least 50 percent of its plans for this year, and its primary objective is to ensure the public and business community become more disability friendly.
He pointed out that there is an urgent need for the public to be more focused on recognising people with disability have a right to live and earn. “I once saw a posting on a website for people who cannot speak saying not being able to speak doesn’t mean that there is nothing to say,” Mills said.
He said mobility is one of the major challenges facing persons of his association, noting that the situation of physically challenged young children and adults living by themselves need to be addressed.
Mills acknowledged that a number of new members in his association had complained that they lost the friendship and support of many family members and friends after becoming disabled.
“Many of these persons used to be very close, but after gaining a disability they lost the support and friendship of those same individuals,” he said.
Mills suggested that the health sector should be opened to discussions with any partner or charitable group willing to offer assistance, while noting that members of his association are seeking to enhance their personal development and empowerment.
“We know that the issue of disability is not a sexy subject. People seldom want to talk about issues regarding people with disabilities, and because of this it places more challenges and difficulties towards people affected with a disability,” he said.
Mills said he was very pleased to see that LIME, in its renovations, had made provisions for people with disabilities, and is urging other companies to follow suit.
He said LIME should be commended for that initiative and noted that a number of the association’s members had expressed satisfaction in being able to go into the company unaided to do business.
“People with disability can enter LIME and do business easily. However, the same cannot be said for some other companies, as there are provisions at LIME to help people like myself.”
Mills said the time has come for businesses to recognise that every society would have people living with disabilities.
“People are aware of the fact that there are people within society who are living with disabilities. I just think that because they are not living with it they are somewhat reluctant to pay due attention to it.
“The problem lies where the public overlooks at addressing the difficulties that we are faced with and it is important that the public begins to become more sensitive to what we are faced with,” he stressed.
He said that for the past few years his association has been at loggerhead with a number of store owners in trying to get them to put systems in place to better accommodate people with disabilities.
“Many of the storeowners are thinking outside the box, so they do not make the appropriate provisions for us…those living with disabilities.”
Mills, who disclosed that he would be seeking another two-year term as the association’s President, said he would like to see more companies involved in humanitarian efforts by providing assistance to his association.
“There are many disabilities within St. Kitts and Nevis and we would like to see more businesses coming onboard in assisting the association. Disabilities can affect any of us, and therefore businesses should note that rather than giving a member a cheque each month, we would rather that they partner with us in empowering us so that we can earn for ourselves.”
He said that the government could not and would not be able to help every member, but partnering with them to achieve their goals in passing appropriate legislations is what the association seeks to achieve. He added that it is a goal they are working on, and they are urging the public to not see disabilities as a stumbling block but rather a stepping stone in achieving greatness.
“I hope that more persons out there will lend and give support to those who are disabled,” he said.
Mills said his association intends to execute a number of plans during the year, stressing that a lot needs to be done in bettering the lives of those living with disabilities.
“We want to empower those with disabilities to be able to take care of themselves. That is why we are looking at implementing projects and programmes that seek to equip disabled persons with a skill that will enhance and sustain them.”
Mills is appealing to the public to be cognisant of the difficulties and challenges faced by people living with disabilities so as to ensure they are treated with respect and pride while going through their daily activities.
