Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 06th, 2012 (SKNIS): Quite fittingly on the observance of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Minister with responsibility for Social Services Honourable Marcella Liburd revealed that 2013 will see the commencement of a project that will focus on improving the conditions of the differently-abled.
At a brief media sensitization session, yesterday, Minister Liburd revealed details about the initiative.
“The Department of Community and Social Development in partnership with UNESCO has designed a project exclusively focused on persons with disabilities,” Minister Liburd informed. “We are hoping to achieve two objectives: 1) Heighten awareness about people living with disabilities and 2) Lobby Cabinet for approval of a national day to recognize and celebrate persons living with disabilities.”
Director of Social Services Azilla Clarke revealed that the funding for the project, which also includes other minority groups in society, amounted to US$25,000.00. She explained that activities would include a survey of persons living with disabilities, events to mark a local observance and sensitization programmes in line for creating situational analyses towards a policy document.
Jennipha Freeman, President of the Nevis Blind, Light and Visually Impaired Persons noted that collectively there were certain requirements that would greatly assist persons living with disabilities such as more accessible public buildings - particularly government buildings, better sidewalks that were not blocked by parked vehicles and other obstructions. She emphasized that disabled persons should not fear becoming mobile.
“Persons with a disability, you don’t have to be embarrassed to move around, once you can move around.” Ms. Freeman emphasized. “Because once you get to point A, you will get to point B. It is just for us to educate our people and make them understand that having a disability does not mean that you should be shut into a room and stay there. The point is that it can happen to anybody. You can get up this morning and you do not know what the end of the day can bring – it could be an accident – to put you one-side – it could be gun shots – young people take it easy. … And remember as I said, a disability could happen to anyone, it doesn’t discriminate.”
President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons Living with Disabilities Anthony Mills noted that this year’s theme of “Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive and Accessible Society for All” was quite fitting. He stressed the need for access for the differently-abled.
“I’m a great believer in independent living and I am looking for independent opportunities for persons with disabilities - that’s where access comes in,” Mr. Mills explained. “We need access to information, access to education, access to buildings, access to sidewalks – like Ms. Freeman pointed out. And those are some of the things that we are hoping will come as a result of this programme [project] that’s being put in place. So that people with disabilities would have all of the same opportunities that everybody else has and that some take for granted.”
Mr. Mills noted that educating young people with disabilities was one of his main concerns. He said that this was one means of ensuring that changes take place in the way society perceives persons living with disabilities. He revealed that he had personally met with policy makers to lobby for the inclusion of the differently-abled in nation building.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
