Persons getting blood pressure checks during the World Disability Day commemoration at Turtle River Park, Ocho Rios, on Thursday. - Photo by Carl Gilchrist
Unemployment heads a list of several problems that are of critical concern to disabled persons.
Executive director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs (BWA), Faith Webster, speaking with The Gleaner at a World Disability Day commemoration in Ocho Rios on Thursday, said her agency was working with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) to effect change.
"One of the main ones (concerns) I'm hearing is employment, that is a critical issue," Webster said. "Whereas sometimes we can find employment for some of them that are in the lower socio-economic group, when you get to the higher level, some may have moved on to university to get a degree, but where are they to be placed?"
Webster said the BWA has completed its gender policy and is hoping that it will be tabled in Parliament before the end of the year. This policy will have to work in tandem with one that was developed by the JCPD, but which is currently not being enforced.
Areas such as special parking facilities and access to bathrooms are among the areas of concern that are covered by the policies.
"We are going to see how we can have a synergy and how we can work together to put those in place. One of the main things is to see how we can work together to have implementation (of the policies)."
Other issues mentioned by Webster include poverty, housing and sexual health. Persons with disabilities are often excluded from social activities and issues.
issues
The event allowed approximately 300 persons from St Ann with disabilities to give their views, air concerns and get information on issues affecting them.
The BWA and the JCPD, in partnership with the United Nations Populations Fund, commemorated World Disability Day in Turtle River Park under the theme 'Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Their Communities Around the World'.
In addition to observing World Disability Day, the event also formed part of 16 days of activities against gender-based violence. The period started November 25, which was observed as International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women, included December 1 that was World Aids Day and ends December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
The series of initiatives is geared at sensitising the general public about issues of domestic violence, sexual abuse and the link between gender and HIV/Aids, Webster explained.
free services
Several agencies were also on hand to offer free services to disabled persons. Among them, the Registrar General's Department, the Jamaica Cancer Society, North East Regional Health Authority (Ministry of Health), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, National Housing Trust, Jamaican Constabulary Force, Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning, FAMPLAN, Inland Revenue and Child Development Agency.
Persons were able to do tests for breast cancer, blood pressure, blood sugar and access information relating to HIV counselling and testing.