AN ACT TO FOLLOW

Often, we look to the northern hemisphere for inspiration on a number of vital issues.  It has been argued that the tendency of small developing nations to emulate the paths of the more advanced countries is fraught with several challenges and sometimes the ending result is a diminishing of our own identify.  One area, in which we can all agree that some guidance from the more developed nations has benefited Barbados, is our advances in issues related to persons with disabilities.

In 1990, the United States of America brought in to force the long anticipated and very welcomed “American with Disabilities Act” (ADA).  This groundbreaking piece of legislation sought to improve the situation for Americans with Disabilities and introduced a number of initiatives which were intended to achieve this objective.  Now celebrating its 20th year, many have paused to evaluate how effective the work has been and whether there are any changes needed to be made.  There greatest success has been around the built environment, and the telecommunications and transportation infrastructure; a path similar to where we in Barbados seem to be following. We began 10years ago when our Government debated the Green paper on Persons with Disabilities in Parliament on 30 May 2000.

In Barbados, we have yet to implement legislation on any such civil rights document for persons with disabilities.  What the success and failings of the ADA has proven, is that attitude still remains the single biggest barrier to complete inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities. This can also be said for Barbados, as we continue the battle to change attitudes.

There is absolutely no question, that the Americans with Disabilities Act has made significant strides in providing access to a variety of goods and services for persons with disabilities.  Its many articles have addressed numerous needs and have provided their citizens with several opportunities to be more involved in mainstream society.  Many businesses have come to recognize the importance of providing access for their customers with disabilities because they recognize the necessity to do so. With the introduction of the FULLY ACCESSIBLE BARBADOS (FAB) Programme the Barbados Council for the Disabled has sought to address these needs of our citizens as well as our guests.
We need new buildings to be universally designed so that persons with mobility challenges can enter and have access to the structure following the same path of travel as everyone else. It is understandable that older buildings can be compromised when asked to provide access, however they can compensate by providing other amenities which are needed by the elderly and other mobile users. It is demeaning for people with disabilities to be expected to enter in a different entrance, use a freight elevator, and experience other indignities associated with this kind of jerry-rigged access.

Under the Constitution of Barbados every citizen shares the same human, civil, political, social and cultural rights. As our country prepares to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, perhaps now is also a good time for us to also evaluate our own position on these issues with a view to improving the situation.

Among a number of ongoing awareness projects, the Barbados Council for the Disabled has since 2002 being promoting the right to access through our “PARKING ID” for Persons with Disabilities. Constant lobbying present and successive governments have not produced any promising results so far. On a daily basis the Barbados Council for the Disabled issues these ID’s to mobility challenged persons, who continuously bemoan the lack of legislation required for this facility to be provided, in the same way that it is offered to other non disabled persons.

As the Council works towards achieving its goal of ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in every aspect of their constitutional rights, projects and programmes will continue to be designed and implemented by persons with disabilities who have the knowledge and capacity to produce successful results. We will continue to work alongside International and Government Agencies to raise awareness throughout our communities so that we the citizens of Barbados with disabilities, have the right, will and indeed the ability to be full members of our community.