Dear Editor,
An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us. In the Caribbean, there are over 1 million persons living with some form of disability this amount to more than the population of certain countries in the sub-region. Across the Caribbean, persons with disabilities face discrimination and exclusion. Social exclusion is caused by underlying systemic barriers that limit the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in social, economic and political life. Persons with disabilities have lower outcomes in education, employment and health compared to other population groups.
Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health. Each year the global community observes International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 03. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025, “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress”, builds on the reaffirmed commitment of world leaders gathered at the Second World Summit for Social Development to build a more just, inclusive, equitable and sustainable world.
The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realisation of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Unfortunately, even with the best of intentions and advocacy concerning disability inclusion we still operate in a world of exclusion. Often there are multiple barriers that can make it extremely difficult or even impossible for people with disabilities to function.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes barriers as being more than just physical obstacles. The WHO defines barriers as the factors in a person’s environment that, through their absence or presence, limits functioning and creates disability. These include aspects such as:
Attitudinal Barriers
Attitudinal barriers are the most basic and contribute to other barriers. For example, some people may not be aware that difficulties in getting to or into a place can limit a person with a disability from participating in everyday life and common daily activities. Examples of attitudinal barriers include: Stereotyping: People sometimes stereotype those with disabilities, assuming their quality of life is poor or that they are unhealthy because of their impairments. Within society, these attitudes may come from people’s ideas related to disability.
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers are structural obstacles in natural or manmade environments that prevent or block mobility (moving around in the environment) or access. Examples of physical barriers include: Steps and curbs that block a person with mobility impairment from entering a building or using a sidewalk. Additionally, the absence of ramps to facilitate access to buildings is a problem. In a number of instances many schools are not equipped with ramps. As a result, students and staff who use wheelchairs find it difficult to access certain spaces. The society needs to revisit how best to accommodate women with mobility impairment to access Mammography equipment and other health related services. The absence of a weight scale that accommodates wheelchairs or others who have difficulty stepping up is another area of concern.
Transportation Barriers
Transportation barriers are due to a lack of adequate transportation that interferes with a person’s ability to be independent and to function in society. Examples of transportation barriers include:
The lack of access to accessible or convenient transportation for people who are not able to drive because of vision or cognitive impairments is cause for concern.
Policy Driven
How serious are we in the pursuit of a society that embraces disability inclusion? Undoubtedly, those who are tasked with making disability inclusion policies must include those persons with the lived experiences. Policies crafted in abstract will not address the unique needs of this often-marginalised group in the society. Many societies have legislation to address some of these issues of the disable community however; the issue at hand is oftentimes one of enforcement. Obviously, more intentional strategies and programmes are needed to eradicate the stigma and discrimination attached to the disabled community in order to embrace a society that is inclusive.
In the words of Robert M. Hensel, there is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.