Disabled persons can contribute to society

 Persons with disabilities can become productive members of society once they are provided with the opportunity to do such.

 

This was the message that President of the Senate, Senator Kerryann Ifill sent out to mainstream society as she delivered remarks at the presentation of the 12th Annual Kregg Nurse Memorial Scholarship Award 2016, which took place recently at the Caribbean Catalyst office in River Road.

 

“Too often persons with disabilities are  considered as burdens and as persons who draw from society. Today’s presentation reminds us that when we are given the opportunity, we can give back many times over than what we need to take out. And so to Caribbean Catalyst, continue with the excellent work; continue to embrace persons with disabilities; continue to recognise that all persons have an opportunity to maximise their potential and with these supports in place, that we can do better,” Ifill said.

 

She stated that the winner, Janelle Skinner, and the runner-up, Toni Wharton, are examples of persons with disabilities who have made up their mind not to let their respective disabilities get in the way of them pursuing their goals.

 

“Toni and Janelle, the two of you are exemplary persons; two women who have decided that they will have more out of life; two persons determined to demonstrate to Barbados and the wider community that persons with disabilities are contributing, worthwhile members of this community who with the correct support can give back.”

 

After the presentation ceremony, Skinner told The Barbados Advocate that she always knew about the scholarship, but it was only after the winner from last year approached her and told her more about the scholarship that she decided to complete the submission process, which involved filling out an application form, writing an essay and attending an interview.

 

Skinner said that she started off working in the Customer Service Department of Massy Stores Barbados Limited in 2002 and she is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Psychology at the University of the West Indies, (UWI), Cave Hill campus.

 

She has just completed her first year and when she completes this degree, she would like to pursue a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology, which she stated is an area that is focused on rehabilitating persons with disabilities, especially those who would have previously been able-bodied or born with developmental disabilities.

 

“It is actually teaching them how to cope with their disability and you know, how to go from the transitioning period of not being disabled to becoming disabled. It is also psychological. It works with others, assisting organisations and support systems, whether it be rehabilitation centres, whether it be educational, to basically help persons with disabilities to become accepting to what disability they may have.”