Barbados has certainly made some headway with respect to providing a level playing field for persons with disabilities, but there is still a great deal of work to be done to change the overall mindset of people living in this country, so that they show greater respect for the differently abled.

 

There can be no denying that we have come a long way from the days when parents of disabled children locked them away in the house, hiding them from the public because they were embarrassed. However, while the attitudes of parents are changing, the attitudes of society in general are slower to change, primarily because they still do not understand the range of disabilities that can exist.

 

For that reason, many persons in our society look at seemingly “normal” children for example, and wonder why they may be exhibiting certain behaviours, and openly criticising the parents for not being able to control them. The fact is that you cannot always tell by looking that a person has a disability. If it is a physical disability or a condition like Down’s Syndrome, there are obviously physical traits to indicate that a disability exists, but for a child who is autistic, you would not likely be able to tell unless you interact with that child.

 

What is also imperative for us to know and appreciate is that disability does not have to mean inability. While an intellectual disability could prevent a person from excelling by traditional standards, it does not mean that they cannot reach their fullest potential outside of academics. Additionally, a person with a physical impairment may not be able to do things like people without such physical traits, but they may be good at something else, and so their potential too should not be stifled. We strongly believe that every individual, regardless of their situation, deserves to have equal access to education and employment and deserves also to be able to move around with the greatest possible ease.

 

The fact is that anyone can become disabled at any time in their lives, through accidents, ill health or some form of trauma. A person with diabetes for example can lose their sight or a limb; or who has had a stroke can lose their ability to walk or even speak, and as the caring society we profess to be, it is important to ensure that the requisite systems are in place to help such persons in need. 

 

This is especially necessary given the fact that Barbados has high rates of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease which can result in the above disabilities occurring. So it is imperative that people in the wider society take note of this, become better educated about disabilities and soften their hearts.

 

On another note, while we are glad to see that some provision is being made on the sidewalks to accommodate persons using wheelchairs and walking aids, there are still not enough access points for them. Furthermore, there are still many roads that do not even have sidewalks and to date, there is no law in place to prohibit able bodied people from parking in the disabled car spaces across the country. In respect of the latter, the time has come for the authorities to put legislation in place to prosecute those who have little or no regard for the disabled persons in our society.

 

This must be one of the first things on the agenda to protect the differently abled and ensure that they have for equal access at every level of society.