STAKEHOLDERS in the disability movement, fighting for their rights over decades , are elated at the public reaffirmation of the current administration’s commitment, by President Bharrat Jagdeo. Consequently, President of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Leon Walcott said a meeting is expected to be scheduled soon to address the way forward.
And, as soon as possible, they are to meet with the Head of State, Walcott said, adding: “We are happy with the momentum that the movement has so far and we are working to sustain that.”
During the promulgation of the much anticipated Guyana Persons with Disability Act, the first step in a massive sensitisation campaign, President Jagdeo announced increased subventions, dedicated provisions for employment in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field and increased access to Information Technology (IT) through the Government’s One Laptop for Family Project (OLPF).
Several key players in the fight for equality and justice for all persons with disabilities have lauded the tangible forms of support as major steps forward, following the coming into force of the Act.
Walcott told the Guyana Chronicle that the meeting with the Head of State will “fine tune” plans for making use of the larger subventions.
He explained the President’s call for more project-based activities to create more opportunities for differently-abled persons will build on existing mechanisms in organisations that represent the interests of the movement.
According to him, the Council has an operation plan and a financial plan in place and additional programmes will build on the foundation outlined in those frameworks to ensure accountability,
“Our operational plan was finalised three weeks ago and the financial plan is in place…the support comes at a time when we need it most, with the Disability Act now in effect and we are very grateful,” Walcott said.
He added that the increasing support has provided those involved in the years- long fight with a sense of renewed enthusiasm to move forward.
Currently employed at Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre (PRRC), Ms. Stacey Johnson also lauded the President’s promise of increased employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“Being employed gives differently-able people a sense of confidence in themselves…for me, I feel I am able to contribute something to society and the financial independence, that being employed gives, is also a good thing,” she offered.
Johnson maintained that employment is a major need and the focus now being placed on that has been a long time in coming.
“A lot of persons with disabilities are not employed and they are not independent, even though they have the potential. Having a job changes a lot for persons with disabilities,” she asserted.

President of the Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) Disability People’s Network (DPN), Mr. Mark Archibald said the pledge of increased support translates, generally, into more for persons with disabilities.
He observed that, to date, support has been given to the DPN to facilitate the extension of a dedicated centre for persons with disabilities to receive skills training, which is, currently, ongoing and includes a kitchen, a computer room, a storeroom and washroom facilities.
Archibald said the DPN also benefits from a travelling subvention, which assists differently-abled persons in the region to access special needs classes and other services.
“We are happy for the support and we will be able to do more to address things like discrimination, the respect that we need and integrate into society better. The lives of persons with disabilities will improve,” he concluded.
Archibald emphasised, however, that the aid should be sustained, as it is the only way to ensure success in the advocacy fight.
Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) Country Director, Ms. Kim West concurred that Mr. Jagdeo did a commendable thing to make clear his Government’s commitment to the development of persons with disabilities.
“The commitment by the Head of State ensures that we have continued support because, while the passage of the Act is a milestone, it can only be a success if all persons with disabilities are able to access its provisions and enjoy their rights,” she said.
West said that is where the different projects and programmes come in and, with the pledge of greater financing, these can be more far reaching.
She agreed it is good to have the hard work of the many stakeholders publicly recognized and celebrated.
“VSO is happy to be a partner in this journey. We are happy to have been a support for persons with disabilities in the last four years,” West said.
National Adviser to the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme, Mrs. Geraldine Maison-Halls, adding her bit, said the gesture by President Jagdeo creates more opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“We have the law and the programmes we advance with the support we have will help us in key areas, especially to help persons with disabilities be fully integrated in society,” she said.
Maison-Halls acknowledged that the point of enforcement is important to ensure that equality and justice are the orders of the day.
“This is a major step forward for us, but the work is not done,” she posited.
Chair of the National Commission on Disability (NCD), Mrs. Evelyn Hamilton remarked that collaboration is  key to ensuring that persons with disabilities are guaranteed an opportunity to fulfil their potential in life.
She said the collaborative entities need to be strengthened to advance the hard work that lies ahead, which is a process to the ultimate goal of providing persons with disabilities with as normal a life as possible, free from discrimination whereby they enjoy their human rights.
The NCD is responsible for addressing implementation, monitoring and  sensitisation to the provisions made under the Guyana Persons with Disability Act.