ALL Guyanese are entitled to equal treatment, equitable opportunities for self-improvement, and equal access to services. That includes Guyanese who live with disabilities, or who may be differently-abled. Guyana signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and ratified the Convention in 2013. In 2008, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities was established. In 2010, the Persons With Disabilities Act was passed by the National Assembly.

Despite this flurry of paperwork by the previous regime, probably as a result of international pressure, very little practical measures were enacted to make any meaningful difference in the lives of affected citizens. Considering that a recent survey has concluded that some seven per cent of Guyanese live with impaired ability relative to the majority of the populace, we, as a country, through neglect in the past, may have deprived ourselves of many of the contributions that many of our citizens could have otherwise made to national development. Fortunately, though, the APNU+AFC coalition administration has embarked on a course of action to correct that injustice.

Article 149 D (2) of the Constitution states, “the State shall, for the purpose of promoting equality, take legislative and other measures designed to protect disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities.” The supreme law goes on to define what ‘equality’ means. Article 149 D (3) elaborates: “Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms guaranteed by or under this Constitution or any other law.”

In addition to the Constitutional mandate, The Act states that “[the Act is intended to] provide certain right to persons with disabilities; to provide for the promotion and protection and full and equal enjoyment of the rights; to facilitate the enforcement of the rights; to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability; to provide for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities . . .” among other provisions. It is recognised that persons who are so affected face daily challenges that others can only imagine. At the most basic level, there is even disagreement on what constitutes a disability; is a disability the presence of a physical or mental impairment (the medical definition), or is it the limiting effect that such impairment has or may have on a person’s ability to function in society (the social definition)? Understandably, affected persons may be less concerned with definitions and more interested in what is being done to assist them to have full, rewarding, and satisfying lives while being given the means to contribute to the improvement of their communities.

Observers will note that the administration has taken a systematic approach. It has been noted that following discussions and decisions on the most effective and efficient way forward, the coalition began tackling the issue with the undertaking of a nation-wide survey to gauge the extent and nature of the matter. According to a government release last year, “The National Commission on Disability has rolled out a country-wide survey. This survey is intended to locate persons with disabilities, categorise their condition and identify their respective needs. At the end of this process, all the relevant data gathered will be forwarded to major administrators for consideration in their decision-making process.” It is from this exercise that the 7 per cent figure, quoted earlier in this article, was obtained.

According to Communications Officer attached to the Commission, Avonel Corrica, the survey aimed to ascertain the needs of persons with disabilities as it relates to health, education, housing and access to public facilities among other critical inputs that government and other policymakers can influence. “For this survey, we are going to various houses, in the ten regions, to locate persons with disabilities, find out their needs and whatever is required in terms of education, housing and so on,” Corrica explained.

It was found that the challenges faced by affected persons are diverse and, in many instances, severe. For example, For 18-year-old Rajni Persaud, a student of the University of Guyana pursuing a diploma in accountancy, easy access to transportation is key, having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was six-months-old. Rajni has spastic triplegia cerebral palsy which causes stiffness in the muscles of the lower parts of her body, particularly her legs as well as her left arm. As such, she depends heavily on a wheelchair to move around. Her mother, Usha Persaud, said transportation remains a stumbling block because mini-bus operators frequently refuse to carry persons who appear differently-abled.

However, with motivation from others in the community, Usha said she allowed her daughter to attend secondary school, even though this came at a cost of $5000 per week for a taxi to take Rajni to school. But it paid off as Rajni graduated from President’s College in 2017 with eight grades one and three grades two. Determined to give her daughter a fair chance of attending university, Usha and her husband, Khanai, agreed to foot the hefty taxi bill.

(Credit to a Naomi Marshall report). Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who has responsibility for transportation, said the Public Transportation Policy will address this issue.

Many other affected persons deal with similarly difficult situations. However, government has since made clear that the various problems are being addressed. Issues ranging from the concrete, such as the transportation problem, to the abstract, are being worked on. Another facet of government’s intervention is through partnerships with private entities. For example, the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre received a computer-smart lab, courtesy of STARR Computers.

Various other initiatives are being undertaken. In the 2019 budget, provisions have been made for affected Guyanese to access vehicles and smartphones tax-free, as part of government’s goal of fully integrating persons with disabilities into society. Government is also training persons on the correct way to interact with persons with disabilities. A workshop to equip journalists with the relevant information needed for reports and stories regarding persons with disabilities has been conducted, and more are planned. Such sessions will equip journalists with the necessary knowledge to accurately and sensitively report on the subject.

Government is evidently not only committed to equity, equality, and inclusion, but is actively engaging non-governmental entities to do the same. This is a welcome development. All Guyanese, regardless of whether they may have physical challenges or not, deserve a good life. All citizens are entitled to contribute to their communities. As such, we should all welcome, support, and, if possible, become actively involved in initiatives with that noble objective.