– PWDs hopeful of new measures for accessibility

THE disability community here in Guyana is looking forward to the implementation of a number of new measures that could make their lives easier, such as audible signals at traffic lights and curb cuts at the end of sidewalks.

Those are just two of the possibilities that are on stream for persons with visual disabilities and those who may be using a wheelchair. They emanated from talks between the disability community and the Government of Guyana.

The audible signals are linked to visual pedestrian signals and they advise people who are visually impaired when they can cross the intersection and in which direction. In some places, when pedestrians hear a “cuckoo” sound, they can cross in a north/south direction, while if they hear a “chirp,” they’ll know it means they can cross in an east/west direction.

The discussions so far have been very fruitful to the point that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are now optimistic that their lives will soon change for the better, Programme Coordinator of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), Ganesh Singh, has expressed.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, in the context of National Disability Week 2020 which will be observed from today (Sunday), Singh informed that since the new government took office, the disability community has met with several government ministers, including President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and the Office of the First Lady.

“We are very optimistic with the government’s plans…and what we’re hearing is very positive and gives us a lot of reasons to be optimistic that, in the future, there will be a lot of changes in the lives of persons with disabilities,” Singh said.
What the PWDs really want include a society that is more accessible, equitable and one that promotes their independence and productivity.

“We would like to see more persons with disabilities employed, both in the public and private sectors. Many of them live in poverty because of the fact that they cannot get jobs; they have no financial independence and this is something major for PWDs.”

Singh said they would also like to see buildings being erected with wheelchair access and the building codes being updated, and more so, enforced.

“We had engagements with Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, and he is working to get traffic lights at some of the busy intersections in Georgetown with the audible signals so that persons would know when to cross. We are also working with them [the authorities] to have some curb cuts at the end of sidewalks so that you can know when it’s the end of the sidewalk and you know it is a pedestrian crossing, and so on. We are working with his office to have measures in place to promote accessibility,” Singh explained.

Disability rights activist, Theresa Pemberton, has been involved in the disability community since 2005 due to blind cricket and, from 2008, she joined the GCOPD.

“I have seen much improvement over the years, especially in the areas of education and skills training,” she observed. However, she noted that a lot more needs to be done with regards to respect for PWDs and affording them equal rights. They must also be given the opportunity to achieve their full potential as a citizen, she said.

Meanwhile, National Disability Week has been observed since 2007 and the week of activities is planned to surround International Day for Persons with Disabilities which is on December 3, a date designated by the United Nations since 1992.

This year, the theme is, “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World,” and the Disability Community here has planned a few virtual activities due to the need for physical distancing.

A number of public service announcements will be produced which will be broadcast on various radio stations, and recorded messages which will be aired on two television programmes that the community will be having.

Awareness materials like T-shirts and brochures will also be distributed to the public and PWDs will be going on various programmes to talk about disability- related issues.

The goal of the week of activities is really to raise awareness on the issues that affect PWDs, and what their rights are.