Govt outlines improved services for disabled under new SEA

The government is pledging easier access to disability services through its new Social Empowerment Agency (SEA), which it said would streamline assistance and expand service points across the island.

The SEA, launched last week, brings together several social service agencies in a move the government says will transform how assistance is delivered to Barbadians.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, told Barbados TODAY that once fully operational, the SEA will significantly ease access for people with disabilities.

“The SEA, when fully functional, will make life for persons with disabilities much easier than it is now,” Humphrey said.

Under the new structure, multiple government buildings will serve as access points for services.

“As it stands, there’s one entry point, one building on Collymore Rock, that persons with disabilities use to access resources. Under the SEA, all existing buildings, including the Child Care Board, the National Assistance Board and welfare offices, will be entry points, along with new client centres,” he said. “So they will have much wider access.”

The ministry will roll out a public education campaign to ensure people understand how to access services under the new agency, he added.

“We will be doing a stream of educational videos and continuing our meetings to ensure that everyone is aware. It is intended to make life much easier for the community of persons with disabilities.”

Individuals will continue to access existing services while also benefiting from expanded avenues for assistance, including requests for ramps, prostheses, hearing aids and other support. More complex cases, he noted, will be handled by a dedicated unit.

But transport remains a major challenge, according to the director of The Love Circle, Ralbert Ashton, who works closely with people with disabilities.

Government-supported transport services are limited by operating hours and demand, he added.

Ashton explained: “They don’t operate Saturdays and Sundays, so even that void needs to be filled. Another issue is that they are overwhelmed, so priority is given to medical appointments and essential services. That still leaves many people unable to get where they need to go.”

When government transport is unavailable, he is often forced to rely on the Transport Board’s CALL-A-RIDE service, public transport, or taxis — options that can be costly and inconvenient.

“Sometimes I have to get a taxi or beg somebody for a ride. And bear in mind, I’m not employed, so that’s always a challenge,” Ashton said.

Humphrey acknowledged transport concerns, noting that they are addressed in the National Policy for Improving the Lives of Persons with Disabilities, developed following community-based consultations.

Under “Strategy 1.3: Facilitating Access to Transportation”, the policy commits the government to conducting nationwide accessibility assessments of public transport to identify and remove barriers facing persons with disabilities.

“This is a matter that has not escaped the government and forms part of our policy response,” Humphrey said.

He added that the policy outlines clear solutions, including the importation of assistive devices for vehicles and transport facilities, accessible public information in multiple formats, specialised training for transport providers, and support for private-sector operators to make accessibility modifications.

“The problems and solutions are clearly articulated,” Humphrey said. “Now the focus must be on implementation, and doing so in the shortest possible time.

(LG)