People with special needs are being treated as second class citizens and denied their human rights, a disability community advocate has declared, as she urged Government to put support systems in place.
President of the Barbados Down Syndrome Association Asha Alleyne-Renwick suggested that people with disabilities are not being afforded equal opportunities and access to the resources necessary to allow them to reach their full potential, despite Barbados’ pledges as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Alleyne-Renwick said: “We need to ensure that as we go forward and changes are implemented for the betterment of the Barbadian society, individuals with special needs are not left behind.
“As it stands, when a child is born with a special need – be it Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy or any other physical or mental disability – the parents of that child struggle and fight to provide the tools necessary for that child’s development.
“The necessary early intervention therapies are often financially unattainable and thus that child is immediately placed at a disadvantage. This cannot be allowed to continue.
“Barbados has signed and ratified this document which outlines that the discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of a human being. This is not a special needs issue. This is a human rights issue.”
The teacher and mother of a ten-year-old son with Down Syndrome said for too long conversations surrounding the need for inclusion had resulted in little to no action.
She said major changes had to occur within the education system as a priority.
Alleyne-Renwick said: “Inclusion needs to be more than a fancy catchphrase bandied about year after year, while parents of children with special needs fight everyday against an education system which is neither willing nor prepared to accept our children.
“Where are the teachers’ aides? Where are the speech, physical and occupational therapists within our public school system? Where are the child psychologists? We have to do better.”
While praising the work of the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, she lamented that it was oversubscribed.
Formerly known as the Children’s Development Centre, it specializes in working with children with physical, mental and intellectual challenges up to age 21.
Alleyne-Renwick said: “That is a very, good institution but if you need to get therapy for your child you have at least a three year wait. They will put your name on the list and in most cases you don’t get a call until your child leaves school because the demand is so high and the resources are so low.
“They have physical therapy there and occupational therapy so you are most likely to get help there but there is just too little resources.”
With uncertainty surrounding the start of the new school term in September given the COVID-19 pandemic, the advocate said clarity was needed concerning the path forward for children with special needs.
