Govt to retrofit schools for students with disabilities

The Combermere School is set to become the first public secondary institution to be equipped with an elevator under a government initiative to make schools and state buildings fully accessible to people with disabilities, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn announced on Friday.

Straughn pledged that the school, along with other public institutions, would receive even greater accessibility.

“I give the commitment that once they get the specifications and costs for an elevator or other adaptations, it is part of the government’s commitment to ensure that all of its public buildings are accessible,” he said.

“We are pushing for a three-year rollout, and once each institution identifies how it will make the necessary changes, the Ministry of Finance will make funding available to ensure all persons with disabilities are included in public spaces.”

The minister’s announcement at his alma mater’s speech day followed remarks by the chairman of the board, Captain Reverend Al Walcott, who spoke about improving access for students on the upper levels of the campus.

“We’ve decided that we can have space for the physically challenged to be able to access the hall, and we’re also doing some research to find a way that will make access to the upper floors of the campus available to physically challenged children,” Reverend Walcott said.

He explained: “If you enter as a student and you’re physically challenged, whether in a wheelchair or otherwise, we’re looking to ensure that from first form all the way to the upper grades, you will be able to access the entire campus.”

Addressing students, parents, and staff, Straughn expressed his pleasure at seeing the school take steps to make spaces more accessible to persons with disabilities. He pointed to improvements already made to the structure, including ramps at the entrance of the main hall and in the general assembly area.

Reflecting on his own time at Combermere, the minister recalled how prominent disabled students Craig Nurse and Kerry-Ann Ifill navigated the school grounds with assistance from their peers. “We had Craig Nurse, who was in a wheelchair for the majority of his time here, but the student body assisted him. We didn’t have ramps or anything like this, but he was fully included in all activities because there were people to help. We have Kerry-Ann Ifill also here, and we assisted her, but I think now the infrastructure itself needs to be supported.”

He also noted that, as the school serves as a hurricane shelter, full accessibility is crucial.

“This is a hurricane shelter as well, and it is important that persons with disabilities are able to be accommodated safely during emergencies. I told them to get the estimates, and we will make it happen. Get me those numbers by January 15, and I can assure you work will be completed before March 31, 2026.”

“This is part of the government’s wider retrofitting programme to ensure all its facilities are disability-friendly.” (LG)