Advocacy ‘must move from policy to action’ as disability inclusion gains ground

Advocacy for people with disabilities in Barbados has made significant strides over the years, but the next challenge is ensuring policies are translated into meaningful action, a campaigner said on Monday.

Delivering that message at a tree planting outside the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies at Cave Hill Campus, held as part of the organisation’s 50th anniversary celebrations,  Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) Operations Manager Roseanna Tudor reflected on the progress made while insisting that key barriers remain.

Pointing to the transformation she has witnessed over the years, Tudor said inclusion is becoming a reality as attitudes continue to shift.

“Attitude, the environment, the barriers that we are seeing being broken. It’s more lending to what we have started our journey to try and achieve inclusion, and this is becoming more and more real.”

She acknowledged that the government and private sector have been “honestly getting on board” and said the attitudes of people with disabilities have also changed.

“What also makes a big difference is the attitude of the person with disabilities themselves… recognising that, yes, if you’re going to be preparing an environment that is inclusive for me, I’ll do my part. I’m gonna be just as fierce and just as empowered to become a part of society and play my part, like everybody else.”

While acknowledging those improvements, she stressed that advocacy cannot stop with legislation.

 

Recalling two of the BCD’s most significant achievements, Tudor noted that securing legislated parking for persons with disabilities and the eventual passage of the Disabilities Act represented years of determined advocacy.

“When we first started, we got the parking for persons with disabilities legislated… and when the Disabilities Act was passed, that has been years of working on that. People have died and gone, but we are fortunate to see that it has become a reality.”

Urging that government needs to be encouraged to “put those policies to action” she said, “That’s one part. Advocacy never ends, never. So it’s from policy to action. That’s where we are at right now.”

Although pleased with the progress made, Tudor maintained that jobs, accessible transport and inclusive education remain the council’s biggest priorities.

“Jobs is still a work in progress for us. It’s not moving as fast as we would like. Transportation as well, which is something that we continue to address.”

Tudor continued: “We, the Council for the Disabled, have been addressing transportation because we see it as key. It doesn’t make sense you educating, breaking barriers down, creating jobs, and we cannot get to the jobs. We cannot get to the environment that is for us to enjoy.”

When asked what she would change immediately if given the opportunity, Tudor said improving transport would be at the top of her list, alongside continued public awareness.

“Everybody needs transportation to get where they’re going. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity for persons with disabilities even more so because we’re extra challenged, because if you don’t have specialised service, equipment, specialised buses, buses on schedule, buses that are available for two wheelchair users in the vehicles and not one, all those things are required right now.” (LE)