‘Able-bodied and disabled must work together’ - Chair of Jamaica Society for the Blind hails implementation of Disabilities Act

"A very good starting point'. This is how Daemion McLean, chairman of the Jamaica Society for the Blind, is labelling the legislation of the Disabilities Act that took effect yesterday, February 14.

The legislation protects and promotes equal rights for the disabled and prohibits discrimination against them. The law also promotes the right of the disabled community to education and training, employment, healthcare, and housing. McLean said that, now that the act has been passed, he would like to see the able-bodied and the disabled working together to make it a reality.

"The truth is, this act is for all of us because you don't know when you can be disabled. The crime-and-violence rate is high, and so are motor vehicle accidents. These are clear indicators where a lot of persons may pick up on disability. We are not even talking those who are born with it. We really don't know if and when we can become disabled," he said.

The bill, which has led to the act, was in the preliminary stages for over 10 years, but received bipartisan support in the House when it was debated. The Disabilities Regulation 2021 was passed last year in Gordon House. The Disabilities Act proposes, among other things, that no employer should discriminate against a person on the grounds of disability if the person is qualified for the job. It also makes provision for persons with a disability to be entitled to the enjoyment of privileges, interest, benefits and treatments as every other Jamaican.

McLean said the act covered the majority of issues that he and others needed to be addressed.

"It is not perfect but it covers the majority of the areas that we would want to be covered. Over time, I expect through amendments and certain rulings that it is going to be a stronger and effective act. It is certainly a very good starting point, as we were not at this point five or 10 years ago," McLean said.

"To have the right of people living with disabilities enshrined in law is going to go a far way in terms of catering to the needs of this population. We have to commend the Government and the disability sector for the work that they have put in to bring it to this point," he added.