Disability Act should be acknowledged by public

Disability Act should be acknowledged by public – NCD

Mar 06, 2012 News

Recently, the National Commission on Disability (NCD) held its first ever “open day” at its headquarters, with the main focus being to sensitise the public about the work that the organization performs and the progress being made in assisting the disabled. Still, the organisation said, it is an uphill task in getting the public more mindful and appreciative of the Persons with Disability Act.
According to NCD officials, there are at least 50,000 persons in Guyana living with disabilities and the rights of these persons have been increasing across the country since the passing of the disability bill. Yet very few persons know about the NCD, let alone the act that serves as a protection for those living with disabilities.
One staffer referred to the act as “the bible for persons with disabilities”. She said there is a need for the bill to be recognized in order to understand what provisions must be made for disabled persons to live an equally good life.
Mrs. Beverly Pile, Administrative Officer at NCD, stated that the entity has the task of spreading the message of catering for the disabled. Some of the mechanisms in broadcasting the rights of the disabled are the frequently held radio programmes, she related, adding that this seeks to educate the nation about the disabled and especially the facilities at the NCD’s headquarters which is open to the public.
Ganesh Singh, who is the Communications and Advocacy Volunteer at the NCD, related that persons can learn more about the disabled when they visit the organisation. Even persons with disabilities can educate themselves, Singh said, through the various informative mediums at the location.
The volunteer also remarked about the positivity in disabled persons becoming aware of the law that protects them. He added that it would be beneficial for these persons to become up-to-date with the law.
Apart from that, the NCD officials alluded to their campaign to have construction companies take into consideration building with the disabled in mind. The open day event included the teachings and relevance of buildings being constructed with the necessary requirements such as ramps, railings and even bathrooms and other trimmings that accommodate the disabled.
The act, NCD said, caters to many aspects of life where disabled persons are often affected. This includes employment, education, health, water and housing, social services, recreation and sports, communications, concealment, voting, accessibility and other miscellaneous events which may require legal actions if the NCD believes that the rights of the disabled are being jeopardized.
In light of this, the organization urged that the public make itself aware of the law and to make the necessary adjustments to co-exist effectively with the disabled. They also made it clear that the NCD is ready to divulge any information pertaining to the well being of the disabled.

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