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Disability Council takes on role of Govt. watchdog
-as efforts made to highlight contribution of persons with disability
Several buildings are still not disability-friendly, in accordance with the Guyana Disability Act of 2010. The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities is not taking this state of affairs lightly. In fact, Chairman of the Council, Mr. Leon Walcott, says that he intends to write to those in authority, pointing out that there are a number of popular public buildings that lack access for persons with disabilities.
He disclosed, for instance, that although the Kingston, Georgetown Red House was some time ago outfitted with a ramp for persons confined to a wheelchair, a recent visit to the building revealed that the wooden ramp there had deteriorated.
“A concrete ramp would only cost them about $20,000,” said Walcott, as he recalled how his recent visit to Red House required that persons lift him out of his wheelchair in order for him to gain access to the building.
According to Walcott, although Government has always responded favourably to the concerns of persons with disabilities, there is still need for much more to be done in terms of ensuring that the public adheres to the Disability Act.
“We have to keep approaching Government…our buildings have to be disability-friendly. If buildings do not have the necessary measures in place, it means that they are violating the building code,” Walcott noted.
Situations like these persist, Walcott added, despite efforts by both the past and present administrations to ensure that new buildings, whether public or private, have a ramp. The Council, Walcott informed, is tasked with being the Government’s watchdog.
Leon Walcott
In so doing, he revealed that he recently had cause to speak out against a property in the heart of the city that has failed to incorporate disability-friendly features.
“I posted about it on Facebook and got about 30 comments…many other people [with disabilities] had issues with entering that building too, and this is simply because there are no ramps at that building,” Walcott related.
According to the Council Chairman, addressing such shortcomings come as part of the ongoing efforts to realise attitudinal and architectural changes.
“It has been a very difficult thing to create change, because people grow up with a mindset that persons with disabilities are good for nothing,” Walcott stated emphatically.
But using himself as an example, Walcott assured that this is certainly not the case.
“I have a physical disability, but that’s where it stops,” he said, as he spoke of “walking the corridors of power”.
“I worked with two presidents – Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Desmond Hoyte – as a Special Assistant. I was a successful teacher, a sports coach, and I have made substantial contributions to my country,” Walcott said, as he stressed that “persons with disabilities can make very good contributions just like anyone else”.
At the age of eight, Walcott was diagnosed with muscle atrophy, a situation in which the muscles and the nerves of his feet deteriorated. Essentially, the condition is one where a protein feeds on the covering of the nerves. “It progressed very slowly,” said Walcott of his condition. Although he was affected in ways that he wished were avoidable, Walcott said that it wasn’t until 2003 that he was confined to a wheelchair.
“There are some things you may never be able to do with certain disabilities, but once you can overcome it [your disability] mentally, you can do much. I tell people just look at me for inspiration. I have been blessed; in spite of my disability I have been able to make a contribution and continue to do so,” said Walcott.
In order to educate other persons with disabilities of their rights, the Council recently held a two-day sensitisation forum. Moves to raise awareness, according to Walcott, are intended to enhance the leadership and advocacy capabilities of persons living with various forms of disabilities, with a view to helping them become more inclusive in society.
The forum represents part of the activities this week to mark National Disability Week 2017 which spans the period November 26 – December 1.
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