Leaders in Special Needs Community says less talk, more action

Representatives from several public and private sector groups have come together, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the advancement of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). At a conference hosted by Digicel Foundation, representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, UNICEF, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) among other groups in the field, exchanged ideas on how they could work more closely to ensure that PWDs are treated equally and are granted every opportunity to become productive citizens. The event dubbed, ‘Conversations on Special Needs’, was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, under the theme ‘Identifying, Creating and Maintaining Opportunities for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities’ In reiterating their commitment to preparing PWDs to become income earners, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson, said the government has been taking steps to facilitate greater inclusion, integration and empowerment of persons with disabilities in our society.

The conference was moderated by Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan CD, a Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrician. The audience also heard contributions from Senator Floyd Morris, Director of the UWI Centre for Disability Studies, Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics International, Olayinka Jacobs-Bonnick, British Council’s Director in Jamaica and Radcliffe Richards, parent of a child with Down Syndrome.