FOR the first time, Jamaicans with disabilities will be given the opportunity to participate in the the Overseas Employment (farm work) Programme, administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Head of the ministry Pearnel Charles Jr, who made the announcement during his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate on Tuesday, said that starting in June, a batch of three farmers with disabilities will participate in the farm work programme in Canada.

“This is ground-breaking; we are ensuring no one will be left behind,” Charles Jr declared as he claimed the Government believes that seeing to the well-being and inclusion of persons with disabilities is a fundamental role of any society.

Charles Jr noted that the initiative involves partnering with the Abilities Foundation while, “engaging our overseas employers and partners and establishing a support system to assist workers with disabilities during their employment”.

Turning to other initiatives to support people with disabilities, Charles Jr told the House that through a partnership between the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Jamaica’s social protection system and its health system delivery for persons with disabilities are being strengthened through the development of an interactive management information system.

He noted that the information system will enable medical practitioners to upload medical certificates electronically, thereby reducing processing times for disability certification.

“UNICEF is also supporting the development of a mobile application that will allow persons to remotely register, check certification status, apply for grant assistance, and interact with the JCPD virtually,” he said.

Additionally, the minister announced that in partnership with Microsoft NoVA Data Centre in Virginia, USA, training will be provided for another 20 persons with disabilities in 2024/25. This is a follow-up to a previous batch of 21 staff members and students of the Abilities Foundation who received training and certification in information technology.

“I want to implore every employer in Jamaica who has the facilities and the capacity to employ a person with disability, if you can do so, you may very well see them as your best employee,” Charles Jr stressed.

He also announced an initiative dubbed the “I am Able Campaign” aimed at changing the thinking and approach towards persons with disabilities.

The campaign will seek to increase awareness, improve access and integrate people with disabilities across all sectors in society.

Charles Jr further announced the launch of what he described as the Jamaica Partnership Programme (JPP) which is geared at uniting stakeholders at home and abroad to address the needs of all vulnerable groups (including elderly, people with disabilities, and low income families) with sustainable solutions, leveraging expertise and resources through coordinated outreach and networking efforts.

“We are now developing proposals and we invite the private sector, the Diaspora, friends of Jamaica, international organisations to join us as we work to identify ways to supply more assistive devices, to create community centres for seniors, and launch livelihood support programmes for vulnerable individuals and low income families,” he said.

In the meantime, the minister said that the services of the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), which caters to children under six years with developmental delays, will be expanded in the parishes of Manchester and Trelawny with an increase in the number of specialised personnel working in this area.

“We have a plan to also train and introduce interns who will be able to move up the ladder into permanent employment in these specific fields of need,” he said.

Charles Jr also welcomed the establishment of the Disabilities Rights Tribunal that will hear and settle complaints of discrimination. He noted that so far five cases of alleged discrimination have been referred to the tribunal.