THE organisation that promotes and protects the rights of persons with disabilities has suggested a census specific to those individuals as it is facing challenges registering them to ensure they receive services and fair treatment.

“We have, over the years, through Statin (Statistical Institute of Jamaica) been collecting data, however we know that there is more to be done in terms of having a specific census possibly done on persons with disabilities because there are varying numbers,” executive director of Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) Dr Christine Hendricks said during a panel discussion last Friday at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The discussion was staged under the I am Able initiative, a programme launched last December and designed to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity for persons with disabilities.

According to Dr Hendricks, JCPD’s database currently contains just over 17,000 registered persons, however estimates suggest that the actual number of Jamaicans with disabilities could be many thousands more.

“The WHO (World Health Organization) speaks of 10 per cent, and in recent times has indicated a 15 to 17 per cent of the population of developing countries… that would put us anywhere between 450,000 to 500,000 persons with disabilities in Jamaica [but] the JCPD has a little over 17,000 persons in its database. What that says to us is that we are a far way from reaching the number of persons with disabilities in Jamaica to have them registered,” added Dr Hendricks.

She said the disparity in the numbers highlights the need for more inclusive data collection and a greater effort to engage persons with disabilities and their families.

“Almost every Jamaican has an individual who has a disability in their family. Some might not have come to the place of acceptance and recognition of that individual with a disability but… there are many persons with disabilities who do not identify themselves as a person with a disability because they have been so empowered [that] they do not know or recognise that they have a disability,” she said.

Dr Hendricks argued that the lack of proper registration and identification can make it difficult for JCPD and other organisations to effectively address the needs of people with disabilities, limiting access to crucial services and support for many.

The JCPD head also acknowledged the challenges in ensuring that Jamaica’s infrastructure meets the needs of people with disabilities — an issue that has plagued the country despite progress in some areas.

She noted that while the Ministry of Local Government has building codes in place to help bridge the gaps, several buildings across Jamaica are still straying from these standards, making them less accessible to people living with disabilities.

“We launched a checklist in 2023, an accessibility checklist that will be a quick guide to identify the challenges of the infrastructure for easy fix. And so, with this checklist we will seek to work with the Ministry of Local Government — as they have responsibility for the building code and the Building Act — to ensure that somehow there is some synergy and introduction of it as a critical tool to help persons identify and make the necessary changes to their buildings, ensuring that the standards are upheld,” she said.

In the meantime, chair of the Disabilities Rights Tribunal Emile Leiba highlighted that fear of discrimination remains a significant barrier to progress. He noted that many individuals with disabilities are reluctant to disclose their condition due to the fear of being treated unfairly.

“In some of the complaints that we have seen there are concerns about even disclosure of the nature of the disability. Sometimes in the complaints the person does not disclose the disability to us, and because we are left in a bit of an unclear position, sometimes in terms of that I think the only time we are going to see change is if persons with disabilities no longer have that fear of disclosure, that fear of speaking up, that fear of saying, ‘If I disclose it I will be discriminated against,’ ” he said.

Leiba argued that people with disabilities should expect proper treatment, and insisted that, “If the persons you are interacting with fail to meet that bar, know that you will be protected, know that mechanism exists for your protection.”

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr added his voice to the discussion, emphasising that the Disabilities Act provides Jamaica with a unique opportunity to lead by example in promoting inclusivity. However, he stressed that there is still much work to be done to improve the country’s infrastructure and raise public awareness.

“The Disabilities Act exposes Jamaica to the many ways that we can distinguish ourselves as a loving country, as a caring country, as a country that values all of our assets, and so we are proud to have a legislation that creates a comprehensive framework for us to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities in our country.

”It also means that we have the responsibility of ensuring that we educate our citizens, that we encourage our citizens and empower them with the knowledge and the tools to spread this love,” Charles Jr said.

He emphasised the need for education and awareness, calling on Jamaicans to understand the importance of the legislation.

“Every Jamaican is impacted by this message. We all need to hear it, regardless of our circumstances. It’s not just about persons with disabilities, it’s about all of us, and we need to educate ourselves to spread love and inclusion,” added Charles Jr.