MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr is calling on the public and private sector to be more accommodative towards members of the deaf community by removing communication barriers.

“I want to send a message specifically to employers. I want to issue a challenge, examine how you recruit? How do you train? How do you promote your business? Can a deaf applicant understand your vacancy notice and participate fairly in your interview? Can a deaf employee access the instructions, the meeting, and the safety information at your business?” Charles Jr asked during his address at a Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) expo at the Jamaica Deaf Village in Shooters Hill, Manchester, last Wednesday.

“Are you assessing the person’s qualifications and their ability to function and to do the work? Accessible recruitment and communication can open the door to capable employees whose talents might otherwise be overlooked, and so, as minister, I want this message to echo across Jamaica to the schools and the training institutions: Ensure that deaf learners have the language access and support they need to develop their abilities,” added Charles Jr.

He also urged members of the business community to look at their customer service if it is being accommodative to members of the deaf community.

“To the public and private service providers, I challenge you [to] examine within your institution what happens when a deaf person approaches your counter? When they contact your office or visit your website? Can that person understand the information? Can they get an explanation? Can they explain a concern and receive an effective response?” he asked.

He commended the CCCD for continuing to lobby for members of the deaf community and for staging the recent expo.

“[The] expo allows all of us to see that dignity, talent, and potential can move from talk to action, it also challenges us to examine the barriers that still prevent too many of our Jamaicans from participating fully. I want to commend the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf and for its long-standing service and its commitment to this community. You are an inspiration to all of us; it has been some time now that you have continued the work to reach, to teach, and to nurture the deaf, supporting children, supporting our young people and adults in Jamaica,” said Charles Jr as he pledged his ministry’s continued support of the CCCD’s efforts.

“Your work reaches approximately 150 students at the Kingston and Knockpatrick campuses, adults through the programme that you have in Granville, St James, and adults and their families here at the Deaf Village. Behind all of those numbers are people building skills, developing confidence, supporting families, and pursuing greater independence,” said Charles Jr.

Head of programme at Ebony Park, Dr Anita Hall Facey, said the institution has a training agreement with CCCD under the HEART/NSTA Trust.

“We are the agricultural arm on HEART…We have successfully trained, assessed, and certified participants in the farm equipment operator programme where the participants were able to learn how to drive a tractor, attach implements, and do regular operation and safety checks,” Facey told the Jamaica Observer.

“They have also done small animal husbandry within the Ruminant Department — the programme was called milk technician. We are recruiting for a hydroponic system fabricator programme as well, so we had this arrangement for more than three years. We are in our fourth year of partnership with them. We also have an incubator programme where four of the deaf participants right here at the Jamaica Deaf Village are learning rabbit care and production where we offer them business development support through resources and hand-holding,” added Facey.

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr and head of programmes at Ebony Park Dr Anita Hall Facey engaging in conversation at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf’s expo at the Jamaica Deaf Village in Shooters Hill, Manchester, last Wednesday. (Photos: Kasey Williams)