SENIOR officials of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) have rejected claims that the entity is failing in its mandate to protect and champion the needs of members of the disabled community.

Reacting to recent claims by some members of Jamaica’s disabled community that the JCPD has done nothing tangible to help them since the Disabilities Act took effect on February 14, 2022, the JCPD officials told the Jamaica Observer that the allegations that it is disrespecting the disabled is incorrect.

Executive director of the JCPD Dr Christine Hendricks told the Observer that while the body has spent the last few months transitioning from a council to an executive agency, that has not stopped it from reaching out to, and assisting members of the disabled community.

“There is now the setting up of that organisation in terms of recruiting staff and ensuring that we have the requisite facilities and equipment to actually begin the work. We are in the early stages of setting up the JCPD as a statutory body, however, the operational aspects, as it was under the previous entity, continues in terms of persons being able to request grants and get varying assistance,” said Hendricks.

“When an entity is transitioning there would be work that would have to be undertaken and perhaps it is a lack of understanding of what it means to be setting up an entity,” added Hendricks, as she noted that the JCPD has moved from a department in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to a new statutory body with the operational arm continuing to function with people getting assistance.

According to Hendricks, the JCPD still has social workers in most parishes across the island and it is still facilitating grants.

“So far this fiscal year, we have facilitated 171 grants to people. The economic empowerment grant is still available, the educational grants are being processed now… we still provide devices to enable the empowerment of persons with disabilities, we still provide medical support for persons who require help [and] we assist persons right across the board,” said Hendricks.

In the meantime, JCPD board member Kimberley Marriott Blake has urged people with disabilities who are facing challenges to share this with the agency through the several contact methods that are available.

According to Marriot Blake, as an agency for persons with disabilities a critical part of what is important is an united front in advocacy.

“We are not denying that there are challenges, we are not denying that there are many persons who need a better understanding of what [is] acceptable but it does require a level of engagement from persons with disabilities to also contribute to the conversation.

“So if there is a service, if there is a challenge…persons with disabilities can share that information with us so there is a united voice in the advocacy.

“We cannot ignore that the realities of persons with disabilities are diverse. What is a concern or need for someone who is blind in Kingston and St Andrew may not be the need of someone who is blind in Bamboo, St Ann… and it may not be the need for someone with another disability. It is important to remember that the diversity within disability requires that the community shares where they are having challenges, so with a united voice we can make sure that advocacy can work for them,” said Marriott Blake.

The two women were supported by the chairman of the JCPD board of directors, Colin Ebanks who told the Observer that while the primary focus is on setting up the new entity, building out the management and employing staff it continues to serve many people across the island every day.

“We want people to reach out to us and if there are areas that we can do better we want to hear from our community. The work is a lot but we are here for it and as much as we can help you please reach out to us, If there is something we can do better please let us know.,” said Ebanks.

“At the end of the day we are all here to defend the community and make it better for everyone and we want members of the disabled community to be a part of the process and if they are feeling left out get in touch with us,” added Ebanks.