The dilemma of the disabled: Out of sight, out of mind

How many buildings in Jamaica are wheel chair accessible? How many intersections allow for the passage of blind pedestrians? Are the sidewalks kept in good condition to facilitate wheel chairs, blind and other disabled persons?

For sure our answers to the above were far from satisfactory. When I think of the United States where persons confined to wheelchairs can press a button and have doors open for them and Canada where the bus lowers to facilitate wheelchair passengers and where the crosswalk signals beep to alert blind persons when they can and cannot cross, I look at how backward we are here and how imprisoned our disabled population must feel. As if they are chained to their homes and caregivers, whom they can't go anywhere without lest they fall into a ditch, meet their demise after being hit by a vehicle in the street or are harassed by passing pedestrians.. 

It has been said that the disabled are treated with disdain in this country, what say you? Mind you, the provisions being made for disabled persons now is a far cry from what use to be and for that improvement we must be at least appreciative (perhaps members of the disabled community wouldn't see anything to appreciate / celebrate).

A few years ago a beautiful baby boy was born to a loving mother and an actual "I want to take care of my child" father (a rarity these days)... that was until the father realized the baby boy was born without hands and feet. The mother did not hear from the man again after he saw the baby and he declared that "mi nuh wah nuh pickney look suh" . Perhaps too many of us think this way. 

Don't you think these persons would rather  be "normal" (what is normal anyway?)? They did not make themselves, they were born this way or met with an accident. The most important thing is not how difficult their life is, it is not how hard it is to fit into society, it is not about the struggles with getting around on their own...it is that they still have life and while this precious gift is present the best should be made of it.

They're not asking for your pity; very few disabled persons want you to feel sorry for them..but what they are asking you to do is to treat them like any other citizen. So shop owners don't refuse their money - install ramps and ensure the entrance to your store/building is properly constructed and will not cause a struggle for blind and "otherwise-abled"  persons to enter. Service providers - train your staff to be courteous even to the man in the wheel chair. Bus/taxi drivers and conductors (have not been seeing the buses that allow wheelchair access recently) -  don't take advantage of the disabled. Members of the society  -  treat them right!

In my discussion with a group of blind persons (male and female) at the Centre for Disability Studies in the Office of Special Student Services at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, it was revealed that although it may take a little longer for them to do what "normal" people do in a jiffy, they do not want any sort of special treatment, but they just do not want to be ignored. They don't want to be smothered and to be  made to feel helpless and hopeless but want to maintain their level of independence, while feeling accepted in social settings...Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.

The news use to have a sign language interpreter, they no longer have that. It was not until recently that they had the interpreter at the political party meetings (leading up to the election). By no means am I saying that every programme needs to have a sign language component...All I am saying is that the major news package should be translated in sign language. Even hurricane messages and warnings are not disseminated to those groups (through mainstream media at least). 

There's much discussion about equal rights for all sorts of groups: gays, different religious sects, Haitians who continue to seek refuge in Jamaica, among others, but we turn a blind eye (see what I did there) to our disabled (or otherwise-abled) brothers and sisters. 

The government has stated that beeping traffic signals have been installed in Half Way Tree to assist blind persons in crossing the road... I haven't seen it yet but its a small step in the right direction. 

Don't look down on the disabled; they are trying twice as hard as everyone else and must be respected for their will to carry-on despite their obvious challenges. Everyday they show us the sky is the limit.

I am moved to tears at this point, as I remember the Optimist Club of UWI Mona visit to the Children's ward of the University Hospital of the West Indies. When I entered the brightly decorated area and saw children, ages 6 and under, wrapped in beds, hooked up to monitors, writhing in pain... It was almost too much for me to bear. However I sucked it up and went in to carry on our mission of reading to the kids. I remember Kymani ...

I received permission from his mother (left) to take and share a photo

Who was 4 years old at the time and had suffered a stroke. He was still unable to use his right hand at the time of the visit, but didn't allow that to stop him as he effectively chat mi out about all the things he liked to do and ended up reading the book to me instead (by looking at the pictures and making up his own story), while his mother silently urged him to try using his limp hand.  I am still unable to fathom how a 4 year old gets a stroke, which paralyzes half of his body... But he was so full of life it made me wonder how many times I make up excuses to do things because i'm a lazy bastard...

Another little girl, whose name I cannot remember right now (age is a hell of a thing lol) who was 6 years old and very bright, was able to tell us her full name, how it is spelt and she read the first few pages of the book we carried to her bedside. After reading with her I asked her if she wanted the book and she said yes. With my "non-perceptive" self I then asked her "den how come u nah tek it, u nuh want the book man"... then she responded in the sweetest "non-judgmental" voice ever "I cya move my hand miss"... SHhe was actually unable to move any part of her body, except for her mouth of course. So then and there you know who feel like dem wah bawl and disappear same time?...

Just remembering the happiness, genuine happiness that touched me when I visited with the children on the ward (especially the two mentioned above) makes me wonder what would cause someone to turn their back on a disabled child, sibling, parent, friend...

In my interaction with blind persons on campus (especially the famous Robert aka Dr. Love who would never miss Integration Thursdays or any other campus party) the only assistance they wanted (and they wouldn't tell you themselves...the Centre would broadcast it) is with their assignments, just so they could complete 10-15 page essays quickly rather than using the time-consuming Microsoft Sam software.

Lets's help make Jamaica a disabled friendly society ... Be the change you wish to see