Re-registration process for persons with disabilities cumbersome
Published:Sunday | May 17, 2020 | 8:45 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
THE JAMAICA Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) – an agency of the Ministry of Labour & Social Security (MLSS) – is responsible for the registration of all persons with disabilities (PWDs) islandwide. These individuals must live with a permanent condition, which may not be visible at times. For example, persons who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, intellectually challenged, may need hearing aids, white canes or special training. Also, persons may have lost a limb, walk with crutches or use a wheelchair.
The MLSS relies on the JCPD to garner information/data as they relate to issues concerning individuals or groups of PWDs, especially if there is the need for assistance (medical/financial) or training.
The JCPD has been assisting PWDs from its inception over these 40 years – training, payment of school fees, medical/assistive aids, rehabilitation grants, among others. The need is far greater than the resources available. These persons are very grateful for the assistance received.
TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS
The JCPD has embarked on a re-registration drive, and as such, all previous records of clients are abandoned as a new system of registration was implemented. Clients previously registered and in need of assistance are told “that they must be registered in order to access any benefit”.
The process of re-registration is costly, time-consuming and very challenging for PWDs, who are either unemployed or underemployed, and who may be unable to pay for a medical in order to complete the process. This has impacted the current number of persons registered to date, which was revealed as 35,000, as stated on TVJ's 'Virtual Town Hall Meeting' on Thursday, April 30. This figure is ridiculously way below the number of PWDs islandwide and is misleading to persons who may have an interest in the council and its mandate. It is imperative that correct figures, or percentage thereof, be provided for the disability sector and the public in general.
Other departments of government have acquired new software to make the processes of application and queries a smooth one. As such, old information is migrated to new systems in order to ensure optimum service delivery to clients – also for accountability and transparency.
LESMA COOTE
Eltham Park
Spanish Town