THE EDITOR, Sir:

Thanks to The Gleaner for publishing Falasha Fitz-Henley's guest column 'Treat the disabled with dignity' on Wednesday, November 9, 2012. If we keep at it, perhaps we will indeed be heard.

I have often said that providing four buses on three routes means that the system is seeking to dictate where exactly a person with disability is allowed to live, go to school, and/or pursue other activities. How else can we explain that we have only four buses and only on select routes?

Even for those who have access to a learning opportunity, the system throws up several handicaps: transportation, ease of movement, the requirement that in far too many instances a parent or caregiver of the individual must be critical to support the movement of a young person with a disability getting to school.

Then there is this wonderful land of ours. We are 50 years independent and still we laugh and point at persons with disabilities. I have done the best I can to ignore the stares and the pointing when I go out with Brian, my 20-year-old son with profound intellectual disabilities.

Let us keep speaking out. We can and must be heard. We are heading into another International Disability Awareness Day. What I want is not a day, not a month, not a year, but I want a lifetime of awareness of the challenges and, therefore, the opportunities which must be provided for Brian and other persons with disabilities.

MAUREEN WEBBER

maureen.webber@ developmentoptionsja.com