Letter of the Day | Give some hope to persons with disabilities

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Registering with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) is intended to open doors to support persons disabilities. I decided to initiate the process for my son Brian. The JCPD website indicates ‘applicant must come in for an interview’. Brian is non-verbal and does not process the spoken word – the solution was, ‘if the applicant cannot be interviewed, they can sign the application’.

When I called JCPD, I was told to submit the application, as there is no form which applies in Brian's case, and I was to submit a new form. Further, I was told, he would have to be assessed by a psychologist. I thought it would be best to ask what benefits are there for being registered. The response was that they give assistive devices ‘if they have any donated’; there is a medical grant of up to $250,000, but they said currently there are no funds available.

I am wondering why does the JCPD not use the Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) Six Questions, which is used across CARICOM countries, to identify if a household has a person with a disability during a national population and housing census. The questions that are posed in the WGSS are: Do you have difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses? Do you have difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid? Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating? Do you have difficulty in self-care such as washing or dressing? For each of these six the options range from ‘No difficulty’, to ‘Cannot do at all’. This removes all the requirements for specialists to assess a person, this tool is accepted and used globally.

This would remove a cost to seek the services of a psychologist, which is a barrier for registering a person with neurodiversity. The cost of getting this done at a private facility can range from J$25,000 – J$115,000. Fifteen years ago parents could get a grant for the assessment. When I called JCPD to enquire about it, I was told that this no longer exists, and I was further told: “... Ms. Webber, but actually all our grants are on hold.”

The Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, in his budget presentation proposed a minimum of J$1.2 billion to a National Disability Fund, which is better than the J$200 million currently allocated to the JCDP. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, a step towards access and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

MAUREEN WEBBER

Parent advocate for persons

with disabilities