Gullotta: Urgent actions needed to help the disabled community

A local human-rights organisation is bemoaning the “frustratingly slow progress” being made by the Government to improve the lives of persons living with disabilities.

Carla Gullotta, executive director of Stand Up Jamaica, said that despite the passage of the Disabilities Act of 2014, aimed at establishing equity and inclusion, “the reality for many disabled Jamaicans remains bleak”.

“The lack of progress is heartbreaking, particularly given Jamaica’s commitment as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” Gullotta said.

“The Convention emphasises inclusivity, accessibility, and respect, yet without enforcement and public accountability, these principles remain aspirational rather than actionable.”

Additionally, she noted that since the 2018 publication of the ‘ Situational Analysis of Persons with Disabilities in Jamaica’, progress on disability rights in Jamaica has been frustratingly slow.

Gullotta stressed that key areas, which include educational access for children with disabilities and technological and banking access for the visually impaired, are particularly neglected.

“Education is foundational to opportunity, yet children with disabilities in Jamaica face significant barriers to obtaining even the most basic education,” she said.

Turning to the situational analysis, she said it revealed that primary educational institutions often lack specialised resources and trained staff to accommodate diverse needs.

Further, she highlighted that many children with physical disabilities remain excluded from mainstream classrooms due to the absence of accessible facilities.

This lack of access, the human right advocate said, perpetuates cycles of poverty as educational exclusion limits career prospects.

Gullotta said that even though certain ministries, such as the education ministry, have implemented support systems such as special-education units and parent-support programmes, those efforts are sparse and inadequately resourced.

UNDERMINING AUTONOMY, PRIVACY

In the same vein, she said that those who are in the rural area are more at a disadvantage as the lack of resources and access leaves them isolated, further compounding inequalities. As a result, Gullotta said, these children are left to face academic challenges and social exclusion, leading to long-term societal disconnection and reduced economic independence.

Technological accessibility also remains an area where significant progress is needed, especially for visually impaired individuals navigating essential services like banking.

“Basic technological access, such as ATM usage or online banking services, remains almost prohibitively challenging for those with visual impairments,” Gullotta said.

She added that while modern banking increasingly relies on digital platforms, these platforms are rarely designed with the visually impaired in mind. Many online banking systems lack features like screen readers or voice-assisted options, leaving visually impaired Jamaicans dependent on others to conduct basic financial transactions, undermining their autonomy and privacy.

Gullotta noted that ATMs, though ubiquitous in urban areas, similarly lack audio assistance and braille, which are standard features in many developed countries. This absence, she said, reinforces financial exclusion, restricting the independence of individuals who could otherwise manage their finances more freely.

“The pervasive issues identified in the 2018 analysis continue to affect the lives of many disabled Jamaicans, underscoring the urgent need for legislative and policy follow-through.

“The Disabilities Act of 2014, celebrated as a milestone, remains inadequately implemented, leaving existing support systems overburdened and under-resourced,” Gullotta said.

Additionally, she said awareness of disability rights is limited, particularly outside urban centres, resulting in many disabled individuals and their families being unaware of the rights and support available to them.

Accordingly, she said there is an urgent need for a more equitable approach to educational access, technological accessibility, and financial independence for disabled Jamaicans. Such changes would reflect Jamaica’s professed values of equity and justice, making a real impact on the lives of individuals who are still too often left behind.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com