Concern raised about persons with disabilities displaced by hurricane

 

Persons with disabilities are among the thousands of Jamaicans who remain displaced over one month after the passage of Hurricane Melissa. 

 

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) says it is still trying to find some of its members in western parishes, which are hardest hit by the hurricane. 

 

More than 15,000 people with disabilities are registered with a council across St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny, St. James and Hanover. 

 

JCPD Executive Director Dr. Christine Hendricks says persons with disabilities in shelters are struggling to cope. 

 

"I know that the Minister would have tried to facilitate persons with wheelchairs in certain shelters. However, it is not just about the ramp. It is also the fact that deaf people have to use the shelters as well. So when they go there and there's the shelter manager that may be speaking, using a bullhorn to guide people to ensure that everybody is hearing, but there's no sign language interpretation or there's no one taking the time to maybe write to that person, to find out what their needs are or to guide them to the next place, we have to consider that," she pointed out. 

 

Dr. Hendricks said she has received reports that a number of deaf persons are living on the streets after they were turned away from shelters. 

 

"What I understand that happened is that a number of deaf persons came into Kingston because they felt that in Kingston they would have the opportunity for better access. Now, when they went home and their homes were destroyed and they tried to get into the shelter, they were no longer taking them because 'Who are you? Where are you from? You can't convince me that you are from this parish', and so they have nowhere to be, they have nowhere to stay," she lamented. 

 

Dr. Hendricks said UNESCO is providing the JCPD with support to create a model for disability-inclusive disaster risk management and recovery. 

 

She was a guest on TVJ's Smile Jamaica on Wednesday as the world observes International Day of Persons with Disabilities.