**Floyd Morris | Is Jamaica on track to achieve SDGs for persons with disabilities?**
*Published: Sunday, December 17, 2023 | 12:05 AM*
*By: Senator Floyd Morris, PhD – Director, Centre for Disability Studies, The University of the West Indies, Mona*
*Source: The Gleaner (gleanerjamaica.com)*
[Original Article Link](https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20231217/floyd-morris-jam...)
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The clock is indeed ticking for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be realised for persons with disabilities in Jamaica by 2030.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and SDGs require that countries establish an inclusive education system. Inclusive education means that persons with disabilities should be in the same education institutions as those without disabilities—save and except where the disability is so profound that it would prevent such inclusion. But research is pointing to only **23 per cent of educational institutions in Jamaica being accessible** for persons with disabilities.
The CRPD and the SDGs require that accessible, quality, and affordable healthcare be provided to persons with disabilities. Qualitative research highlights that most of these individuals use the public-health system, largely because a considerable portion of them are extremely poor. Research also shows they face problems accessing information on the healthcare system, difficulty relating with some health professionals, inaccessible healthcare facilities, and issues with sexual and reproductive health services. These must be addressed promptly if the provisions of the **Disabilities Act 2014**, the **CRPD**, and **SDGs** are to be realised.
The CRPD and SDGs require an inclusive labour market that provides quality employment for persons with disabilities in line with the **Decent Work Agenda**. Persons with disabilities are able to perform effectively at the workplace and, with modern technologies, their performance can increase exponentially. However, research data indicates **over 90 per cent unemployment** among persons with disabilities in Jamaica. The employment landscape must undergo a seismic shift to meet the requirements of the **Disabilities Act 2014**, CRPD, and SDGs.
The Disabilities Act, the CRPD, and SDGs require building inclusive and accessible cities. Accessibility is now viewed as a human right. Thus, any public facility must be accessible to persons with disabilities—a requirement known as an “**ex ante duty**” by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
A great number of public facilities are still not accessible to persons with disabilities in Jamaica. The **National Disability Authority** (NDA), **Parish Councils**, and **Municipal Corporations** must become far more vigilant and proactive in assessing building applications and granting permits. Greater monitoring and enforcement must be carried out, and where breaches occur, corrective actions must be swiftly implemented.
The CRPD and SDGs also require inclusive disaster risk reduction and emergency response systems. Sadly, we have witnessed that persons with disabilities have not been adequately integrated in disaster planning and emergency response in Jamaica. The **Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)** and the **Jamaica Fire Brigade** must engage in more targeted planning and outreach to accommodate persons with disabilities.
The CRPD and SDGs require inclusive data and research on persons with disabilities. Reliable and current data must be disaggregated by disability type, age, sex, and location. This is crucial for informed policy decisions and allocation of resources. Unfortunately, much of the data available is outdated or not inclusive enough, hampering planning and implementation efforts.
As we approach 2030, Jamaica must move with urgency to bridge the gaps in these areas. We must strengthen our commitment to the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, as enshrined in the SDGs, the CRPD, and our own Disabilities Act.