By LAMECH JOHSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
MEMBERS of the disabled community who can work should retain an invalidity benefit if hired to the workforce, said a member of the National Commission on Disabilities.
Special needs teacher Vernelle Carey spoke to The Tribune about the critical issue in Marsh Harbour, Abaco during the Every Child Counts Learning Centre’s hosting of students and faculty of Ryerson University’s International Engagement Course.
The ECC school, which costs about $400,000 per year to run, was founded 16 years ago by Lyn Major to provide an alternative education for children with learning, developmental or physical disabilities regardless of financial, family or social restraints and to maximise each child’s ability to become a productive, successful, and independent citizen.
Jean Golden, professor of sociology at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada, is heading the community engagement course.
Speaking on the activities of the NCD, which was appointed after the passing of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, Ms Carey told The Tribune on Monday that what “we need to address is the national invalidity benefit.”
“Some people received it because they couldn’t work. What we try to do for our students who are in the sheltered workshop, they receive a stipend, but we now have to negotiate with the National Insurance Board,” said Ms Carey.
“Before, insurance companies would not insure a person with a disability. But now because we’re under the Act, and they’re not supposed to be discriminated against, we have to negotiate.”
“What we’re thinking of here is suggesting changing the name of the benefit so that a person with a slight disability, but can still work, receive their salary and the benefit.”
“Right now you have to give up one or the other. These are adults like those that have come through ECC and they need both. I believe the benefit used to be $88 a month that was the last time I checked but we need to address that.”
The passing of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, affected more than 10,000 disabled persons in the country.
Only one per cent of persons thought to have disabilities has registered with the Department of Social Services, however.
According to 2010 Census figures, there were 5,250 disabled males and 4,888 disabled females in the country at the time, totalling 10,138. Of that figure, only 17 per cent of those who are 15 or older were employed.
According to the new legislation, which has not been enacted, no one shall deny a person with a disability equal access to opportunities for suitable employment, among other requirements.
“In Nassau, because of the new Disability Act, Baha Mar is now reaching out to the disabled community and asking ‘Do you have persons to fill these positions?’ So a person in a wheelchair that may be hired, should they forfeit their benefit?”
“We don’t think it’s fair just to cut out one. It has to be looked at and find a system to do it fairly because the salary might be higher than the benefit, but is it sufficient?”
Mrs Major, head of ECC, spoke proudly of students who were graduated from the school and have been able to sustain employment.
“What we’ve found with our students, they’ve done well in the job market over the years and the reason they’ve done well is not because of their academic skills, but it’s because of the character skills, the employment skills, knowing how to be polite, dealing with people and how to be respectful.”
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