Disability bill to go public ‘soon’, says premier

(CNS): A draft Disabilities Bill will soon be out for public consultation, the premier said in a statement released by his press office Thursday to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Calling on the country to commit to a more inclusive society, Alden McLaughlin said his government’s commitment to empowering the disabled was demonstrated in the Disability Policy, a precursor to the establishment of the legislation needed to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

“It is important to note that all of us either are or will become disabled to one degree or another during the course of our lives,” he said. “My government recognises and takes seriously the challenges faced by persons with disabilities and their families in the Cayman Islands.”

He said that attitudes based on stigma and discrimination, as well as archaic ideas about disability and persons with disabilities, are often the greatest barrier to disabled people enjoying full and equal participation in society.

“Persons with disabilities must be enabled to fulfil their role in society and participate on an equal basis with others. To this end, it is important to focus on the ability and not on the disability of an individual,” he said.

“The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society. The estimated 1 billion people living with disabilities worldwide face barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment, and education as well as social and political participation,” the premier added.

This year’s theme for the international day is “Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities”.  The day was first established in 1992 to promote awareness and mobilize support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development.