Call for legislation allowing equal opportunity to the blind
May 29, 2007
PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Council for the Blind Lola Marson says legislation governing equal opportunity employment would reduce the problem of unemployment and underemployment among the blind.
"The absence of equal opportunity legislation [is a concern]," Marson said, "and even if we get it, we have to be able to enforce it," Marson said in an interview with the Observer.
Marson cited societal attitude as another major problem for the blind and visually impaired, of which she said there are about 25,000 in Jamaica.
"People still don't see blind persons as being able to function," Marson said. She added that the government is at present the largest employer of persons with disabilities, and that work needed to be done to encourage the private sector to employ blind persons as well.
"Employment is a big thing, because if you're not employed, it offers you up to a whole host of things," she said.
In the meantime, Marson said the Caribbean Council for the Blind - an umbrella organisation which comprises agencies of and for the blind - has been working on improving access to care services to the blind and visually impaired.
The council, she said, recently established a programme in St Lucia for persons to affordably access test glasses as part of its push for cheaper and greater access to such services.
"It is our hope that we can establish something similar here (Jamaica) because the need is greater - we have a larger population," Marson added.
Author: Observer Reporter
Source: Jamaica Observer
