Dear Editor,
Just recently, the news read that “First Lady (is) to establish a business centre for Persons with Disabilities.” When I internalise this, and as I keep doing so, I felt compelled to ‘tip my hat’ to the First Lady, Ms. Arya Ali. She is emerging as quite a ‘fighter for the once ignored and neglected.’ The details show that her dream is self-driven, as it was through a fundraiser, she was able to raise just over $13 million to commence the establishment of a business centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWD). I doubt if this kind of thing was ever thought about by anyone, in such an open and active way.
First, I hope that the nation overall knows that “Disability and Employment” is a contention at the level of the United Nations. In fact, UN data show that persons with disabilities face the same predicament everywhere. It is well documented by the organisation that “Persons with disabilities are frequently not considered potential members of the workforce. Perception, fear, myth and prejudice continue to limit understanding and acceptance of disability in workplaces everywhere. Myths abound, including that persons with disabilities are unable to work and that accommodating a person with a disability in the workplace is expensive.” So, it is this kind of negative bulwark that the First Lady is pitting herself against.
However, the same UN has also found that “Contrary to these notions, many companies have found that persons with disabilities are more than capable … (having documented) examples of the employing persons with disabilities, and the benefits to companies that have.” In this regard, my hope is that ‘false perceptions’ will become a thing of the past, and that employers will ‘open up’ their eyes to ‘fair and equitable’ treatment of potential employees. And if and when the ‘disabled’ or ‘challenged’ is qualified, then take that person, and make the necessary accommodations at the office.
In fact, this proposed business centre, being the brainchild of Mrs. Ali, is in line with the UN’s thinking and the normal practice of many large corporations. The First Lady must be supported therefore, as she “… believes that these individuals must be provided with the resources, opportunities, knowledge and skill needed to increase their capacity to determine their own future and fully participate in community life.” A second factor to ponder upon inheres in what the UN has been philosophising over for a long time now. The word from the UN is that organisations need to hire ‘Persons with Disabilities’ as the majority of them want a dignified and productive life. After all, employment provides not only income, but also opportunities for social participation.
I add that research is abundant where the conclusion is that companies have found that by employing ‘persons with disabilities,’ they have been better able to understand and serve their customers with disabilities. This is really a big bonus. No one will ever challenge the fact that adapting services to meet the diverse needs of persons with disabilities allows business to develop greater flexibility, builds reputation and reaches out to a sizeable market. In the words of Ms. Ali, “The ability of persons with disabilities to earn a living for themselves, rather than to depend on others for a living, is a cornerstone for their economic empowerment. Experience suggests that the majority of persons with disabilities are unemployed and often denied employment opportunities even when they have met necessary requirements. Consequently, they have no stable income and have to depend on family members, well-wishers and charity groups for handouts to sustain their livelihood.”
To this I say, ‘simple and profound.’ I hope then this all-important initiative will take off. In Guyana, there is a visible ‘disabled’ group. They are fellow human beings and Guyanese, and their rights are not fewer than nor of less importance that any other person. So, let’s rally around the First Lady.
Sincerely,
H. Singh.
