A handbook was yesterday launched on how buildings can be made more accessible to the disabled.
The Ministry of Health’s Disability and Rehabilitation Services, in collaboration with the National Commission on Disability (NCD), launched the Building Accessibility Handbook 2025.
According to a release from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ariane Mangar, Director of Rehabilitation and Disability Services said the handbook is more than a guide.
She described it as a blueprint for dismantling barriers and creating spaces that empower all individuals, including persons with disabilities and seniors.
“It outlines practical solutions such as ramps, accessible pathways, inclusive sanitary facilities, and improved communication tools like tactile signs and Braille. By embracing these guidelines, Guyana moves closer to a society where accessibility is not a privilege but a fundamental right,” she highlighted.
The release said that the Building Accessibility Handbook 2025 is envisioned as both a guide and a catalyst for meaningful change. It will equip stakeholders across the public and private sectors with practical tools to prioritise inclusive infrastructure, accessible communication, and cultural transformation in Guyana.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony commended the NCD for its outstanding work in enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities. He also highlighted the challenges many face in accessing public spaces.
“Recognise persons living with disabilities, try to go into some public buildings, there’s always a challenge, especially with the older ones, because trying to climb a stair, if there isn’t a ramp, you’re going to have problems. And that by itself would deny that person whatever service that building is offering or the people in the building are offering,” the Minister said.
Anthony recalled past initiatives such as the installation of a ramp at the National Cultural Centre and expressed hope that the handbook would guide stakeholders in adopting inclusive practices.
He emphasised that with increased construction in Guyana, builders must cater to the needs of persons with disabilities.
The Minister pointed to ongoing initiatives to support persons with disabilities, including a national survey to identify the number, types, and distribution of disabilities across Guyana. He also highlighted improvements in rehabilitation services, such as distributing over 800 wheelchairs and nearly 1,000 rechargeable hearing aids free of cost this year. By next year, the Ministry intends to provide prostheses free of cost, he said.