Treat disabled with respect, they are humans too

THE EDITOR, Madam:

There should be more that can be done to help persons with disability in Jamaica. They are treated with disrespect and exploitation a lot of times by even those who are there to enforce the laws that govern the land and by other people.

Recently, in New Kingston and I saw a disabled motorist who stopped to get directions in front the Ministry of Industry. There were some policemen on the other street, who stopped this gentleman and while he was explaining that he had stopped to take taking directions, the police did not want to hear his explanations and told him that he was obstructing traffic.

Even the disabled sticker on his vehicle wasn’t enough to prove that he is not able to moving around without a challenge. This, I believe, is one of the many people with disabilities who are victimised, mocked, and abused by citizens who do not regard them as human beings. Dr Floyd Morris needs to look into, highlight and ask lawmakers to find solutions. I hope he’s listening.

The situation extends to the parking lots, where people decide to park in places designated for disabled; there is no one to help the people with disabilities who need to park. I wish that somebody in the Government can help the disable to have a better life each day. I am begging to the authorities to help make Jamaica a safe, inclusive place for the people with disabilities. In life there can be changes at any minute and anybody can wake up one day and find themselves in the shoes of disabled person, who they now look down on.

People with disabilities are humans too, each and everyone must has the right to life and needs to be treated with respect. Please give the disabled persons a chance in life, help them through their challenges, instead of treating them with stigmas, cold shoulders and disrespect which is no way acceptable to life.

Let us love these people so treat them the way they should be treated in the sight of God who made all of us.

HUGH GOODE

hughgoode01@gmail.com