Persons with disabilities urged to be cautious

Professor Senator Floyd Morris is urging Jamaicans with disabilities to exercise caution in the activities they engage in, even as he strongly condemns any attempt to exploit their vulnerabilities for entertainment.

His warning comes following the reported death of Trelawny man Kerron Powell, who lived with disabilities, during a bun-eating contest. Morris, who is the director of the Centre for Disability Studies at The University of the West Indies, said inclusion must remain a cornerstone of Jamaican society but should never come at the cost of safety or dignity.

"One of the things I would like to say, although I am not aware of the fulcrum of the situation surrounding the bun-eating contest, is that persons with disabilities are individuals who want to participate and should be allowed to participate and be included in society," Morris told THE STAR. However, Morris, who is blind, stressed that context matters.

"If it was an act of desperation and they were using him for entertainment purposes only, then the argument would be different," he said, opining that exploitation "in any form is not to be condoned nor encouraged". It was reported that Powell died after a medical emergency while participating in the contest in Manchester.

Morris pointed out that persons with disabilities often face additional health and social risks that require greater vigilance.

"We have to be very careful as to the things that we engage in and do," he said, while cautioning against blaming Powell. "We promote inclusion and that is what he was doing."

Data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica indicate that roughly four or five per cent of the population lives with some form of disability, though advocacy groups argue the figure may be higher because of underreporting.Yet, despite representing thousands of Jamaicans, Morris said the group continues to face staggering levels of unemployment.

"Even though we are boasting a low unemployment rate at about three per cent, research data show up to 90 per cent of persons with disabilities indicating that they are unemployed," he revealed. "When you have situations like that, it leaves the population vulnerable, and people will try to exploit them in order to gain a living."

Morris argued that Jamaica must move decisively away from outdated perceptions of disability, pointing to a shift from the "charity model" where individuals were seen as dependent, to one centred on empowerment. He highlighted advances in assistive technology and education, which have enabled many persons with disabilities to perform at high levels academically and professionally.

"We see more and more persons with disabilities aspiring for self-empowerment, opting for education and skills training. Once you give them the technological support and financial means, they will make meaningful contributions to society."

Despite this progress, Morris lamented the disconnect between education and employment.

"I have had a number of students who have passed through The University of the West Indies who graduated with honours and end up not getting a job."

Jamaica's National Policy for Persons with Disabilities recommends that at least five per cent of public sector jobs be reserved for persons within the community. However, Morris said the target remains far from being met.

"There are about 120,000 individuals in the public sector. Five per cent would be 6,000. I will tell you, you don't have 3,000 persons with disabilities working in the public sector," he said.

He argued that the State has a duty of care to protect vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, children, and senior citizens, and said Jamaica can learn from international best practices.