Disabled must work together

THE EDITOR: As a non-disabled person who has been intimately involved in the field of disability for the last 17 years, I look on with horror at the recent situation, which has developed between the DPI and other organisations for persons with disabilities. Why is it that this situation has now arisen? What do people with disability have to say on their behalf? I have not heard from other people who I know this situation will be affecting negatively. I can assure you that no one will benefit if this situation continues.

No one can discount the positive effects of Mr George Daniel’s organisation’s protest outside the National Flour Mills. It has definitely served to increase the awareness of many citizens of this country as well as key stakeholders for example, the Government and the business community. We know that the response is still not at the level we would like but the fight must continue. I however wish to advise Mr Daniel that some of his pronouncements in the recent past (Newsday dated April 12 2005) are incorrect and may serve to mislead the general public. This will only serve in the long run to hurt all people with disabilities.

DPI does not have any authority to declare itself the umbrella body for all NGOs, which serve the interest of persons with disabilities. The process must involve consultation and consensus. Where is the documentation which gives the sole rights to DPI to be the official umbrella organisation for other organisations assisting the differently abled? By what process was this achieved? Articles in the newspapers have sought to discredit the work of organisations named and unnamed but I have worked intimately with several of these organisations and I am aware that most if not all have achieved more than the DPI in their quest to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.

Mr Daniel, like many others, knows that the inability of these organisations including the DPI to fully meet the needs of persons with disabilities are numerous and include financial constraints (since many received little or no funding from the Government for a very long time,) human resource constraints (since many lack the capacity to attract qualified personnel or volunteers), and lack of support from the public in general. There are many non-disabled persons who have gone beyond the call of duty as members, friends and professionals to assist organisations such as Mr Daniel’s.

It is a fact, regrettably so, that there are persons with disabilities who are willing to manage organisations but who do not have the knowledge and skills to do so and hence there is a need for assistance from non-disabled persons who are willing to share their knowledge, skills and expertise. Don‘t be ungrateful. What is the relationship between Mr Daniel’s organisation and organisations which are managed by persons with disabilities? How many of these organisations exist in this country? Mr Daniel, I implore you to think carefully before you act. Do not let the work and sacrifice which were made in front of Flour Mills be in vain!

The progress which should be made would be delayed. There are many children who will never have the opportunity to go to school because of their disabilities, the powers that be will be making national policies on behalf of the community without a full understanding of the issues at hand, employers will still be firing employees who become disabled on the job, and the status of persons with disabilities will remain the same. All organisations working for the interest of persons with disabilities must work together to fight the battle for the end of discrimination and the full inclusion and integration of all persons with disabilities within the society.

DENISE THOMAS
San Fernando