Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dr Norman Dunn has reiterated Jamaica’s commitment to creating an inclusive society for persons with disabilities.

Addressing the recent HEART/NSTA Trust’s Disabilities Awareness Conference, Dr Dunn noted the historic participation of persons with disabilities in the Overseas Employment (Farm Work) Programme.

Four Jamaican farmers with disabilities have been employed on farms in Canada since June 2024.

“The Ministry is committed to fostering inclusion through various initiatives, including those by the JCPD (Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities) and the ESP (Early Stimulation Programme). Our goal is to leave no one behind,” Dr Dunn emphasised while underscoring the Government’s obligation to create opportunities for all citizens regardless of their abilities.

The United Nations reports that approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, or estimated one billion people, comprise persons with disabilities. In Jamaica, some 200,000 persons have some form of disability.

“The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that, globally, employers oftentimes assume that persons with disabilities are unable to work. However, in Jamaica, the Government through the Ministry, is changing this narrative,” Dr Dunn informed.

HEART/NSTA Trust Senior Director for Marketing Communication and Community Engagement, Natalie Robinson, in her remarks, said the agency’s ongoing commitment to offering employment opportunities, training, certification and business incubation programmes are intended to ensure that persons with disabilities not only have access to physical spaces but are empowered with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in the workforce and beyond.

“We recognise that empowering individuals with the right skills is a pathway to economic independence, and we are determined to offer a variety of opportunities for persons with disabilities to engage with our programmes,” she stated.

Several stakeholders participated in the conference, which was held under the theme: ‘Empowering Ability: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures’.

The event at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, featured, among others, distinguished speakers representing the Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID), the Ministry, HEART/NSTA Trust, JCPD and ESP.

Each year, during Disabilities Awareness Week, HEART engages stakeholders in meaningful dialogue, focusing on the important role that individuals with disabilities play in society.

The disabilities conference provides stakeholders with an opportunity to collaborate and explore best practices to effectively meet the needs of members of the disabled community.