Opposition advocates for enhanced ATM accessibility for people with disabilities
Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today
Opposition Spokesperson on gender affairs and inclusion, Denise Daley, is calling for greater empowerment for persons living with disabilities when engaging with the banking system, especially automated teller machines (ATM).
Daley, in her contribution to the 2024-25 Sectoral Debate on Tuesday (June 25), argued many existing barriers prevent people with disabilities from using ATMs comfortably.
“Madam Speaker, would you believe that some ATMs are located in areas that are physically inaccessible to wheelchair users? The time has come for deliberate actions to be taken to coordinate and manage programmes to ensure the implementation of special features for persons with disabilities,” Daley said.
She is calling for proper height adjustments for wheelchair users, large-print and high-contrast keypads, and machines outfitted to repeat audio instructions or messages.
The shadow minister further noted that accessibility is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of human rights and inclusivity.
Daley said removing these barriers will ensure that people with disabilities can manage their finances on their own instead of becoming dependent on others.
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