The Tribune

OFFICIALS have made a plea to the disabled community to participate in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development’s ongoing voluntary registration of persons with disabilities.

The registration drive was launched in early 2020, and is a collaborative effort between the ministry, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and its Secretariat; the Disability Affairs Division, Department of Social Services; and the Urban Renewal Commission, all of which fall under the ministry’s remit.

Persons with disabilities, their caregivers and/ or other personal support network desiring to register can do so through Whatsapp at 376-8328; email, Disabilitiescommission@ bahamas.gov.bs, or via the commission’s website – disabilitiescommission.org.

Team members from the 24 Urban Renewal Centres throughout the country also possess the capability to register persons as part of their regular interactions with the various communities they serve, either virtually or by curbside accessibility.

During a recent virtual town hall meeting hosted by the commission, chief welfare officer, Andrea Newbold, told the grouping that active participation in the registration process is of particular importance to all persons with disabilities, but especially those persons who live independently – or alone.

“It is very important for you to register your disability with the Disabilities Commission and Social Services in the event you have to be evacuated from your home because if the first responders do not know who you are, what your disability is, and where you are, then they cannot deliver the kind of service to you in the manner they would like to, and so persons, please, those of you who haven’t already done so, please register with the commission,” she said.

“We need your location, we need your information so that we can add you to our vulnerable persons list so that in the event a storm or hurricane is threatening, or an emergency is taking place, we know whom we need to contact and get information to immediately to get you out of harm’s way.”

Mrs Newbold said disaster preparedness is essential for people with disabilities.

“We can experience various disasters and/or emergency events whether due to fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, storm surges, and everyone needs to be prepared for these events and so you, our persons with disabilities, your caregivers, the persons who advocate on your behalf, have to be prepared; you have to know your risks within the communities within which you live, particularly those persons with disabilities living in coastal areas and/or low-lying areas that are susceptible to flooding.”

Mrs Newbold also encouraged her audience to complete a personal care assessment as part of their disaster preparedness plan.

“This plan should list the tasks you will be able to do for yourselves and what assistance you would need during all stages of a disaster/emergency – before, during and after – in order to be ready for any contingency. The personal care assessment should also take into consideration any specific functional and medical support needs to ensure comfort and safety.”

She advised the grouping – particularly those living independently - to form personal support networks/self-help teams “with people you can trust.”