Japan funds project to improve lives of people with disabilities

JAMAICA has signed a grant agreement with the Japanese Government for US$2.9 million to implement the Social and Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities project.

The signing took place Tuesday during the opening session of a two-day conference on ‘Labour Market Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities’, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.




Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier (right) and Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, Yasuo Takase exchange signed copies of an agreement for a US$2.9 million grant to fund the Social and Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities project. Funding is by the Japan Policy Human Resources Development Grant and implemented through the World Bank.

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The project is being funded by the Japan Policy Human Resources Development Grant and implemented through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank).

Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier signed on behalf of the Jamaican Government, Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica Yasuo Takase signed on behalf of his government, while Francesca Lamana signed on behalf of the World Bank.

Kellier said the ministry remains committed to the recognition and promotion of the rights of people with disabilities through the provision of access to services and other opportunities, aimed at improving their quality of life, and he encouraged companies in the private sector to embrace the skillsset of members of the disabled community.

The main objectives of the project are: to increase the employability and skills development of poor people with disabilities (ages 18-36); and to improve the service delivery of special education needs to poor children with disabilities between 0-6 years of age.

Director of social security in the labour mnistry, Denzil Thorpe, said the project will establish linkages with the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

He explained that under the project, there will be provision of skills training and access to employment opportunities for people with disabilities, targeting at least 600 people, 300 of whom should be beneficiaries of PATH.

“This is being done as part of efforts to facilitate the economic independence of those with disabilities on PATH who we have been unable to reach under the Steps to Work Programme, which is the welfare to work programme being implemented by the ministry,” Thorpe said.

He added that the project will enhance the service delivery of the Early Stimulation Programme, which provides services to children with disabilities between the ages of 0-6 years, inclusive of the provision of assistive and adaptive aids, rehabilitative sessions and support to parents in caring for children with disabilities.

The director added that the ministry was implementing an electronic register of people with disabilities islandwide, which will provide relevant empirical data that will be useful for proper planning. He encouraged registration with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, the organisation established by the Government to implement policies for people with disabilities.

The ministry also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to refurbish the office of the Early Stimulation Programme, at a cost of US$1 million.

Minister Kellier said this project was an attempt to ensure that a programme of inclusion is initiated at the earliest possible opportunity. He explained that the MOU was part of a larger loan with the Inter-American Development Bank, which was signed in December 2013.

This project will see rehabilitation and construction work done to the Early Stimulation Programme Assessment Centre at Hanover Street and Stimulation Plus, the school operated at Ostend Close in Kingston.

Source : Jamaica Observer , 13th June 2013