From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Key Provision of Disabilities Act to Come Into Effect at End of June
By Matt Maura, BIS
Jun 16, 2016 - 7:23:29 PM
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Proprietors of all buildings which members of the general public are permitted to enter, have until the end of June (2016) to ensure that their properties have adequate and accessible parking spaces for persons with disabilities.
These include banks, supermarkets, churches, schools, sporting complexes, government facilities and medical centres.
The facilities also have until December 2017 to ensure that their buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities as a result of the provisions included in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act pertaining to accessibility to public buildings and parking which came into force on January 1, 2016. [The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act was passed in both Houses of Parliament in 2014].
Provisions have been included in the 2016/2017 Budget for the recruitment and employment of inspectors who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act.
Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin said failure to comply with the provisions of the Act will result in “enforcement action.”
Provisions for the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (charged with the responsibility for ensuring that provisions of the Act are followed) to increase public awareness efforts to help ensure that proprietors are compliant with the Act so that persons with disabilities “truly enjoy an accessible, barrier-free environment” have been included in the 2016/2017 Budget.
“We cannot leave the compliance with the various parts of the Act to chance,” Mrs. Griffin said. “We have therefore also included in this budget, provisions to recruit and employ inspectors who will be required to investigate, and if necessary, recommend prosecution for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act.”
Mrs. Griffin said since its inception, the National Commission – including officers of the Secretariat – has been busy working on a number of programmes and matters concerning “the growing number of persons seeking assistance as they become more aware of its existence.”
“Despite this, there is a need to continue educating Bahamians as to the role and work of the Commission and the need for compliance with the Act. It is only through compliance that persons with disabilities will be able to enjoy an accessible, barrier-free environment,” Mrs. Griffin added.
Minister Griffin applauded the Commission for “already making improvements” in the lives of persons with disabilities through its introduction of the Communication Access Real Time Technology (CART) that converts the spoken word to text. The system was purchased by the Commission for its hearing impaired members.
“It has also proven to be capable of bringing the benefits of the hearing world to persons who are deaf or who have hearing impairments at various events such as town meetings,” Mrs. Griffin added.
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