Workshop Pushes for Legal Framework to Enforce Accessibility Measures

VICTORIA, Seychelles, An impactful one-day workshop with the primary aim of educating various authorities on the importance of enhancing accessibility for wheel-chair bound individuals and the elderly took place at the Les Mamelles community centre yesterday morning. The gathering served as a platform for authorities to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those individuals, collaborate to come up with solutions that promote equal access to all, and push for a policy that all buildings in the country should have ramps to facilitate access to all. The workshop brought together senior officials from several ministries alongside representatives of civil-society organisations working in the disability sector.

It is a continuation of the national campaign dubbed Ramp up Rise up Accessibility launched last year to highlight the lack of accessibility for individuals with mobility issues and highlight the responsibilities of key partners to make improvement in this area. It was initiated by Christine Winslow, whose son uses a wheelchair, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family. The campaign has since grown to involve other ministries and civil-society groups.

Present for yesterday workshop were representatives of the planning authority, the Ministry of Land and Housing, and the Ramp Up Rise Up association. A group of around ten individuals with disabilities had the opportunity to voice their concerns, share their daily challenges as well as offer suggestions on how different entities could provide assistance. Their input was invaluable, shedding light on the practical steps that could be taken to improve accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities.

Marco Gerry, director for the Elderly and Disable Division (EDD), said the workshop was done to create more awareness among the society following their intensive wheelchair-bound challenge late last year at various workplaces. We want to speak with them as they are the ones facing this challenge, and see what we can do to improve their lives, he said. He commended the government entities who made a special effort to be present for the talk.

For her part, founder of the Ramp Up, Rise Up campaign, Mrs Winslow, highlighted the need for a legal framework to enforce accessibility measures, such as penalties for those who misuse parking for the disabled, as well as toilet facilities for disabled persons in all buildings. Next week, the national intersectoral committee set up to look at the rights of disabled persons and the elderly will meet to look at other issues including employment, welfare and financial stability among others, before drafting a paper to be presented to Cabinet for approval.