Seychelles Steps Up Efforts to Improve Accessibility for Elderly and Disabled
VICTORIA, Seychelles, An intersectoral committee set up to produce a comprehensive document on the wellbeing of elderly and disabled persons in the country met yesterday to share findings to date, before finalising the document ahead of its submission to Cabinet. The meeting by the department of family affairs took place at the Sacos Tower yesterday morning and was attended by various associations and organisations linked to the elderly and disabled. The session marked an important milestone in a process that began several months ago.
Director general for the Elderly and Disabled, Rosa Morin, explained that the sub-committees tackled specific issues including employment, rights, wellbeing and accessibility. We are targeting the specific issues and barriers in relation to the four sectors and then, following the findings, work on the recommendations that are presented today, she stated. However, Ms Morin conveyed the turn-out was disappointing as representatives of some of the committees were absent.
She said that despite the vision of the elderly and disabled is new, the committees are here to advocate and promote for the two disenfranchised groups. As a division, we cannot do it ourselves. This is the reason we see it valid to regroup all the partners to give us a helping hand. Hence, she explained the first draft of the document will circulate among the various entities and individuals for their input and amendments. We can then get a document that is concrete, final and has weight.
One of the presentations made yesterday was by Liza Cadeau, from the Employment Committee, who addressed the challenges that the two groups face when it comes to accessing their employment. We are talking about access to buildings which are in fact, not accessible. We have people who want to work but use wheelchairs. How can they get access to their job, she queried. Another point raised by Ms Cadeau was the elderly’s engagement in society through intergenerational activities, which is hampered as they are unable to access these locations.
Christine Winslow raised the issue of parking for the disabled, which was practically non-existent except for STC Hypermarket. In general, there is no parking for the disabled because of a lack of legal framework, she stated sternly, adding plans were under way to come up with a legal framework, that would allow disabled persons to have access to those facilities in public places at all times. This will include the introduction of a permit issued either by the Seychelles Licensing Authority or the police, with the names and form of disability, identification number and the validity period of the badge. When the vehicle is parked, it would need to have the badge displayed on the dashboard, similar to the coupon for the Stadium car park, with a R1000 fine for non-compliance.
