Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, is spearheading a national initiative to create a more inclusive society by advocating for equal educational access and improved employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Speaking at the handover ceremony for the Jamaica Society for the Blind’s (JSB) refurbished headquarters on Thursday, the minister delivered a powerful address challenging systemic barriers faced by the disabled community.
The minister criticized the prevailing lack of workplace accommodations that prevents qualified individuals with disabilities from securing employment. “If we truly want to hire the best, we have to make accommodations for persons living with disabilities. Too often those accommodations are not made,” Morris Dixon stated, addressing employers directly. She emphasized that many disabled individuals are “absolutely brilliant people” and “committed workers” whose potential remains untapped due to inadequate inclusive practices.
Morris Dixon highlighted specific legal provisions available to support employed individuals with disabilities, particularly noting Section 12 of the Income Tax Act which provides exemption on emoluments for those with permanent physical or mental disabilities who are capable of gainful employment. She reminded employers and employees alike that those registered with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities are eligible for this significant benefit.
In the education sector, the minister outlined comprehensive efforts to strengthen support systems for learners with disabilities through appropriate assessments, learning accommodations, and specialized tools. She specifically mentioned monitoring accommodations provided for Primary Exit Profile (PEP) students, including those requiring Braille materials or special assistance during examinations.
While acknowledging that Jamaica’s inclusivity systems “are not where I would want them to be,” Morris Dixon committed to daily improvements and welcomed collaboration with organizations like the Jamaica Society for the Blind to “push the envelope even more” in creating accessible classrooms. The refurbishment of the JSB headquarters, completed under the HEART/NSTA Trust’s National Development Project, represents a tangible step toward enhancing facilities used by the blind and visually impaired for personal, commercial, and social activities.