A groundbreaking regional webinar has galvanized efforts to transform workplace cultures across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, with United Nations agencies partnering with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to accelerate inclusive employment practices. The virtual forum marked a strategic shift from compliance-based approaches to creating genuinely accessible environments where diverse talents can flourish.
Judy Sango, President of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities and freelance writer, challenged pervasive stereotypes during her address. “The false equivalence between disability and inability remains our greatest barrier,” she noted, urging employers to adopt value-based hiring rather than charitable approaches. Sango emphasized that persons with disabilities demonstrate exceptional problem-solving capabilities, resilience, and reliability when given equitable opportunities.
Patrice Quesada, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, framed employment as a transformative tool for social cohesion. “Inclusive hiring transcends box-ticking exercises—it’s about cultivating environments that genuinely value diversity as the cornerstone of community resilience,” he stated in his opening remarks.
Barbadian attorney Jeneil Odle brought personal perspective as member of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, advocating for systemic educational reforms. “We need expanded special needs schooling beyond primary level, improved assistive technology access, and comprehensive teacher training,” Odle articulated. She notably reframed inclusion as economic imperative: “This isn’t charity—it strengthens business performance, governance, and societal progress simultaneously.”
The discussion highlighted structural challenges identified by Michelle Brathwaite of the UN Human Rights Office, including legislative gaps, insufficient data collection, and underfunded support services across the region. UNESCO’s Yeonghyeon Kim emphasized accessible information design as critical for equitable recruitment processes.
ILO Geneva’s Senior Disability Specialist Stefan Tromelo directly contested harmful assumptions: “We must dismantle the myth that informal economy participation is the only option for persons with disabilities. Decent formal employment must become universally accessible.”
The forum concluded with spotlight on youth-led initiatives, including Grenadian advocate Zinzee Noel’s ‘HireAbility’ social media campaign developed with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. This grassroots movement aims to reshape employer perceptions through authentic storytelling and awareness-building.