With the rights of many disabled people being breached by some public and private entities which have failed to make access to their buildings a priority, one lawmaker has proposed that the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities undertake a comprehensive accessibility audit of every government facility, with clear timelines for corrective action.

Arguing that accessibility should not be an option for the disabled community, Denise Daley, Opposition spokesperson on gender, the elderly and persons with disabilities, said that by the end of this financial year every government ministry, agency and public building should have a published accessibility improvement plan.

“Accessibility remains one of the greatest barriers confronting persons with disabilities. Too many government buildings remain inaccessible to wheelchair users, including this Parliament. Too many entrances still have steps where ramps should be. Too many public facilities remain difficult, or in some cases impossible, to navigate independently,” Daley declared during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Tuesday.