JCPD To Undertake Mobile App Pilot

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to further improve the delivery of its services.

Key among the programmed engagements is the development of a mobile app, for which a pilot commences on Friday (December 6), coinciding with the culmination of Disabilities Awareness Week 2024.

The app will facilitate persons with disabilities accessing services offered via a web-based information system, and alerts that are audible, visual and tactile.

Executive Director of the JCPD, Dr. Christine Hendricks, says UNICEF is assisting the Council to improve its management information system to make it more efficient, in terms of registering and processing grants and creating reports, among other engagements.

“We are in the first phase of this process, which includes the community being able to register online through [the] mobile app that is being created and piloted. So, persons with disabilities can test the system through the mobile app to see how well it works, to enable them to register, apply for different services from anywhere, and also to enable them to track their registration or application process to see where it’s at, rather than calling [the Council] all the time to find out what is happening,” she tells JIS News.

Dr. Hendericks advises that “persons would get a text message or e-mail notification and mobile app alerts, to be provided with information as to the status of their application”.

“So, we are really looking forward to this innovative solution… that will really help to reduce backlogs and engender efficiency of the services of the JCPD,” the Executive Director adds.

Dr. Hendricks informs that the app was designed in conjunction with multiple stakeholders.

“[It is being] piloted with our stakeholders, so we will know if there needs to be any tweaks or… what challenges persons might have as we do the pilot this week,” she says.

Another aspect of the JCPD’s partnership with UNICEF is the digitisation of the Council’s records to facilitate seamless access.

“Right now, our systems are largely paper-based. So… we are hoping to complete that digitisation process by the end of this financial year [in] March 2025. Going forward, we will continue to digitise records as they come in, so that it would improve our efficiency in locating clients’ records,” Dr. Hendricks states.

Meanwhile, the JCPD will be working with several other government agencies to improve access to services, training, employment as well as the physical environment for persons with disabilities.

“So we are doing the work to ensure that, over time, the space becomes much more accessible,” the Executive Director says.

The JCPD is also working with the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Enabling Environment in Health and Client Service Division, regarding the manner in which persons with disabilities are treated within the health system.

“[As] the wait time in the health system is very long, they end up having to wait long as well. So we are working with the Enabling Environment Division to see how best we can reduce that wait time to facilitate registration and service provisions generally,… at a faster pace or rate,” Dr. Hendricks states.

The JCPD is the agency that promotes protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in accordance with national policies, plans and programmes, within the legislative framework.

It facilitates the educational, economic and social development of persons with disabilities in Jamaica in a collaborative and participatory atmosphere, through training, public education and the provision of other relevant services.

Currently, approximately 16,000 persons with disabilities are registered with the JCPD.

Dr. Hendricks informs that the JCPD will be undertaking registration drives during the upcoming fiscal year, to boost the Council’s membership.