JAD Hosts Free Webinar on Disabilities Act Feb. 28

The Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD) will host a free webinar to engage stakeholders in a discussion around the Disabilities Act.

This will be held on Wednesday, February 28, under the theme ‘Communication Matters! Facilitating the Deaf Community’.

It is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Executive Director of Jamaican Sign Language Bible Translation (JSLBT), Tashi Widmer, who will serve as moderator for webinar, told JIS News that for countless years, the deaf community, including deaf or hard-of-hearing people and hearing allies, has been hard at work exercising and mobilising efforts and initiatives to sensitise the public on how to engage all deaf and hard-of-hearing people in all spheres of life.

The webinar will feature experienced practitioners/experts from the deaf community and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) discussing ways to be compliant with the legislation and be inclusive.

Ms. Widmer pointed out that with the fruition and launch of the Disabilities Act, it is an opportune time for the Jamaican society to not only recognise the diversity of all people with and without disabilities but also ensure the implementation of the appropriate accommodation required for successful integration of everyone.

This, she said, must include but not be limited to the deaf community in Jamaica, and should be in keeping with the country’s national motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’.

The grace period for meeting the requirements of the Disabilities Act, which was passed on February 14, 2022, ended on February 14, 2024.

“It is now imperative that we all comply with the legislation to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all persons with disabilities,” Ms. Widner said.

The webinar is open to the public and will be livestreamed on JAD’s YouTube page @JAMDEAF.

To access the webinar, persons can visit https://youtube.com/live/mkUNgA03OHE?feature=share.

For more information, they can contact the JAD on SMS/WhatsApp 876-336-5831, call 876-970-1778/9 or email admin@jamdeaf.org.jm.