Minister Charles Jr. Champions Inclusion, Acceptance for Persons with Autism

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. has delivered a message of inclusion and acceptance for persons with autism.

Addressing the World Autism Awareness Day Symposium on Wednesday (April 2) at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, he said that Jamaica to move beyond awareness and towards actively including individuals with the neurodevelopmental disorder and other disabilities.

The Minister cited notable figures such as entrepreneur Elon Musk and actor Anthony Hopkins, who have excelled in their respective fields despite being on the autism spectrum.

“Many of us in Jamaica have family members who have autism, have similar situations, and we need to learn how to treat this. We need to learn, as a country, how to interact, how to go beyond just raising awareness to now moving towards inclusion, acceptance, equal opportunities, creating an environment where persons don’t just exist… [but] have an opportunity to pull out [their] full potential,” he added.

Autism is characterised by persistent challenges in social interaction and communication, along with restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests, which affects how people communicate, interact with others, and experience the world.

Autism is a spectrum, meaning it affects individuals in different ways and to varying degrees.

It is diagnosed through clinical assessment, which involves evaluating a person’s social interaction, communication skills, and behaviours.

While there is no cure for autism, early detection and intervention can improve one’s quality of life.

Minister Charles Jr. said that attaining inclusion for individuals with autism, means being advocates and fostering a culture of empowerment, where persons with the condition feel welcomed wherever they go.

“In Jamaica, we want to challenge and change stereotypes. We want to encourage employers; we want to encourage schools, churches, communities to actively embrace and support individuals with disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum,” he said.

The Minister noted that the Government is making strides through the ‘I Am Able’ campaign, launched last December, which aims to empower persons, regardless of their abilities, to achieve their full potential.

He pointed out that the campaign aims to transform societal perceptions and create a culture of understanding.

“We want, through this Ministry of Labour and Social Security, to be the teachers, the ones that create a society that is wise, that is bold, that is inclusive, but not just these buzzwords. We really need inclusivity, which means coming into the room and not sitting in the corner,” he charged.

He highlighted the vast possibilities that are available for persons with disabilities using success stories of including disabled persons in the farm work programme and having repeat requests for them from their employers.

He emphasised the need for more data so that adequate resources can be allocated where it is needed most.

He envisions establishing Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) facilities in all parishes and having all persons with disabilities in Jamaica accounted for, including their special needs and the specific assistance they require.

The move, he said, will require assistance from public and private partners locally and internationally.

“We [have to] move to that place where we’re using the data to guide how we define the policies and how we define how we use our money, because if you have more persons who need help in Clarendon and more persons who need specific help for autism in Hanover, then you can know what to do,” Minister Charles Jr. posited.