The “See Ability, Not Disability” initiative places greater emphasis on the abilities, achievements and potential of persons with disabilities rather than defining individuals by the challenges they face.
The campaign comes amid continuing efforts to improve inclusion and ensure persons with disabilities can participate more fully in education, employment and community life.
Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities Jeremiah Norbert has positioned the initiative as part of a broader effort to challenge stigma and encourage Saint Lucians to reconsider how disability is viewed. The campaign's success, however, will ultimately be measured by more than public awareness.
For persons living with disabilities, inclusion also involves practical questions about access to schools and workplaces, employment opportunities, transportation, public buildings, healthcare and participation in economic life. Government has increasingly sought to place vulnerable and traditionally underserved groups within its wider people-centred development agenda.
The new campaign provides an opportunity to extend that approach by shifting the discussion from sympathy toward independence, opportunity and participation.
Employers also have an important role. Many persons with disabilities possess skills that can contribute meaningfully to workplaces but may encounter barriers created by physical infrastructure, misconceptions or limited accommodation. Changing those conditions can expand the pool of available talent while allowing more Saint Lucians to achieve greater economic independence.
The message behind the initiative is therefore straightforward: disability should not automatically determine a person's opportunity to learn, work, contribute or succeed.
The campaign now creates a platform for a larger national discussion about what practical changes are required to turn inclusion from an aspiration into everyday reality.
The campaign was launched September 7 and is being reported as a national inclusion and public-education initiative.