CIVICUS speaks with Andrew Sharpe, president of the Authentic Caribbean Foundation (ACF) and the newly formed Caribbean Disability Network, about civil society work for disability rights in the Caribbean.

Around a billion people – 15 per cent of the world’s population – live with disabilities, making them the world’s largest minority. The ACF, established in 2012, works to improve the lives of people with disabilities across the Caribbean. In October 2024, it organised the first Caribbean Disability Conference in Grenada, bringing together regional leaders, policymakers and advocates. The event led to the formation of the Caribbean Disability Network, fostering cross-country collaboration and contributing to significant policy changes, including Belize’s comprehensive Disability Act, passed in December 2024.

What are the main challenges for people with disabilities in the Caribbean?

People with disabilities in the Caribbean face significant barriers and discrimination. Many are confined to their homes due to a lack of opportunities and inadequate infrastructure.

The transition from school to the workforce is particularly challenging, as there are few employment opportunities. Access to education is also a major concern, as Caribbean infrastructure isn’t designed with accessibility in mind. For example, many schools lack ramps, making it difficult for students in wheelchairs to access classrooms.

There’s also a lack of education about interacting with people with disabilities, who are often ridiculed or viewed as inferior by the community. Even teachers aren’t always trained to meet their needs.

What changes are needed to improve support and opportunities for people with disabilities?

The first step is legislation. Without it, progress is impossible. While there has been much discussion and some policies are in place, there’s much need for laws mandating accessibility and establishing protections against discrimination and support mechanisms for people to access when they’re denied the accessibility accommodations they need.

Awareness and training are also essential. While some Caribbean islands are making progress in this area, more work is needed. It’s crucial that teachers and society as a whole receive proper training about disabilities. Countries with disability acts often don’t fully enforce them, or people aren’t aware of their rights under these laws. The public must understand that anyone can develop a disability at any time, and that we need to accept people with disabilities and include them in our communities, workplaces and lives.

How does the ACF support people with disabilities?

The ACF is a registered civil society organisation (CSO) based in Massachusetts, USA, and focused on supporting children with disabilities in the Caribbean region, particularly those with learning disabilities. We also promote arts and provide paediatric equipment.

We work closely with governments, particularly ministries of education, to train teachers in inclusive education and foster classrooms that accommodate children with ADHD, autism and dyslexia, with a focus on improving literacy rates. To date, we’ve trained over 700 teachers across the region. We also support children by providing educational toys and backpacks.

We upgrade libraries and IT centres, and last year, in partnership with regional governments, we launched a groundbreaking computer coding programme for children with disabilities. We collaborate with local CSOs to empower them and strengthen their efforts. As part of this work, we organised the first Caribbean Disability Conference.

What led to the Caribbean Disability Conference and what did it achieve?

At some point I realised that each Caribbean island was working in isolation, and I envisioned bringing together advocates and CSOs from across the region, including Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking islands. We chose Grenada to host the first Caribbean Disability Conference to showcase its exemplary efforts in improving the lives of people with disabilities.

We invited representatives from 12 Caribbean countries and focused on topics such as barriers against inclusion, education, disaster preparedness, legislation, mental health and human rights. It was a success: we had close to 300 in-person participants and additional online attendees. For the first time, people with disabilities had a platform to voice their concerns and be heard. We also collaborated with the Caribbean Development Bank, which was conducting a disability assessment and needed stakeholder input.

A key outcome was the establishment of the Caribbean Disability Network, a 55-member regional network focused on implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

What are the network’s main projects?

We have two major projects planned for 2025. The first focuses on data and research, addressing the significant lack of information about people with disabilities in the region. We aim to gather comprehensive data about living conditions, education and advocacy needs.

The second project addresses disaster preparedness. In many Caribbean countries, people with disabilities are excluded from disaster planning, lacking access to sign language interpreters or information about evacuation procedures. We’re developing a training programme to ensure that people with disabilities are prepared and trained community leaders can assist them during disasters. We will pilot this project in two Caribbean islands before hurricane season, and if successful, we’ll expand it throughout the region.

What’s your vision for the network’s future?

We plan to host another conference this year to evaluate progress, share updates from our projects and continue addressing the recommendations outlined at the initial conference.

We aim to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals relating to disability inclusion are met by 2030. By then, 80 per cent of all Caribbean countries should have a disability act. We’re already seeing progress, with over 60 per cent of the region working toward this goal.

Belize’s Disability Act represents a significant victory for civil society and serves as an example for others to strengthen their disability rights frameworks. Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, for instance, are now working on implementing their own acts.

But it’s not just about passing legislation – it’s also about its implementation. Our network wants to ensure full accessibility. This requires close collaboration with governments and communities to raise awareness about different types of disabilities, including mental and physical disabilities, and hidden disabilities, and their specific needs.

We’re committed to sharing best practices and collaborating to improve the lives of people with disabilities throughout the Caribbean.