Page 23 - HOH

Friday 4 december 2020 LOCAL
A10

“Building Back Better: Toward a Disability-Inclusive, Accessible

and Sustainable post COVID-19 Aruba”

not enough disabled people for us 3. Programming, and 4. Organiza-
to act and do something, but the tional Culture. This strategy seeks
message that send out is: “there is to stimulate the decision-making
not enough disabled people in our organs in communities around the
community, so it is not necessary”. world to pass laws that protect dis-
abled people at the workforce or
The United Nations Disability Inclu- from being hired; that ensure qual-
sion Strategy (UNDIS) ity education for all children, dis-
Continued from Page 9 the person comes first. The latest policy strategy to combat abled or not; or that stimulates the
social injustice of those who are dis- development of proper infrastruc-
Who is considered disable? In the Aruban society we have al- abled in our societies was drafted ture and technology that enables
In most parts of the world, also in most sheltered our children from by the UN in 2018. According to the increased community participa-
Aruba, there are deep and per- other children that appear to be UN (2018) “mainstreaming, in com- tion. It also seeks to create institu-
sistent negative stereotypes and a bit different. We are sometimes bination with targeted measures, is tional capacity to create programs
prejudices against individuals with fine with boasting our multi-cultural the key strategy for achieving the and projects to support disabled
certain conditions and differences. identity, but almost feel ashamed inclusion and empowerment of people to further develop and cre-
Culturally, being disable conduces to be diverse on all fronts. When persons with disabilities and their ate the space for consultancy and
the person to be stigmatized and was the last time you have seen human rights” (p.6). This report is coaching.
creates a space for ignorance children with down syndrome, au- also a way to make the worries
and lack of intent to understand tism, medical impairments, physi- and experiences of individuals I want to extend the call to all poli-
the day to day struggles. These at- cal impairments, mental impair- with disabilities an integral dimen- ticians, business managers and
titudes themselves also shape who ments, visual impairments, speech sion of the design, implementation, supervisors, social workers, health
is considered to be a person with a impairments, and behavioral im- monitoring and evaluation of poli- workers, parliament members, pol-
disability in each society as well as pairments walk in our society and cies and programs in all political, icy advisors, policy makers, NGO
have contributed to a negative im- fully participate as equal citizens? economic and societal spheres, so volunteers, parents, families and
age of persons with disabilities. Ac- It almost feels like they are hidden that persons with disabilities benefit friends and the entire Aruban com-
cording to the United Nations, the and are nowhere to be seen. Dis- equally and inequality is not per- munity, let’s become allies and do
term “persons with disabilities” is ability is not something that resides petuated. Ultimately the goal is to the work! Let’s give our children
used to apply to all individuals with in the individual as the result of achieve equality of outcomes and a chance. Reducing inequalities
disabilities or limitations including some impairment. Disability resides foster an inclusive culture. Aruba, and ensuring no one is left behind
those who have long-term physi- in the society not in the person. has made some efforts in providing are integral to achieving the Sus-
cal, mental, intellectual or sensory A person in a wheelchair might more equal opportunities for this tainable Development Goals. “Just
impairments which, in interaction have difficulties being gainfully marginalized community, but the because a man lacks the use of
with several attitudinal and envi- employed not because of his/her leadership has mostly come from his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vi-

ronmental impediments, hampers condition but because there are NGOs and community institutions sion.” – Stevie Wonder.q
their full and effective participa- environmental and infrastructural that live and breathe this frustra-
tion in society on an equal basis barriers such as inaccessible bus- tion daily. Aruba, has yet to de-
with others. The language used to es or staircases in the workplace velop an inclusivity strategy policy
refer to persons with disabilities has which obstruct his or her access. or even pass laws that protect dis-
played a significant role in the per- Being limited, does not mean life abled people in the community, at
sistence of negative stereotypes. has to be a limitation. Due to the home, at work, or even at school.
Clearly, terms such as “crippled” lack of association within our com-
or “mentally retarded” are de- munity, many times we feel that The UNDIS is a multi-lateral strategic
rogative and don’t help to em- it is not a priority to have policies policy that serves to create a first
power them. Other terms such as in place that protect those in our step in the right direction. It consists
“wheelchair-bound” or “disabled community that just want to lead a out of 4 branches, which include;
persons” emphasize the disability normal life in the midst of their dif- 1. Leadership, Strategic Planning
before the person, while in reality ference. Or we think that there are & Management, 2. Inclusiveness,

Biography - Thaïs G. Franken (25) is a recently graduated Aruban student at the University of Maastricht
(UM). She obtained her graduate double master of science degree in Public Policy and Human Develop-
ment in collaboration with the United Nations University Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute
on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT). Back home, on the beautiful island of Aruba, she completed
her Bachelor of Arts in Organization, Governance & Management (OGM) at the University of Aruba (UA),
where she successfully defended her thesis titled “Placing Culture and Creativity at the Heart of the Aru-
ban Sustainable Development”. It was precisely this research project that inspired the emergence of the
“Creative Islander” column in 2018. Thaïs is very passionate about topics such as sustainability, innovation,
culture, creativity, social entrepreneurship and their role in public management. Next to her academic in-
terests, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing and cooking.