WILLEMSTAD - Not only should the community welcome people with disabilities with open arms, but they must also be more visible. That is one of the points that recently emerged during the mini-conference organized by the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Curaçao (UoC).
The theme of the mini-conference was the position of people with disabilities in Curaçao. They often suffer from a double limitation; the relevant limitation that the person has, and the limitation that the person imposes on himself by not participating in society. It is also common for family members to feel ashamed of those with disabilities. This causes the person in question to feel inferior, says UoC lecturer and scientific assistant Johan Oldenboom in the latest newsletter of the faculty.
Another conclusion of the mini-conference is that awareness about people with disabilities must be increased. For example, there are still people who think that there is a cure for Down syndrome and that the disability can be cured.
Alton Paas, who is committed to the emancipation of people with disabilities, talked about wheelchair accessibility in buildings. There is a need for dedicated parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible ramp. Secondly, the infrastructure within the building must be accessible to people in, for example, a wheelchair. Think of wide doorways and barrier-free entrances. And thirdly, Paas indicated that the facilities within the building must be suitable for people with disabilities. He cited the height of the counter and the presence of a suitable toilet as an example.