THE SEEDS FOR a more inclusive Barbados are being planted.
On Sunday, the Barbados Physical Therapy Association and the Barbados National Organisation for the Disabled brought together abled and disabled children from schools across the country for the purpose of creating such a future.
Speaking to the DAILY NATION at the event titled Everyone Is ABLE in the Dome Mall car park in Warrens, coordinator Dr Nicola Yarde explained the goal was for Barbadians to coexist without seeing differences.
“Today what we’re trying to do is promote an inclusive Barbados, so we decided to try and sensitise children without disabilities to children with disabilities . . . . We believe that if we could have children accepting children with disabilities, then they become adults who can work alongside other adults with disabilities,” she added.
Yarde said a child from each group would be paired together for a number of activities which included obstacle courses, kick-the-ball and a wheelchair race.
She noted the aim of the pairing would be for the children to get to know each other.
The abled children were also required to go back to their respective schools and share their experiences with other children on Disability Awareness Day. (AD)
