ISSN 1728-5445 eclac subregional studies and headquarters SERIES PERSPECTIves for the caribbean Disability, human rights and public policy in the Caribbean A situation analysis Francis Jones Luanne Serieux-Lubin 64 Disability, human rights and public policy in the Caribbean A situation analysis Francis Jones Luanne Serieux-Lubin This document has been prepared by Francis Jones, Population Affairs Officer, of the Statistics and Social Development Unit of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) subregional headquarters for the Caribbean, and Luanne Serieux-Lubin, ECLAC consultant. Substantive inputs and comments were also provided by Bobby Williams, formerly Associate Information Management Officer at ECLAC subregional headquarters, and Birgit Gerstenberg, Senior Human Rights Advisor, United Nations Development Programme. The views expressed in this document, which has been reproduced without formal editing, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Organization. United Nations publication ISSN: 1728-5445 (electronic version) ISSN: 1727-9917 (print version) LC/TS.2017/151 LC/CAR/TS.2017/12 Distribution: Limited Copyright © United Nations, January 2018. All rights reserved. Printed at United Nations, Santiago S.17-01279 Applications for authorization to reproduce this work in whole or in part should be sent to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Publications and Web Services Division, [email protected]. Member States and their governmental institutions may reproduce this work without prior authorization, but are requested to mention the source and to inform ECLAC of such reproduction. ECLAC – Studies and Perspectives Series – The Caribbean – No. 64 Disability, human rights and public policy... Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 7 I. Disability in the Caribbean ......................................................................................................... 11 A. Disability, human rights and public policy ............................................................................ 11 B. National implementation of the CRPD, disability legislation and policies ............................ 14 C. Estimates from the 2000 and 2010 censuses and projections to 2050 ................................... 17 II. Health, rehabilitation and social care services .......................................................................... 25 A. Health and health care ............................................................................................................ 26 B. Rehabilitation services ........................................................................................................... 28 C. Care and support services....................................................................................................... 31 III. Enabling environments ................................................................................................................ 35 A. Accessible buildings and public spaces ................................................................................. 36 B. Accessible transport ............................................................................................................... 38 C. Accessible information and communication technology ....................................................... 40 IV. Access to education ...................................................................................................................... 45 A. Approaches to education of children with disabilities ........................................................... 46 B. Participation, integration and inclusion in the Caribbean ...................................................... 47 C. Provision of special needs education in the Caribbean .......................................................... 50 D. Inclusive education policy ...................................................................................................... 53 V. Economic activity and income protection .................................................................................. 55 A. Economic activity of persons with disabilities ....................................................................... 56 B. Employment support policies and programmes in the Caribbean .......................................... 59 C. Income protection .................................................................................................................. 61 VI. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 65 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 67 Annex Statistical tables ............................................................................................................................ 71 3 ECLAC – Studies and Perspectives Series – The Caribbean – No. 64 Disability, human rights and public policy... Series: Studies and Perspectives – The Caribbean: issues published ................................................. 86 Tables Table 1 CRPD and Optional Protocol signatories and ratifying States .............................................. 14 Table 2 Projections of the prevalence of disability by sex, 2015-2050 .............................................. 23 Table 3 International commitments regarding health and rehabilitation ............................................ 25 Table 4 International commitments regarding enabling environments .............................................. 36 Table 5 Use of the Internet by type of disability for persons aged 5 and over, 2011 ......................... 43 Table 6 International commitments regarding the education of children with disabilities ................. 45 Table 7 Teachers with professional training in primary, secondary and special education ................ 52 Table 8 Special education in selected Caribbean counties and territories .......................................... 52 Table 9 International commitments regarding rights related to work and employment ..................... 55 Table 10 Contributory and non-contributory disability pensions in selected Caribbean countries, around 2015 ....................................................................... 62 Table A.1 Prevalence of disability by sex, 2000 and 2010 .................................................................... 72 Table A.2 Prevalence of disability by age (all persons), 2000 and 2010 ............................................... 73 Table A.3 Prevalence of disability by age (males), 2000 and 2010 ....................................................... 74 Table A.4 Prevalence of disability by age (females), 2000 and 2010 .................................................... 75 Table A.5 Prevalence of disability by type (all persons), 2000 and 2010 .............................................. 76 Table A.6 Prevalence of disability by type (males), 2000 and 2010 ...................................................... 77 Table A.7 Prevalence of disability by type (females), 2000 and 2010 ................................................... 78 Table A.8 Prevalence of disability by type and age, 2000 census round ............................................... 79 Table A.9 Prevalence of disability by type and age, 2010 census round ............................................... 81 Table A.10 School attendance of persons aged 3-18 by type of disability, 2000 and 2010 ..................... 83 Table A.11 Persons aged 18-59 with disabilities who have completed secondary education by type of disability, 2000 and 2010 .................................................... 84 Table A.12 Economic activity of persons aged 15 to 59 with disabilities by type of disability, 2000 and 2010 ..................................................................................... 85 Figures Figure 1 Prevalence of disability, 2000 and 2010 ................................................................................ 19 Figure 2 Prevalence of disability by sex, 2000 and 2010 .................................................................... 19 Figure 3 Prevalence of disability by age, 2000 and 2010 .................................................................... 20 Figure 4 Prevalence of disability by age and sex, 2000 and 2010 ....................................................... 21 Figure 5 Prevalence of disability by type, 2000 and 2010 ................................................................... 21 Figure 6 Prevalence of disability by type and sex, 2000 and 2010 ...................................................... 22 Figure 7 Use of internet by persons with disabilities by age ............................................................... 42 Figure 8 Use of internet by persons with disabilities by severity and employment status ................... 42 Figure 9 School attendance of persons aged 3-18 by disability status, 2000 and 2010 ....................... 48 Figure 10 School attendance of persons aged 3-18 by type of disability, 2000 and 2010 ..................... 49 Figure 11 Persons aged