An analysis of the status of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Caribbean

This background paper presents an analysis of the status of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Caribbean. It starts with a general description of the Caribbean and the implications for the current situation of disability. The paper then presents the results of the survey based on two questionnaires to the NGOs and the government ministries with the purpose of collecting first-hand accounts of the realities of persons with disabilities in the Caribbean, as well as to collect information on policies, programmes and other measures related to the rig…

Availability, collection and use of data on disability in the Caribbean subregion

This paper addresses the issue of the availability of data on persons with disabilities in the Caribbean subregion. It was prepared as a background paper for the Subregional Meeting and Capacity-Development Training Workshop on Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Caribbean which was held in Port of Spain from 9 - 10 November 2010. It presents the findings of a survey conducted by ECLAC aimed at gaining insight on current practices of national statistical offices and other data collecting agencies with respect to the collection of natio…

Selected online learning experiences in the Caribbean during COVID-19. Policy Brief

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread closure of schools and disruption of education systems worldwide, requiring unprecedented adaptation to ensure learning continuity for students. In place of classroom learning, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been adopted to support online distance learning – with mixed results. While Caribbean governments have piloted a range of online learning modalities, many children in the subregion, especially those from poor and rural households, were not able to leverage those facilities. As a result of a lack of access to the Internet …

Disability, human rights and public policy in the Caribbean: A situation analysis

This study presents a situation analysis of persons with disability in the Caribbean. It includes a compilation and analysis of national census data from 16 countries including data from both the 2000 and the 2010 census rounds. The study also assesses national laws, policies and programmes in the context of relevant international treaties and agreements. The topics covered include health and rehabilitation, accessible buildings, transport, information and communications technology, education and labour market participation. In each of these areas, good practices, gaps, and priorities for acti…

ECLAC addresses the situation of persons with disabilities in the Caribbean

With populations ageing and an increasing number of people suffering from non-communicable diseases, the number of people in the Caribbean living with some form of disability is expected to rise in coming years. The prevalence of disability could increase by 30 to 40% between 2015 and 2050. In anticipation of this, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) subregional headquarters for the Caribbean is urging the subregion to take early action. On 11 April 2017, ECLAC Caribbean brought together policy makers in the fields of disabilities, social development and human r…

La CEPAL participa en la tercera reunión del Consejo Asesor del Proyecto Por Talento Latinoamérica

La tercera reunión del Consejo Asesor y segundo encuentro regional del Proyecto Por Talento Latinoamérica, organizado por el Grupo Social ONCE y el BID Lab, se llevó a cabo en Costa Rica entre los días 24 y 25 de septiembre de 2024. Por Talento Latinoamérica es un proyecto regional promovido por el BID Lab y la Fundación ONCE, cuyo objetivo es aumentar las oportunidades laborales para personas con discapacidad en cinco países de la región: el Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, la República Dominicana y el Uruguay. En esta jornada de dos días se realizaron visitas y compartieron buenas práct…

Information and communications technologies for the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper examines the ways in which Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) can promote greater inclusion of persons with disabilities. It characterizes the patterns of ICT use among persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean and proposes recommendations and strategies to expand access to and use of ICT among persons with disabilities in the region to harness the potential of these tools to promote greater inclusion. This investigation is based on mixed methods that include the analysis of census data, complemented by interviews, bibliographic review and online se…

Policy Brief: Moving towards equal access to technology for persons with disabilities in the Caribbean

In the Caribbean, there are approximately 1.3 million persons with a disability of some kind and some 250,000 persons with a significant disability. These numbers are projected to increase dramatically in the coming decades as the population of the subregion ages and given the global increase in chronic health conditions. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) face a range of physical, social, attitudinal and institutional barriers that prevent their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. As a result, they experience less favorable outcomes in health, education, …

Using universal service funds to increase access to technology for persons with disabilities in the Caribbean

This study examines how Universal Service Funds (USFs) can be better utilised in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to increase access to technology for persons with disabilities. It presents data on disability in the region and addresses key requirements from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It sets out the background, challenges and achievements of existing Caribbean USFs in addition to discussing countries that have enacted but not implemented USF legislation. The study identifies best practices and recommendations for Caribbean SIDS wis…

Training session on increasing access to technology for Persons with Disabilities

The training will help participants to better utilise Universal service funds (USFs) to increase access to technology for persons with disabilities thereby supporting governments in the subregion in advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.…

Where are we now: Building a digital Caribbean for all.

This infographic introduces the findings from Study 112, focusing on the digital transformation journey across Caribbean nations. It highlights the varying stages of digital inclusion within countries like Anguilla, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, and others. The central aim is to ensure equal access to digital tools and technologies, addressing digital inequalities that mirror social inequalities, particularly in gender, migration, disability, and rural populations. Key challenges for policymakers include broadband access, digital skills training, and cybersecurity. The infographic presents…

New funding opportunities for disability projects discussed at ECLAC

Organizations working with persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the Caribbean have a better chance to access funds for disability-related projects, following a training workshop conducted by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) sub-regional headquarters for the Caribbean. The workshop, which was held on 23 October 2019 at ECLAC Caribbean headquarters in Port of Spain, brought together universal service funds (USFs) administrators and organizations working with PWDs across Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenad…

Information and communications technology for people with disabilities