Many years ago the late Chairwoman of the Gibraltar Disability Society, Mrs Agnes Valarino, made it her mission to bring legislation to Gibraltar to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Such was her determination she even wrote a paper with draft legislation based on the disability law in Southern Ireland. After Agnes sadly passed away the Disability Society continued her fight to achieve such legislation. Over the years we have worked with all Governments in attempt to achieve this aim and today the hard work of Agnes and the Disability Society has finally come to fruition. Parliament has unanimously voted to pass the Disability Bill which will in future be referred to as “Agnes’ Law”. The Disability Society would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years in helping to reach this milestone. We would also like to especially thank Minister Sacramento for her proposal to name this legislation after such a wonderful woman. This proposal was not only welcomed by Agnes’ family but by all those who worked with or knew Agnes and it is a fitting tribute to her legacy. Now that Gibraltar has taken the initial step in introducing such necessary legislation the Disability Society will turn its sights to the introduction in full of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilties to Gibraltar. However today we will take the time to remember Agnes a strong and caring woman whose determination has changed the future for the better for those with disabilities in Gibraltar.
It has been brought to the attention of the Disability Society that the Ministry for Transport has seen fit to remove the signs from the local buses regarding the space for wheelchair users. As the Minister for Transport has made no public statement regarding this matter it can only be assumed that this is due to pressure by certain groups regarding the issue of wheelchairs and prams using the local bus service. The Disability Society has always maintained that the buses the Government chose to buy are not fit for purpose for those with disabilities particularly those with wheelchairs and disability buggies. In fact the following is quoted from the GSLP Government 2015 manifest: “When we acquired the new red EURO6 buses that are in circulation, we had a guaranteed buy back. We will exercise that guaranteed buy back so that we can once again acquire new buses that will be more accessible and usable by the elderly and disabled.” It now seems quite clear that the Government has made no attempt to exercise this guaranteed buy back despite the many complaints over the unsuitability of the buses for the disabled and the elderly. The Disability Society therefore insists that the Government not only replace said signs but go one step further and follow the example of the UK to make it compulsory for the seats in the wheelchair space to be given up should the space be needed by a passenger using a wheelchair or disability buggy. After all there are many seats available on the bus but only one space for a wheelchair. Discrimination of wheelchair and disability buggy users using our local transport system is simply not acceptable.
Today the Minister of Equality will launch the first of a series of guidance documents in relation to disability equality matters which will be made available to all Government Departments, private sector and the community by the Ministry of Equality.
One of the strategies of the Ministry in raising awareness and facilitating inclusion of people with disabilities is to provide easy–to-use reference documents. This is one of a series that the Ministry of Equality will be issuing during the course of the year.
This first reference booklet is in relation to inclusive language and etiquette; words to use and avoid when writing or talking to people with disabilities and explains common courtesies when meeting people with disabilities and their support workers. This particular document can be used by frontline staff when assisting potential customers who have a disability.
Knowledge of appropriate language and etiquette may not necessarily be something which everyone is aware of or has access to, for many it can be a cause for concern as they do not wish to offend. The Ministry of Equality, in consultation with the Gibraltar Disability Society has therefore embarked on this initiative for the purposes of clarifying appropriate terminology, attitudes and practices. Ms Debbie Borastero, Chairperson of the Gibraltar Disability Society stated: “The Gibraltar Disability Society welcomes all the initiatives to date and all future initiatives of the Ministry of Equality that bring matters of disability to the forefront in Gibraltar”.
These matters will also be discussed at the training that will be delivered to the public sector at various training sessions that are planned for this week as well as at the business sector breakfast on Wednesday and private sector training seminar on Wednesday.
The Minister for Equality, the Hon. Samantha Sacramento MP, said “Appropriate language and etiquette is not only polite and avoids potentially causing offence, but promotes equality. We want to break down barriers and increase opportunities for people to learn about matters which relate to people with disabilities. It is only through knowledge that we can all work together in achieving a more inclusive society. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Gibraltar Disability Society for their advice.”
Booklet can be found online at https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/press/2017/Press%20Releases/336.1-2017%20Disability%20Language%20Etiquette%20Booklet.pdf
The Ministry of Equality wishes to remind the public of the continued availability at Leisure Cinemas of equipment which addresses the needs of the deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. Inclusive Cinema Screening commenced in November 2015 as a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Equality, Ministry of Culture and Leisure Cinemas. There are available Assistance Headphones which provide descriptive audio tracks where a narrator describes what is happening on screen and, there are also Entertainment Captioning Glasses and headphones which utilize specialised eyewear coupled with a receiver and enables people who are deaf and hard of hearing to view closed captioned text in their direct line of sight as if they were on screen. Leisure Cinemas announces which films the entertainment access glasses and headphones are available for, and the arrangements for booking a pair of access glasses. Headphone assistance for the hard of hearing: provide the full soundtrack during trailers and the main feature. Available for all screenings.
The Ministry for Equality, in preparation for the introduction of new disability legislation, is pleased to announce further training on disability diversity. This forms part of the Equality Means Business seminars aimed at the private sector and also educates on the business case for inclusive organisations. One of the major changes that will be brought about by the new legislation will be the introduction of building rules which will require that all buildings or any refurbishments that require building applications. The new rules will be very similar to the Part M Document in the UK. Following on from a fully subscribed morning training session offered to the private sector in December last year, further, more in depth training on the subject is being offered by way of a 2 day course to be held at the University on Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th March 2016. This training is aimed at professionals in the building industry and will be taught how to be more inclusive in their designs and creations.
To whom it may concern,
My name is Nicole BUCKLEY and I am a serving police officer for the Royal Gibraltar Police and have been now for almost 9 years. In March, it will be 4 of those years serving as a Police Dog Handler. I hold my ACPO License (Association of Chief Police Officers) and I am accredited with the NPCC (National Police Cheif’s Council)
I currently handle a 6 year old Czech-line German shepherd who is trained in general purpose services (person search, violent individuals, property search, human tracking, etc…)
I have for some time now taken a personal interest in the line of therapy dogs and AAT (animal assisted therapy) and have since sourced a personal therapy dog and will be training therapy techniques for the benefit of the community, focusing on Special needs, the elderly and any other persons who may benefit from such therapy techniques.
Therapy dogs can also be used in main stream schools do social activities, reading activities such as “reading 4 pets” an initiative I wish to commence which are sessions helping students for public speech, confidence in speaking, reading and expression amongst many other activities.
The end product will be a trained and certified therapy dog at the service of the community. (most to date are voluntary members of the public)
The therapy dog in question is a young female golden Labrador. The dog is yet in training but has been specially selected on qualities pertinent and vital to a therapy dog i.e. disposition, character, tolerance, etc… and above all, SAFETY, EFFICIENCY & CONTROL are guaranteed.
A mere email would not do my therapy dog justice to explain and promote her capabilities and therefore I politely and respectfully request a moment of your time to invite you and request the pleasure of your attendance along with any staff members or persons of your choice who may benefit from or wish to, attend.
The seminar is being held within the John Mac. Hall at 1800hrs on the 27th January 2017.
Please feel free to invite any person(s) you may feel would benefit from or would wish to attend, this seminar. It is free of charge.
My sincerest of thanks in advance.
Nicole Buckley
The Disability Bill, a new piece of legislation modelled on the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has been published by Equality Minister Samantha Sacramento.
The Minister has revealed that it shall be referred to as Agnes’ Law, in memory of the late Agnes Valarino, former Chairperson of the Disability Society.
The Disability Bill upholds and safeguards the dignity of people with disabilities by setting new standards on how the Government and the private sector ensure their rights are protected and promoted. Once the Bill becomes law, public bodies and private institutions in Gibraltar charged with the development of any policy or programme will be obliged to have regard to the rights of people with disabilities.
The Minister says implementation will be fully supported by training and awareness which will be carried out within the public sector and will also be offered to the private sector.
The Committee would like to thank Minister Sacramento and the Ministry of Equality for hosting an evening reception to honor the present and past committee members on the 50th Anniversary of the Society. For it to coincide with International Day for People with Disbilities was particuarly pertinent. Over the past fifty years the Society has be instrumental in bringing to Gibraltar inclusive education, a social security allowance for disabled persons, respite for families in need, a year round service at St Bernadettes Resource Centre and supported independent living within the community. We continue to lobby towards the introduction of legislation to protect the rights of disabled persons in Gibraltar and the promotion of sustainable supported employment. The Society would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those from the public and private sector who have supported and continue to support recerus over the years.
