“Walk in My Shoes” Event
By: Shanique Harvey
Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 4, 2019 (ZIZ News): As part of their week of activities the St. Kitts Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities took to the streets of Basseterre to host their annual disability awareness event called “A Walk in My Shoes”.
Participants were seen in wheelchairs, using walkers and canes to help them maneuver through the streets.
Pleas of accessibility to buildings were echoed as the participants made their way past business places.
Participating in the walk was Parliamentary Representative for Constituency #3, Hon. Konris Maynard who explained that having a disability does not stop an individual from achieving their goals.
“I have a sister who is partially deaf, with that particular disability, however she pushed through and today she is in university getting her university degree after all the challenges, after all that she would have gone through its amazing to see that even with her disability it has not stopped her from excelling and so this just re-enforces that not because you have a disability means that you must be disabled from the world.”
He also outlined some of the changes he would like to see for persons who are differently- abled.
“ I think the Government and something I would support is to implement standards for building codes that require any new building to have the necessary access for persons with disabilities. That is ramps, elevators whatever are the standards for that also I think that a time frame should be given to existing businesses and existing places to become compliant because nobody should be left behind in our society whether or not you are disabled. Disabled bodies can contribute just as much as persons who are able bodied.”
The walk started from the Social Security Building on the Bay Road, they traveled to Fort Street, Cayon Street, Church Street, College Street Ghaut, Liverpool Row, around the Circus and on to Bank Street where they concluded at Independence Square where free health checks were offered.
The Association’s week of activities commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities will continue on Thursday, when a town hall meeting will take place at the McKnight Community Centre at 7:30pm.