From the equal opportunity commission case files: experiences among persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Everyone has the right to education, work, healthcare, participation in cultural life and community, and rest and leisure. Many groups of people however experience inequities in many aspects of life. One such group is persons with disabilities. The aim of this paper is to explore the lived experiences of persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago by examining the complaints lodged with the Equal Opportunity Commission. Using a basic interpretive design, files related to four categories, namely, education, goods and services, accommodations and employment, are examined. Findings indicate various attitudinal, environmental and institutional challenges across all categories as well as financial, psychological and quality of life implications. Against the backdrop of various conceptualisations of the social model of disability and the social relational experiences of disability in the local setting, policy and practice recommendations are presented to support wellbeing for persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Points of interest

• Experiences of persons with disabilities are examined across four categories simultaneously, i.e. education, goods and services, accommodations and employment.

• Experiences among examined categories demonstrate inconsistencies in national and organisational policies to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities.

• Guidance on disability disclosure and measures to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities after disability disclosure are absent.

• Ambiguity and neglect of current social situations regarding the eligibility criteria of social assistance grants contribute to double disadvantage.

• The development of a social model of disability and wellbeing is recommended to promote equal rights among persons with disabilities.

Keywords:

• Discrimination
• equal opportunity
• persons with disabilities
• policy and legislation
• social model
• Trinidad and Tobago

Acknowledgements

This project was possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the West Indies. The complaints lodged with EOC are confidential and access to them for research purposes was possible via the MOU. The MOU was operationalised within the SALISES Disability Studies Research Cluster chaired by Dr. Bephyer Parey. All authors are members of the Cluster.

Data availability

The analysed dataset is not publicly available.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no actual or potential conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval for the research was granted by the Campus Ethics Research Committee of the University of West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. Ethical Reference Number: CREC-SA.1168/09/2021