Belize
Key Factors: In 2000, the government of Belize began dismantling the Disability Services Division of the Ministry of Human Development.1 The Disability Services Division was responsible for developing and monitoring programs and services for people with disabilities. After disbanding the division in 2001, the government transferred responsibility for disability service provision to private companies and nongovernmental organizations. Many of these organizations, however, do not have the financial or technical resources necessary to implement and sustain programs for people with disabilities.
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In which of the following ways are . . . . . .'s activities limited compared
with most people your/his/her age?
(self-care/mobility/communication/schooling/employment/other/none)4
In 2000, the question consisted of two parts, but was more specific in its
approach.5
"Do you/Does . . . . . . have problems with any of the following?"
(sight difficulties (even with glasses, if worn)/hearing difficulties (even
with hearing aid, if used)/speaking difficulties (talking)/moving [or]
mobility difficulties (walking, climbing stairs, standing)/body movement
difficulties (reaching, crouching, kneeling)/gripping [or] holding difficulties
(using fingers to grip or handle objects)/learning difficulties (intellectual
difficulties, retardation)/behavioural difficulties (psychological, emotional
problems)/personal care difficulties (bathing, dressing, feeding self)/
other)
"In which of the following ways are your/.........'s activities limited
compared with most people your/his/her age? (self-care/mobility/
communication/schooling/employment/other/none)6
The change in question wording and subsequent decrease in the
measured size of the disability population suggest a lack of reliability. In addition,
surveys by the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education have found that
the percentage of children and adolescents (between the ages of 3 and 18) who are
diagnosed with some form of disability is closer to 15%.7 The differences may be due to
the fact that the census is carried out by persons who may not be adept at recognizing
all types of disabilities and may only identify people with significant disabilities.
Legislation & Disability Rights
Legal Protections
Belize signed the International Labor Organization Convention on
Employment and Occupation Discrimination (No. 111) and ratified it on 22 June
1999.8 However, Belize has not signed the Organization of American States Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against
Persons with Disabilities.
4. Central Statistical Office, Census Form, 1991, photocopy provided by the Central Statistical Office.
5. The 2000 census reports impairments by type: 27.3% sight; 10.3% hearing; 6.7% speech;
16.6% moving; 13.2% body movement; 6.6% grip/hold; 5.8% slow learning; 3.9% behavior; 5.8%
personal care; 3.8% other.
6. Central Statistical Office, 2000.
7. Sharon August (Director of the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education, former Principal of the Stella Maris School for the Disabled), interviewed by author, Belize City, 25 June 2003.
8. International Labor Organization, Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, (1958), http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm.
The government of Belize has not issued any statements regarding adoption of the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities. In addition, no statement has been issued in support of the creation of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Currently, Belize has no national laws that specifically protect the rights of people with disabilities. The Constitution of Belize makes reference to the equal rights of all Belizeans. It recognizes "the principles of social justice...that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all,...and that a just system should be ensured to provide for education and health on the basis of equality," but it does not specifically mention people with disabilities.9
While both the Ombudsman's office and the Human Rights Organization
of Belize are charged with the responsibility of protecting the human and civil
rights of all citizens of Belize, there is no official body in place to protect persons
with disabilities.
Civic Participation
People with disabilities theoretically have the right to vote, but some may need special assistance to exercise it. Braille is not used to facilitate the voting process. An escort must accompany a person who is blind into the voting booth and mark the ballot in accordance with the voter's instructions. Representatives from the contesting parties must witness the voting. The Department of Elections and Boundaries states that they are currently evaluating the confidentiality in the voting process and would like to improve the process for people with disabilities.10
People with disabilities also have the right to be elected or appointed to
public office. The late Honorable Philip S. W. Goldson, who was blind, recently
served as Minister of Human Development. The right to form associations is also
protected. There are several associations that address issues faced by people
with disabilities. The most active of these groups include the Belize Council for the
Visually Impaired (BCVI) and the Belize Institute of the Deaf.
9. Belize Constitution, ch 4b, http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html.
10. Myrtle Palacio (Chief Elections Officer), (presentation at a workshop organized by the Elections and Boundaries Department, broadcast on Love FM radio, Belize City, April 2004.)
Inclusion
Communication
The Belizean government does not provide a Braille version of the Constitution. The National Library Service in Belize City provides materials in alternative formats such as video and audio cassettes, for people with visual and hearing disabilities. Local television stations are owned and operated solely by private entities and do not regularly provide captioning of their programming.
There is no established strategy for authorities to communicate with
people with disabilities in the case of a complex emergency. In such an instance,
most individuals with disabilities would be forced to rely on family members or
caregivers.
Education
According to the former Director of the Special Education Unit, up to 15% of school aged students in the public school system are diagnosed with some degree of disability. Ministry of Education estimates refer primarily to those with learning disabilities and not necessarily those with physical or other types of disability.11 No other data on the number of students with disabilities is currently available in Belize.
All schools nationwide are obliged to enroll children with disabilities. However, in many cases schools require that parents or other family members provide special assistance to such students, as the school itself is unable to provide it. Regular schools are normally equipped with a special classroom for students who require special attention. Otherwise, students are included in the regular classrooms. In most urban areas there are special schools with limited capacity to accommodate students with profound disabilities.12
Of all elementary students with disabilities: 50% receive inclusive education in which all students of the same grade are in the same classroom; 15% are taught in special classes; 3% attend special day schools; 17% are taught at home; and 15% have no education available to them. With regard to high school students with disabilities: 65% receive inclusive education; 5% of students are taught at home; and 30% have no education available to them.13
The Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education has drafted a
policy document mandating that schools be made accessible to students with
disabilities. This policy, however, has not been ratified. In the meantime, new
school buildings are being erected without the proper physical infrastructure
in place.14
11. Sharon August.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
All national teacher training programmes include courses on special education. Until recently, these courses were optional. This has changed and the teacher training Bachelors programme includes two mandatory courses on the topic.15 In urban schools, there will normally be at least one teacher with some training in special education who will assist other teachers on a rotating basis as the need arises. In some cases, parents may provide some assistance to their children at school.
The Disability Services Division (DSD) of the Ministry of Human Development developed a national program for the early detection of disabilities in children.16 In 2001, however, the division was closed and the government stated its intention to transition the activity to the private sector. According to the transition plan, the government would assist with the creation of a private sector organisation that would develop a national detection program. The organization, CARE Belize has been commissioned but, to date, has not developed the capacity to assume all the functions of the former Division.17 In the meantime, hospitals have conducted some early detection screening. However, the capacity for disability screening has been greatly diminished by the disbandment of the DSD.18
With its limited staff, the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of
Education attempts to carry out a country-wide programme to assess students
in schools for learning disabilities. All schools are expected to participate in the
progam. Travelling teachers do the assessment.
Employment
There is no national policy to encourage the employment of people with
disabilities by the private sector, and there is no policy requiring the national
government to employ people with disabilities itself.19 The Belize Sugar Industries,
one of the largest employers in Belize, reported that it has no written policy
regarding the employment of persons with disabilities. Moreover, no one with a
disability is currently employed by the organization.20 All employers are expected
to observe the provisions of the Labour Ordinance and ILO Convention No. 111
dealing with non-discrimination.21 Nevertheless, the employment of people with
disabilities in the private sector and by the government is mainly determined by
the skills they possess and by the perceptions of employers as to how well they
might compete with persons without disabilities.22
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Dolores Godfrey (Director of CARE Belize), Joan Musa (Coordinator), Joan Samuels (Head of Belize Council for the Visually Impaired), and Roxanne Jones (Office Support), interviewed by author, Belize City, 5 August, 2003.
18. The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Periodic Report 2002, Belize.
19. Godfrey Young (Acting Labour Commissioner), interviewed by author, Belmopan, 6 August 2003.
20. Narciso Avila (Manager Corporate Administration, Belize Sugar Industries Limited), emailed response, 23 May 2004.
21. Godfrey Young.
22. Ibid.
There are limited training and placement programs for people with
disabilities in Belize. The Stella Maris School for the Disabled offers some skills
training in areas such as home economics and wood working for school aged
children and youth.23 In addition, a few regular schools have begun "inclusive"
programmes whereby students with mild mental or other disabilities are taught
life skills. These students may eventually be placed as apprentices or even
employees.24
Health Services
Currently, the Ministry of Health does not allocate funding specifically for promoting the health or rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. This function was assigned to the former Disability Services Division. UNICEF is currently assisting in the delivery of health services by providing technical and financial support to various agencies, including certain departments within the Ministries of Education, Health and Human Development.25
While the National Health Service has not implemented a strategy of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), the Ministry of Human Development and the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired are promoting CBR activities in the rural areas where the services of professionals are not available.26 The former
Disability Services Division of the Ministry of Human Development used to provide training in rehabilitation and physical therapy for parents of children with severe, profound, or multiple disabilities. Very little training or support is now available to such parents. Parent associations and support groups have been encouraging parents to organise themselves and provide mutual support. These efforts have not been very effective, but in many rural areas, CBR is seen as the only available option.
Private organizations and nongovernmental organizations, such as the
Red Cross Society and Rotary International, provide some assistive devices to
people with disabilities.27
Housing
Depending on their financial resources, people with disabilities may be
eligible for public housing. There are no centers that provide counselling and
referral services to people with disabilities in need of housing, and facilities for
people with disabilities are almost non-existent. Leaders of disability organizations
23. Sharon August.
24. Ibid.
25. Dr. Michael Pitts (Consultant for the Health Reform Project and former Director of Health Services, Entomology Unit, Ministry of Health), interviewed by author, Belmopan, August 2003.
26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
estimate that approximately 85% of people with disabilities are living with family.
Of the remainder, most are thought to be living in institutions, while some are
homeless.28
Institutionalization
To date, there are no known cases of death by questionable circumstances within Belize institutions; however, there are no organizations in Belize keeping records of abuse or violence against people with disabilities. The Department of Labor investigates any reported cases of abuse. In addition, all institutions are subject to periodic inspection by the members of the Ministry of Human Development and the Human Rights Organization.
Most families or parents house and raise their children with disabilities
with little or no subsidies or supports. There are a few institutions that offer help
and then only to a limited number of individuals. The Dorothy Menzies Child Care
Centre operated by the Ministry of Human Development will provide temporary
care to a limited number of children with disabilities under special circumstances,
as space permits. A similar institution, Marla's House of Hope, was established in
Belmopan a few years ago. This home can accommodate up to sixteen children
and receives some financial support from the government and the community. The
elderly are often institutionalized when they are too old to look after themselves
and have no family member who may be willing or able to look after them.29
Accessibility
In Belize only 25% of public buildings are estimated to be accessible to people with mobility disabilities. The capital city's post office is located on the ground floor, however, the building sits approximately 6 inches above the ground making it difficult for wheelchair users to enter without assistance.
There are no regulations stating that private buildings and facilities must be accessible to people with disabilities. The Ministry of Housing is only now developing regulations for the construction industry regarding accessibility and ramps for new buildings.
Belize does not have a national system of transportation that is
wheelchair accessible. The only institution that operates an adapted system of
transportation is the Stella Maris School for the Disabled. People with mobility
impairments normally have to travel by taxi or are transported by family members
in private vehicles.30
28. Panel discussion with leaders of disability organizations, discussion conducted by author, Lions' Training Center, Belize City, 30 August, 2003.
29.Ava Pennill (Head of Family Services Division and formerly of the Disability Services Division), interviewed by author, Belize City, 12 August, 2003.
30. Ibid.
Disability Action & Awareness
Belize lacks a national coordinating agency to develop disability policy, and there is no national disability action plan. Bureaucracy, lack of political will, and financial constraints are significant barriers to achieving more effective disability action.31
Existing disability organizations tend to operate independently of each other, and there are no cross-disability organizations in Belize. In general, disability organizations have few financial resources and rely on the support of international agencies to fund activities. Disability advocates report that the sector is not effectively prepared to lobby the government or other agencies in demand of disability rights.32
31. Panel discussion.
32. Ibid.