Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as full citizens, with equal rights to access, participation and opportunity.
“You can see our commitment in how we have been approaching post-Hurricane Melissa recovery,” she said during the official handover ceremony for the HEART/NSTA Trust’s Region I National Development Project at the Jamaica Society for the Blind in Kingston on January 15.
Dr. Morris Dixon noted that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), launched a cash assistance programme in December 2025 to support vulnerable persons affected by the hurricane, including individuals with disabilities.
“They have been targeting those who need assistance the most. They have been prioritising households that have suffered near total damage or total loss, and in addition to that, there is a special focus on key vulnerabilities… and that’s children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. So, in our Hurricane Melissa response, persons living with disabilities have been a focus,” she stated.
The Minister noted that Jamaica’s partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has prioritised vulnerable groups, particularly through the implementation of an emergency multipurpose cash top‑up designed to support households with children.
“With the UNICEF, through the support of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), we have a digital voucher mechanism that’s embedded in the ‘I Am Able’ app, and that’s designed to reach children with disabilities and their families,” she explained.
Regarding rebuilding efforts in western Jamaica, Senator Morris Dixon emphasised that special attention is being given to assisting the most vulnerable, including persons living with disabilities.
Meanwhile, she noted that within the education sector, the Government continues to strengthen systems designed to support learners with disabilities.
“As a Ministry, we want to make sure every child receives the support through appropriate assessments, learning accommodations, and the tools that will allow them to engage meaningfully and confidently with their studies,” Senator Morris Dixon maintained.
She emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Government is inclusive in every aspect of the education system, noting that access to justice is another key area of focus.
“The Government is ensuring that all our clerks in the courts are trained in sign language. We are also working to put many more of our services and our documents in Braille to make it easier for persons who are blind or visually impaired,” Minister Morris Dixon shared.
She added that the Government has also implemented tax exemptions to support persons with disabilities.
“Employed individuals registered with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities are reminded that they are eligible to apply for an income tax exemption. Section 12 (Y) of the Income Tax Act provides an exemption on emoluments of individuals with permanent physical or mental disabilities who are, nonetheless, capable of gainful employment,” Senator Morris Dixon outlined.