More majors at UB needed for the disabled

More majors at UB needed for the disabled
Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled President, Sheila Culmer.

President of Bahamas National Council for Disability, Sheila Culmer, on Tuesday, expressed that the University of the Bahamas (UB) is lacking when it comes to the various fields of study that disabled persons can pursue.

“Perhaps the time has come for our university to consider several potential avenues that we can take if [a disabled person] has the desire to work in the field of physical therapies, occupation therapies, such as speech-languagee pathologists, clinical and social workers and special education workers,” said Culmer, who was addressing an Equal Rights’ symposium at UB.

Culmer said if given the opportunity, persons with disabilities can find good jobs.

According to a 2010 census, 5,250 disabled males and 4,888 disabled females were living in The Bahamas, but only one per cent of the above figure was registered with the Department of Social Services.

While UB President Dr. Rodney Smith was not in attendance at yesterday’s meeting, he later told Eyewitness News that he is looking to address the plans the university has in place to advance its infrastructure to suit the needs of the disabled.

The Department of Law and the Law Society of the university hosts the equal rights symposium annually, to bring awareness to those on and off campus who deal with the disabled.

Also in attendance during Tuesdays symposium was Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell who said that he also plans to expand the opportunities for persons who assist the disabled.