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Jamaica Civil Service Association
Q&A with Dale Miller
Q:Canyoushareyourexperiencesasadisa personworkingwithintheCivilService?W specificchallengeshaveyouencountered,an havetheyimpactedyourprofessionaljourn
A:IamDaleMiller,aproudmemberoftheJamaicaCivilServiceAssociation(JCSA),Ihav thegovernmentserviceinparticulartheMinistryofLocalGovernmentandCommunit (MLGCD)foralmost23yearsandIcansayithasbeenagreatexperienceandofcours accreditingmyselfverywellsomuchsothatIwouldhavereceivedaccoladesIonthree beennominatedforcivilservantoftheyearandin2017IwasplacedthirdintheentireIs haveachievedthatfeatIhadtorunonthehighstandardonthehighstandardthatIsetf toldmyselfthatIhadtomaintainahighstandardasbeingadisabledpersonIwouldbe morethananable-bodiedperson,thereforeinbeingprofessionalorinassumingmypos comeupwithwaystomaneuver
Q: In your opinion, what initiatives or accommodat would significantly improve the workplace environm disabled individuals within the civil service? How do believe these changes could enhance productivity overall well-being?
IbelievethattheJCSAmustpartnerwiththeJamaicaCouncilfo Disabilities(JPDC).TheJCSAofcourselooksafterthewelfareo whiletheJCPDlookafterourlooksafterthewelfareofper disabilitiesthereforeIbelievethatthesetwoentitiescouldwork soifadisabledpersonhasanyconcernstheycouldeitherChann JCSAortheJCPDviceversaIbelievethatwouldbeagreatwa thattheneedsofpersonswithdisabilitiesarecateredtoatth
Q:Whatsupportsystemsorresourcesdoyou currentlylackingorcouldbeimprovedupontob theneedsofemployeeswithdisabilities?How envisiontheseimprovementspositivelyinfluen experiencesofdisabledindividualsinthepubli
EveryMinistryorgovernmentalagencymustbemustbeestablisheds possesscertainresources,forexampleletustakealookatsomeoneuse andawheelchairisimpossiblewithoutaramp,soeverywhereasbestas beequippedwitharamptoaccommodateawheelchairpersonasIwo personwhoisphysicallychallengedIalsobelievethateveryorganizat agencyorMinistrywithintheCivilServicemusthaveparkingareasde personswithdisabilitiesasthisisthestandardworldwide
Q:WhatdoyoubelievetheJCSAcoulddoto supportmemberswithdisabilities?
A:IalsobelievethateveryorganizationoreveryagencyorMinist Servicemusthaveparkingareasdesignatedforpersonswithdis thestandardworldwide AssuggestedtheJCSAandtheJCPD partnershipindoingsothey'llbeabletoidentifywaysandmeans resourcesthatareavailableforpersonswiththesedisabilitiesso giventhesameorequalopportunitiesaperson'swhoareimpor sometimeswewishtogooncoursesandtheremaynotbet accommodateus
Dale Miller Member, Ministry of Local Govt. & Community Development
Jamaica Civil Service Association
Q&A with Jason Smith
Q:Canyoushareyourexperiencesasad personworkingwithintheCivilService specificchallengeshaveyouencountered havetheyimpactedyourprofessionaljo
A:AsadisabledpersonworkingintheCivil aremanyvaryingchallengesaswhatmayb tomemaynotbethesameforanother
Q:Inyouropinion,whatinitiativeso accommodationswouldsignificantlyimpr workplaceenvironmentfordisabledindiv withinthecivilservice?Howdoyoubeliev changescouldenhanceproductivityand well-being?
A:Disabilitiesvariesandthereisnorealone howeverforthetypeofdisabilitiesthatre hampersmovementsIwouldliketoseemor liftstobeinstallednotjusttosomebuildin
Q:Whatsupportsystemsorresourcesdo currentlylackingorcouldbeimprovedupon theneedsofemployeeswithdisabilities? envisiontheseimprovementspositivelyinf experiencesofdisabledindividualsinthep
A:Iwouldliketoseereducedinterestrate andservicesfordisabledpersonsalongw servicesoncetheyenteraninstitu
Q:WhatdoyoubelievetheJCSAcoulddo supportmemberswithdisabilities
A:FormingtheDisabilitiesCommitteeisag thatstrongadvocaciscanbegin,TheJCSA canstartwiththereducedinterestrateso servicestoincludeexpressservices,thena otherstofollow,WEHAVETOLEADBYE
Departmental Representative
Jason Smith
National Library of Jamaica
Jamaica Civil Service Association
Q&A with Marcia Davis
Q:Canyoushareyourexperiencesasadisabled personworkingwithintheCivilService?What specificchallengeshaveyouencountered,andhow havetheyimpactedyourprofessionaljourney?
Myexperienceasadisabledpersonworkinginthegovernmentsystemhashaditsprosandcons. Lovedbymany,dislikedbyafew,discriminatedagainstunintentionally/intentionally,andthelist couldgoonButmymostextraordinaryexperiencewasnotallowingtheconstobreakmeemotionally ortogetmetothepointwhereIfeelsorryformyselforallowpeopletopitymebecauseofmy disabilityIthasbeenagoodexperiencealsobecause,forthemostpart,whereIwork,theaccessibility isuptopar,renovationsdonetotheentrancestothebuildings,thebathroomredonetomakeitmore accessibleandprivate,anddeskandchairspecialisedtoaccommodatemydisabilityBiguptothe teamatmyplaceofworkforthat;not100%whereweneedtobe,butIcommendthemforwherewe aretoday
Q:Inyouropinion,whatinitiativesoraccommodations wouldsignificantlyimprovetheworkplace environmentfordisabledindividualswithinthecivil service?Howdoyoubelievethesechangescould enhanceproductivityandoverallwell-being?
Havingadisabilitydoesn'tmeanthatiterasesallotherabilities;therefore,peoplewithdisability shouldbetreatedequallyandwiththesamelevelofrespectandopportunitiesasothers Ifa disabledpersonworkshardandearnstheirflowers,givethemtothem Itshouldnotbeacase whereitisseenastoogoodforthembecausetheyaredisabled Ensurethattheworkspaceis equipped,accessible,andcomfortable Includedisabledpersonsindifferentactivities(eg planningcommittees)theymaynothavehadotherwisetomotivateandupliftthembecause everyindividualwithadisabilityhassomethingtooffer,andtheremaybethingsotherscould learnfromthem Therefore,havingaworkspaceandwelcomingworkenvironmentwillenhance productivityandtheoverallwell-beingofdisabledpersons
Q:Whatsupportsystemsorresourcesdoyoufeelare currentlylackingorcouldbeimprovedupontobettermeet theneedsofemployeeswithdisabilities?Howdoyou envisiontheseimprovementspositivelyinfluencingthe experiencesofdisabledindividualsinthepublicsector?
Fundingisoneofthemissingingredientsforentitiestoprovideadisability-friendlywork environment Also,MDAsshouldcreateaninclusiveenvironmentthatwillenablepeople withdisabilitiestocontributetoagreatworkenvironmentandcreateanatmosphere thatencouragestheacceptanceofpeopleofallabilities.WhenIgotachairthatlooked likethechairotherssitin,andInolongerhadtositinmywheelchairallday,itgavemea differentexperience,agoodfeeling,afeelingofinclusion ImprovementlikethisinMDAs willpositivelyinfluencetheexperienceofpeoplewithdisabilityinthepublicsector.
Q:WhatdoyoubelievetheJCSAcoulddotobetter supportmemberswithdisabilities?
TheJamaicaCivilServiceAssociation,whichisresponsibleforensuringthatall itsmembersaretreatedfairlyandjustly,needstoplayamoreactiveroleand includedisabilityneedsintheirnegotiationsothatthenecessaryrenovations, accessibility,equipment,andofficefurnitureareinplaceif/whenrequiredin anMDA.Also,includeintherolesandresponsibilitiesoftheDepartmental RepresentativesaclausethatinstructsthemtoreporttotheAssociation if/whensomeonewithadisabilityjoinstheirentity.
MarciaDavis DepartmentalRepresentative JamaicaCulturalDevelopmentCommission (JCDC)
Jamaica Civil Service Association
Q&A with David Stimpson
Q:Canyoushareyourexperiencesasadisabled personworkingwithintheCivilService?What specificchallengeshaveyouencountered,andhow havetheyimpactedyourprofessionaljourney?
OnDec212021,Iwasattackedandstabbedmultipletimesinthebackofmyneckbya co-workerwhileworkingingatmydesk Iwasimmediatelyparalysedandsincethen, mylifeandthatofmywifeanddaughterhavebeenadverselyimpacted Icouldno longerfunctionasIdidinmycapacityasaCuratorattheIOJ,whereIdidalotof physicalwork,eg,sitevisits,developingandsettingupexhibitions Consequently,I communicatemostlyremotelyonmattersconcerningmystaffandexhibits,orthey cometomy'bedsideoffice.'
Q: In your opinion, what initiatives or accommodations would significantly improve the workplace environment for disabled individuals within the civil service? How do you believe these changes could enhance productivity and overall well-being?
JustabouteverywhereyougoinJamaica,theaccessibilityforpersonswithdisabilitiesisnon-existentor lessthanadequate Inaccesabilitystartsfromtheentrancenamely,highsidewalks,stepsatdoors;once insideabuilding-notwideenoughofficedoors spacetomaneuver deskslackingheightorfunctionality toaccommodatewheelchairers;non-accessiblebathrooms,ie doorswithhandlesorknobsratherthan sensor-open,unreachablewashbasin,tapstoolowforwheelchairstogetto,andstairstogetto everywhere Untilworkplacesareretrofittedtogiveequalopportunitiesformobilityandeasefor3everymemberof staff,thephysicallychallengedwillnotbeabletoworkindependentlyandincomfort.Thedisableddonot requirepity Theirexpertiseintheirfieldsarehinderedbecausetheyarefirstlyjudgedandprejudiced basedonaphysicallimitation Achangeinthemindsetofmanagementtoprovidesafe,functionaland kindlysurroundingscanimprovemoraleandsocomeraderyandtheoverall productivityofstaff
Q:Whatsupportsystemsorresourcesdoyoufeelare currentlylackingorcouldbeimprovedupontobettermeet theneedsofemployeeswithdisabilities?Howdoyou envisiontheseimprovementspositivelyinfluencingthe experiencesofdisabledindividualsinthepublicsector?
The answer given in Q2 can be applied to Q3 Amenities must be accessible, functional as well as safe. Ramps cannot be too narrow, too steep nor slippery Designated parking is always welcomeď. In some instances, management should consider cosharing the cost of wheelchair taxis.
Q:WhatdoyoubelievetheJCSAcoulddotobetter supportmemberswithdisabilities?
DavidStimpson Member JamaicaCivilServiceAssociation
JSCA'sinitiativetopromoteawarenessofpersonswithdisabilitiesintheworkforceis agoodstart Afurthereffort,ifonehasntbeendone,shouldbetoconductasurveyof howmanypersonsarecurrentlyworkingwithdisabilitiesofalltypes.Howmanyare beingtreatedpoorly?Howneedsarenotbeingmet,eg becauseofinadequatespace? Howmanyhavebeenundulyretiredwithoutcompensation?CantheJCSAlobbyfor publictransportationstobefittedwithmanualramps?Theinadequacyofsidewalks hasrecently,again,beenpubliclyhighlightedasalongstandingissue
