Represented Disability – Dr Kwasi Tonge and Ronald Greenaway represented Antigua and Barbuda the 7th Bi-Annual Disability Research Conference.
Represented Disability Research Conference
The event was held at The University of the West Indies Mona Campus in Jamaica on April 28th and 29th, 2026.
The pair presented their research paper titled “An Accessibility Audit of the Built Environment in St. John’s, Antigua: Evaluating Barriers to Mobility for Persons with Physical Disabilities.” The paper focused on accessibility challenges and opportunities within Antigua and Barbuda’s built environment, specifically in three major high-traffic areas.
“The research focused specifically on three major high-traffic areas: the Global Ports cruise area, Heritage Quay, and the West Bus Station and businesses on the lower end of St. John’s,” Greenaway explained.
Dr Tonge noted that the study used a systematic and evidence-based approach to assess accessibility, inclusivity, and compliance with modern disability and accessibility standards.
“The findings revealed both progress and ongoing concerns within the country’s public infrastructure,” he said.
“While some inclusive practices and infrastructural improvements were identified, the audit also highlighted several structural barriers that continue to affect persons with disabilities in public spaces,” Greenaway added.
According to the researchers, the study is intended to serve as the foundation for an island-wide accessibility assessment across Antigua and Barbuda.
Dr Tonge added, “The methodology used in the study could also serve as a model for similar accessibility audits across the OECS region, helping to advance discussions on disability rights, inclusion, and sustainable development throughout the Caribbean.”
Dr Tonge is a Disability Studies researcher at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, while Greenaway works with the Ministry of Social Transformation with special focus on disability-related matters.
