Antigua and Barbuda joined the global community on Tuesday in observing the International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities, highlighting the need for stronger inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunity nationwide.
This year’s UN theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Society for Advancing Social Progress,” reinforces the message that national development depends on removing barriers that limit people with disabilities.
Bernard Warner, president of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Persons Living with Disabilities, said that inclusion cannot be achieved through legislation alone.
“A disability-inclusive society is not created by law alone nor by good intention,” he said.
“It is built through active participation among governments, communities, families, and individuals working together to remove barriers and secure equal rights.”
Warner said ensuring full access to education, healthcare, employment, technology and transportation strengthens the nation as a whole. He urged Antiguans and Barbudans to envision a society where accessibility is standard and stigma gives way to understanding.
“A world where stigma is replaced with understanding and exclusion is replaced with opportunity,” he said.
A week of activities began with a church service on November 30, followed by workshops on December 1 and 2 offering safe, supportive spaces for dialogue and personal development.
The observance culminates today with a march through St. John’s, beginning at 4 p.m. from Bend Down on Market Street.
Warner said the walk is meant to remind the country that “the work has not ended,” noting that many people with disabilities continue to face significant daily challenges.
Warner thanked caregivers, advocates and policymakers for their support but cautioned that “the work is not over.”
The day’s message, he said, is that inclusion is essential—and creating a society where every citizen can participate fully is critical to national progress.
