Government’s move to improve accessibility in Bridgetown is being seen as a long-awaited step forward, but the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) is urging that persons with disabilities be actively involved in shaping how the project is delivered.
The call comes as part of the council’s response to the 2026 Budget, which introduced a $600 000 pilot accessible corridor in Bridgetown alongside a broader package of measures targeting mobility, financial support and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Operations Manager Roseanna Tudor described the infrastructure plan — which includes upgrades to sidewalks, kerb ramps and tactile paving — as a positive shift in addressing barriers that have persisted for years.
“This initiative represents a significant and encouraging step forward in addressing the longstanding barriers that persons with disabilities face in navigating public spaces,” she said.
The council noted that for more than 15 years it has been advocating for similar improvements through its Fully Accessible Barbados (FAB) Programme, which focuses on making towns, businesses and public services more inclusive.
“We are therefore pleased to see accessibility recognized as a national development priority,” Tudor added.
But while welcoming the direction of the Budget, the organisation stressed that delivery will determine whether the investment translates into real change.
“The lived experiences and technical expertise of persons with disabilities are essential in ensuring that infrastructure improvements meet international accessibility standards and genuinely respond to community needs,” she said.
The council is now calling for structured, formal consultation as the project moves forward.
“We strongly encourage the Government to engage the Barbados Council for the Disabled in a formal consultation process to support the planning, design and evaluation of accessibility improvements.”
The Budget also outlined a series of complementary measures, including a $100 monthly cost-of-living credit for persons on the Special Needs Grant, a new legal framework for special needs trusts, and an adaptive aquatics programme to expand recreational access.
But ahead of the presentation, members of the disability community had been calling for stronger inclusion and more deliberate action to remove systemic barriers — expectations the council suggested must now be matched by implementation.
It pointed to recognition from international partners, including the UN Global Disability Fund, which has highlighted the role of civil society organisations in advancing disability reform in Barbados.
With the recent passage of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, the BCD said the country now has a critical opportunity to ensure that policy commitments translate into tangible improvements in independence, mobility and participation.
It added that it stands ready to work with Government and other partners to ensure the pilot becomes the foundation for broader national transformation.
“When we make Barbados accessible for persons with disabilities, we make Barbados better for everyone,” Tudor said.
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