Many shops in Atlantis are not disability-friendly.
This was one of the topics discussed during a community awareness campaign held at Atlantis City Mall on 5 November.
Organised by the Atlantis police, in partnership with Provincial Road Safety, Orion Organisation, the Emmanuel Day Care Centre, Atlantis City Centre management, Neighbourhood Watch, Community Policing Forum and religious leaders, it involved an awareness day, consisting of a walk and some activity.
“The purpose was to create definite visibility and an awareness that persons living with disabilities and/or HIV are human beings with feelings,” Capt Cyril Dicks, spokesperson for Atlantis police and one of the organisers, said. “Many shops still are not disability-friendly, nor are some of the families and others of the surrounding community, who give them the cold shoulder daily.
Orion and Emmanuel, two local organisations working with people with disabilities, emphasised how difficult it is to access shops or even public transport in such a situation.
Provincial Road Safety was also called upon to build social, visual and actual awareness.
“People living with disabilities are not encouraged to make use of transport, especially buses,” Dicks pointed out.
He said the campaign was well received, and it was hoped to make the awareness day an annual event.
