Training manual for the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities

UNESCO is committed to strengthening social inclusion grounded on human rights and has commis-sioned this training manual to The University of the West Indies Centre for Disability Studies to engage two main target groups in advocacy actions for promoting the rights of persons with disabilities across the Caribbean.

The first target audience of this manual is youth and youth-led organizations. UNESCO considers youth to be critical agents of change and full-fledged partners to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and build a better world for all. The engagement of youth as change-makers is imperative, as they can contribute meaningfully, positively and actively to social transformations in the Caribbean.

Secondly, this manual was developed as an essential resource for journalists and media workers, who play a crucial role in portraying and making visible the diverse range of lived realities of persons with disabilities in the Caribbean. It is vital to ensure that the portrayal of persons with disabilities does not reinforce negative and harmful stereotypes as the absence of disability coverage in the media may also be connected to a lack of representation of persons with disabilities as journalists or media workers. The manual aims to raise awareness on this matter among professionals in media houses and journalists, as well as journalism students.

The manual offers practical approaches to uphold the human rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in line with the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Charter. It also highlights the fundamental importance of policies and legislation for advancing, promoting and consolidating the rights of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, it aims to provide insights into meaningfully engaging persons with disabilities to equally and fully participate in social, cultural, political and economic life.

We invite you to engage in Human Rights centered actions for persons with disabilities by raising awareness on inclusiveness and driving the change of mindsets in the Caribbean through your advocacy actions. Concluding, we invite you to multiply this manual on disability inclusion as a resource to leverage the equality and sense of belonging of persons with disabilities as citizens and human rights holders