Annicia Gayle-Geddes' Interview on Profile with Ian Boyne Feb. 2015

Renowned Jamaican Journalist Ian Boyne interviews Annicia Gayle-Geddes about her work and the issues she explores in the book "Disability & Inequality:Socioeconomic Imperatives and Public Policy in Jamaica". About the Book Disability and Inequality explores the lived experiences of persons with disabilities in Jamaica. It examines measurable socioeconomic deficits of the marginalized socio-cultural disability identity, which induce poorer education, training, and labour r market outcomes of PWDs compared to persons without disabilities. Multiple risks and overlapping vulnerabilities such as gender, geographic location, type and severity of disability are deconstructed. The book thus provides an evidence-based, theoretically grounded and implementable public policy Framework of Key Determinants for Political and Socioeconomic Inclusion of PWDs. The framework advances anti-discrimination legislation and a twin-track policy schema with six interconnected enablers of human rights; social protection and basic social services; diagnostic assessment, rehabilitation and healthcare; communication, adaptive and environmental access; education and training; and employment. The public policy imperatives are applicable for Jamaica, the Caribbean as well as developing countries with similar characteristics - many of which are signatories to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The book is a must read for academics, students, disability advocates, NGOs, policy/program practitioners, international development specialists, educators, and employers.