In a greater effort to improve accessibility and social inclusion, the Legal Aid Council (LAC) says its network of empanelled lawyers will be trained in sign language.

The LAC, in a statement, indicated that the training programme begins in 2024 to assist with the council’s efficiency in providing legal advice to members of the deaf community.

LAC executive director Dian Watson indicated that the council has always provided legal services to the most vulnerable in society, to include the disabled.

“We are focused on the mentally challenged, and those in underserved communities. We are extending our reach those unable to come to us for assistance,” she said in a recent interview, outlining the group of persons assisted by the council.

“What we are doing now is making direct visits to the disabled because they are not sufficiently represented at the island-wide fairs we have had across the island. We therefore, made a decision to
be very targeted and focused on the disabled,” said Watson.

To assist with the challenges experienced in providing justice services to the disabled community,
the LAC has partnered with stakeholders of the communities of persons with disabilities to assist
with the delivery of service, which includes but not limited to interpreters.

Additionally, the council has been building internal capacity receiving training on intellectual disabilities as well as developing media resources to include brail to reach the visually impaired. Stakeholder discussions have also been assisting in identifying the gaps to address the deficiencies.

The Disabilities Act which came into effect February 14, 2022, outlines access to include free
movement, use of benefits and the ability to receive and understand information.

This aligns with the mandate of the Ministry of Justice as the organisation seeks to increase justice for all Jamaicans, including persons living with disabilities.