Counselling, jobs programme reaches over 400 people with disabilities

More than 400 persons with disabilities (PWDs) from multiple regions have received specialised guidance and counselling since 2022 through a partnership between the Office of the First Lady and the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD).

The programme, funded by the First Lady’s office, uses trained counsellors who also live with disabilities, a peer-to-peer model officials say has created a more relatable and supportive environment, particularly for young people navigating educational, personal and career-related challenges.

First Lady Arya Ali said in a Facebook post on Thursday that such interventions do far more than offer advice.

“With the right support, persons with disabilities are able to identify their strengths, set achievable goals, and make informed decisions about their futures. Programmes like this help them gain the confidence needed to reach their full potential in a society that too often overlooks them,” she said.

Earlier this year, the First Lady’s office launched the Centre for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation, a facility it says is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, which now employs close to 100 persons with disabilities. The centre offers skills training, entrepreneurship opportunities and accessible workspaces to promote financial independence and social inclusion.

The initiatives are part of the government’s One Guyana vision, which prioritises opportunities for all citizens, especially vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Over the past four years, the First Lady’s office has expanded disability-focused programmes from vocational training and small business support to advocacy for accessible infrastructure.

Local disability advocates say the efforts provide immediate assistance and address systemic barriers. By combining psychosocial support with employment opportunities, they say, the programmes are narrowing the gap between policy promises and lived experiences for Guyana’s disabled population.