University of The Bahamas Office of Disabilities and Compliance

Happy New Year Mingoes Nation !!!!

University of The Bahamas Office of Disabilities and Compliance and the is proud to announce that UConn has accepted our academic proposals to present at the 2026 this year!.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Erin Brown, who leads the office, her staff and colleagues for the continued work in providing access, inclusion and opportunities to our registered students with disabilities and the UB administration, faculty , staff and students.

Stay tuned, for more information or you can connect directly by emailing [email protected]@ub.edu.bs.

From School to Career: Breaking Barriers for Deaf and Blind Students

https://www.fsdbk12.org/o/fsdb/article/2049303?fbclid=IwY2xjawIqxYVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcEfNjqk7doA_ppjDfN_pLc5IC0DIvkuP6kl8cdpnjEWR-vWIYdm2FMHQA_aem_oxfnLou3JTlsayp3ClZ7BQ

From School to Career: Breaking Barriers for Deaf and Blind Students With spring break coming up, a spate of graduations won’t be far behind, and with that, a new wave ...

Vendor Opportunity: Showcase Your Business at ENABLE 2025!

Are you a business or organization offering inclusive products, services, or resources? Join us at ENABLE: Building Businesses Without Limits Business Forum & Expo

Date: March 6, 2025
Location: UB Performing Arts Center
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm

This is your chance to connect with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and advocates while showcasing how your brand supports accessibility and inclusion.

Limited vendor spaces available!

🔗 Sign Up: zurl.co/kPpn5

SBDC Bahamas along with our partners is excited to announce ENABLE: Building Businesses Without Limits—an inclusive Business Forum & Expo designed to empower, connect, and inspire!

📅 Tentative Date: March 6, 2025
📍 Location: Performing Arts Center Auditorium, University of The Bahamas

This one-of-a-kind event creates a dynamic space where persons with disabilities can explore specialized products & services, engage in insightful discussions, and connect with industry leaders. From disability etiquette & accessible business environments to mental health & well-being for entrepreneurs, our expert-led panels will tackle key topics to drive real change.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, advocate, or ally, this is your opportunity to be part of a movement toward greater inclusion, access, and empowerment!

🔗 zurl.co/ExgL9 Registration today!

SBDC Bahamas along with our partners is excited to announce ENABLE: Building Businesses Without Limits—an inclusive Business Forum & Expo designed to empower, connect, and inspire!

📅 Tentative Date: March 6, 2025
📍 Location: Performing Arts Center Auditorium, University of The Bahamas

This one-of-a-kind event creates a dynamic space where persons with disabilities can explore specialized products & services, engage in insightful discussions, and connect with industry leaders. From disability etiquette & accessible business environments to mental health & well-being for entrepreneurs, our expert-led panels will tackle key topics to drive real change.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, advocate, or ally, this is your opportunity to be part of a movement toward greater inclusion, access, and empowerment!

🔗 zurl.co/ExgL9 Registration today!

Tuesday Feb 25 online for a conversation about "Disability Now: How the Current Political and Social Environment Is Affecting People with Disabilities."

Time:
6 pm - 7:30 pm (EST)
5 pm - 6:30 pm (CST)
4 pm - 5:30 pm (MST)
3 pm - 4:30 pm (PST)

Guest Speakers:
- Matthew Wangeman (NAU, professor)
- Jeff Preston (King’s University, Chair, Disability Studies)
- Beth Haller (Towson, Professor Emeritus)
- John Schaffer (NAU, Coordinator & filmmaker)
plus other special guests!

Zoom link:
https://nau.zoom.us/j/89766415243?pwd=5TUUhshptVQTVNB1zTm6bBQAoRv1fO.1

Meeting ID: 897 6641 5243
Password: 333394

ID: Text of the content above and a top picture of a hand reading braille and a lower picture of 7 stick figures looking at a sunset, 2 children and 5 adults, one of whom is the international wheelchair symbol.

UNHumanRightsCaribbean

Building a More Inclusive Bahamas: Engaging Civil Society on PWD

On February 6th we met with passionate advocates from R.E.A.C.H and University of The Bahamas Office of Disabilities and Compliance to discuss the pressing issues affecting persons with disabilities (PWD) in The Bahamas. From education and healthcare to employment and social protection, the discussion was a powerful reminder of the urgent need for change.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Education & Inclusion:
• Special education units exist but lack resources and integration into mainstream schools.
• Many educators are untrained in neurodivergence, creating barriers for students.
• Legislation exists but lacks enforcement—amendments have been proposed but remain untabled.

✅ Healthcare Challenges:
• Diagnostic services are severely limited, with no public assessments available for children under 5 and few options after age 16.
• Parents struggle to make medical decisions for adult children with disabilities due to legal roadblocks.
• Medical professionals often lack disability sensitivity training, leading to biased treatment.

✅ Employment & Social Protection:
• Employers need disability sensitivity training, alongside real strategies for implementation.
• NIB policies unintentionally penalize persons with disabilities, with no dedicated disability benefits and loss of support for PWD business owners.
• Public transportation remains inaccessible, limiting independence for persons with disabilities.

Stay connected as we engage on this crucial Human Rights priority!

CAPTION: (L-R) Greer Bain, R.E.A.C.H.; Michelle Brathwaite, Regional Representative OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office; Erin Brown, Disability Inclusion Consultant, University of The Bahamas Office of Disabilities and Compliance (and Erin Brown Conects). (CARICOM RO Photo)

Ms. Erin Brown welcomed Ms. Somalia Dahlia, and Ms. Zainab Adebayo, Unite Caribbean Group and TripleLine Consulting consortium
A team selected by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to implement the Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Analysis Draw-down service. with the support of the British High Commission in The Bahamas

Their work intended to strengthen FCDO’s understanding of the equality dynamics in the Caribbean region so we can better identify opportunities to deliver on the UK’s equality priorities.
While in The Bahamas, they will focus on mapping survivor journeys in The Bahamas engaging with Bahamian NGO representatives which operate in the GEDSI space includive of the disabled community lived experiences.

Erin Brown from the Office of Disabilities and Compliance, in collaboration with University of The Bahamas Directors and School leaderships including Dr. Abdul Knowles from the Office of Global Studies, Dr. Micklewhite from the School of Education, and Dr. Hutcheson from the School of Psychology, Social Work & Sociology, recently engaged in a meeting with Mr. Brian Williams . The purpose of the meeting was to explore avenues to enhance access, foster inclusion, and create opportunities for neurodiverse student support services and engagement.

The discussions revolved around various initiatives aimed at improving the support system for students. These included enhancing the supply chain for certified occupational therapy and speech pathology services, providing training sessions for educational faculty, staff, and administration, as well as implementing student interventions and academic accommodations.

Exciting developments lie ahead as we anticipate further progress in our efforts to promote inclusivity and support for all students.

We are so proud of our registered students with disabilities as they continue to excell in their journey.

Their intentional and are bold moves to increase access , inclusion and opportunities for incoming undergraduates and graduates with disabilities.






CONGRATULATIONS Minerva Miller !!!!


Thank you Mrs. Shantel Mackey, Advisor The National Society of Leadership and Success : UB Chapter your dedication continues to provide such safe spaces for all our students.

We are grateful.

The Fall 2024 semester may be winding down but that doesn’t mean that we are dialing back on our enthusiasm about our stellar students. Our excitement is heating up! Today’s student spotlight is on Minerva Miller, a senior enrolled in the Bachelor of Education, Early Childhood Education and Minor in Diversity Studies programmes. Minerva is on a mission to make a strong impact as a Special Education Educator with a concentration as an Intervention Specialist. 💡 🌟

Her leadership includes serving two terms as Student Officer of Disabilities and Compliance (2020-2021, 2021-2022) in the Student Government Association and as President of the Golden Z Club (2023-2024) at UB. 💼💪

“Currently, I am a member of Caribbean Women in Leadership (CWiL), the Missions Department of Five Porches of Deliverance Center and Community Service Chair of National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). My hobbies are creative writing, cooking, and reading,” Minerva shares.

Let's celebrate Minerva’s excellence and dedication to making a difference! She’s a true inspiration with a Bright Mind and Bold Future!🥳🙌💙🇧🇸

💼