The Disabled Persons Network (DPN) is hosting the first General Assembly of Disabled Peoples Networks tomorrow at the Critchlow Labour College.
According to a press release the six regional DPNs established under the purview of the national DPN are expected to attend the 9.30am meeting. The regional units comprise members in Region Two (Queenstown, Essequibo), Region Seven (Bartica); Region Four – East Bank Demerara (Diamond) and East Coast Demerara (Golden Grove), Region Five (West Coast Berbice (Seafield) and Region Six (New Amsterdam, Berbice).
According to the release the characteristics of the DPNs are Cross Disability which comprises members with any type of disability; Regional and National.
The groups host two main kinds of activities: advocacy and awareness and it organises activities for members. All the regional DPNs are actively involved in annual activities such as Blind Awareness Week, Disability Week and Deaf Awareness Month.
They contribute to activities organised in Georgetown but more importantly, they also host rally marches and make presentation in schools. All DPNs meet their own transportation costs and need an annual subsidy to take members to meetings and group activities.
The Region Five unit is granted an annual government subsidy to meet its transportation costs.
Most regional DPNs do income generating activities such as cake decorating and sales, sale of lunches, bingo gatherings, sport events and sale of craft items and all organise social events for their members.
To this end, the DPN said it is concerned about the lack of facilities at DPN offices in regions four, six and seven; as, for persons with disabilities, an “appropriate home” is important.
