By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Wednesday, December 9 2009

“To be an advocate for differently-abled persons, one must appreciate the differences which make people different from each other.”

This advice was given by President George Maxwell Richards yesterday at the formal opening of an $8 million wing of the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) in San Fernando.

Richards, the patron of the NCPD, said advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities must have, as its core, an understanding of the dignity of the human being.

As he unveiled a plaque at the spanking new wing and congratulated the NCPD’s management and sponsors, Richards said much more must be done to meet the increasing demand of services for persons with disabilities.

“The range of courses offered is not as wide as it can be, but we all understand the constraints and I have every confidence that, that too, will change. They cannot maximise their potential if they are unable to come and go as they wish, just like other persons who do not have the physical challenges,” Richards said.

He said the NCPD must set the pace for the genuine and conscious reception of persons with disabilities. “As a people we may want to take a closer look at how we see the physically impaired...Genius is not confined to the physically unimpaired,” Richards said.

Beverly Beckles, CEO of the NCPD, said the journey of constructing the wing, which took 12 months, is not yet over as contributions are still needed to help outfit the building.

“We still need more equipment, tools etc, as well as securing our entire compound with an upgraded fencing and installation of a security system. And so we are open for contributions, ” Beckles said.

She described the previous building as a shed which was a hindrance to the achievement of the objectives of the programmes.