DD Council to purchase $50K state-of-the art van

The Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council has recently been granted authority to procure a $50,000 state-of-the art accessible vehicle envisioned to alleviate barriers that hamper the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in regular community events.

DDC Executive Director Tom Camacho said once the van is purchased, the council will turnover its operation to another company or organization.

Funds for the major purchase was received by the council from the community block grant approved by Commonwealth Development Authority and the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation.

“We will be turning the key over to a bus operator to provide the services which they will handle on an on call basis. This would support individuals with disabilities who do not have access to transportation,” said Mr. Camacho.

Transportation, Mr. Camacho cited, is a major barrier both on the local and national scene, preventing people with disabilities from taking part in everyday community activities.

Another barrier toward their full inclusion, according to a recently-completed study entitled “Existing Policy Barriers to Full Inclusion: Results of an Opinion Research Questionnaire,” listed existing weak policies that zero in on funding deficiency.

The study that contained data gathered from government and community organization raised funding woes as the most apparent barrier, among several hindrances.

“Everybody agreed that we lack local funding to support services for people with developmental disabilities. There is local funding available that supports programs for individuals with disabilities but still, the bulk of the funding comes from the federal government,” Mr. Camacho explained.

The DD council chief then expressed support to the respondents’ proposal to create more policies that would ensure more local funding is in place.

Another popular recommendation has called for each CNMI organization to establish a written policy on developmental disabilities.

Mr. Camacho has even proposed that the CNMI government create laws that would mandate a fixed percentage funding to benefit all individuals with disabilities.

In the same way that CNMI’s public education sector is allotted 15 percent of the local government’s entire revenue as stated in the Constitution, Mr. Camacho is urging leaders to consider the same set-up for DD Council. (MM)