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January 3, 2026
January 3, 2026
Persons living with disabilities (PWDs) can look forward to expanded programmes and services in 2026, with new training opportunities and enhanced support systems.
This includes the formal opening of a dedicated Support Services Unit, according to Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
She said the ministry will introduce additional training programmes aimed at economic empowerment and independence.
“Going forward, we are focusing on empowerment in its fullest sense—income generation, mobility, quality of life, and overall well-being. In 2026, we will formally open a Support Services Unit for Persons Living with Disabilities. We are also developing formal sign language training programmes in partnership with NGOs such as the Guyana Council of Persons Living with Disabilities, the National Commission on Disabilities, and the Society for the Blind and the Deaf,” the minister said.
Programmes include climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, culinary arts, leadership development, and expanded technical and vocational courses under the UK City and Guilds programme, allowing persons living with disabilities to access training in areas such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and electrical installation.
The minister said the Support Services Unit will cater to all categories of disabilities, including children, and services related to employment, training, transportation, housing, and social support will be integrated.
“We will continue to expand the number and type of courses. We are looking at climate-smart, sustainable agriculture, and introducing persons living with disabilities to the UK City and Guilds programmes, including carpentry, masonry, electrical installation, and plumbing. We will also introduce culinary arts training, similar to what we offer under the WIN programme,” she disclosed.
Efforts will also continue to ensure that eligible individuals are captured on the national disability database and can benefit from existing and new initiatives.
“One of the most impactful initiatives has been the socio-economic training programme, where participants learned business literacy and how to develop business plans, with access to a revolving loan fund established in 2023. To date, 59 persons have benefited. This programme was done in collaboration with the ministry and the Small Business Bureau and included training on gender-based violence, domestic violence, mental health, and other social issues,” Dr. Persaud shared.
Through the Learning Lab and community-based programmes, 1,898 persons living with disabilities have been trained across all ten regions of Guyana since 2021, with 1,000 trained in 2025 alone.
Training areas included garment construction, audiovisual technology, digital skills, literacy and numeracy, and business development.
Additionally, 247 public sector workers were trained to better engage with and serve persons living with disabilities.
