Advocate urges corporate Antigua to hire disabled citizens
By Deslyn A Joseph Antigua and Barbuda’s corporate community must shift from pity to constructive allyship by providing jobs for the nation’s 16,000 disabled citizens, an advocacy leader says. Joshuanette Francis, the founding president of the non-profit Good Humans 268 Inc., is calling on local businesses to create inclusive employment opportunities and support systems for […]
Black News 
By Deslyn A Joseph
Antigua and Barbuda’s corporate community must shift from pity to constructive allyship by providing jobs for the nation’s 16,000 disabled citizens, an advocacy leader says.
Joshuanette Francis, the founding president of the non-profit Good Humans 268 Inc., is calling on local businesses to create inclusive employment opportunities and support systems for parents of disabled children. Speaking to Observer Media, Francis shared that she secured a wrongful dismissal court verdict on June 19, 2026, ending a legal battle that lasted 5 years, 8 months, and 3 days following her own osteoarthritis diagnosis.
Francis challenged the negative stereotypes surrounding disability, emphasizing that public perception remains too heavily focused on a dynamic of charity rather than active capability. “One of our biggest challenges with disability is people assume that we’re beggars; people assume that we’re not aware of love and jobs and a regular life,” Francis said. “And it’s always the doom and gloom when it comes to disability.”
To drive systemic change, Francis noted that the local community must be more proactive about demanding legal reform and stepping directly into public view.
“We need legislation enforced because we lack a disability tribunal, we lack a council, and what needs to happen is we need more voices in the disability space,” she stated, adding that “the disability community needs to be out there more”.
Systemic gaps continue to hinder progress, as the island lacks a disability tribunal and regulatory council to enforce the 2017 Disability Act. Francis said local organizations, including the Antigua and Barbuda Association for Persons with Disabilities, must build a stronger, highly visible network to advocate for legislative action.
While acknowledging that fighting systemic barriers leaves many advocates exhausted, Francis emphasized that the disability community, alongside parents and teachers, must continue to present themselves confidently in public spaces to foster true societal change.
