The Government has introduced the island’s first Disability Register with the goal of carving a path to greater inclusion.

The register was created by the Office of Ageing and Disability Services as part of efforts to extend the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Bermuda.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, told the House of Assembly that roughly 3,500 people on the island lived with disabilities, and the register could help to level the playing field for them.

In April, the Government launched a National Disability Register mobile application, which has so far allowed 171 people to sign on.

Ms Furbert said efforts to grow the register will continue this summer.

“In July and August this year, the Office of Ageing and Disability Services will host another incentive-based registration drive to give persons with disabilities and their families the opportunity to register.

“Data collected during the next island-wide registration drives will build the database and also serve as an opportunity to further develop the app to a comparable product with our counterparts in other jurisdictions.

“Over time, the intent is to set up kiosks in various accessible locations throughout our community where persons can register at their leisure.

“The broader vision is to scale the digital application to offer job listings, to provide notices of natural disasters, to provide deaf interpretation and, in time, provide accessible transportation options for persons with disabilities.”

Ms Furbert said the register would serve as a “centralised repository” with data on types of disabilities to be used to identify gaps in programmes, services and equipment required.

She added: “The Disability Register will not be used for case management or as a case management tool but will hold information and data using digital technology.

“This data will ultimately facilitate informed policies and decisions in key areas such as healthcare, education, employment and accessibility to advance inclusivity in Bermuda.”