The island needs a “clear, measurable road map” in the form of a national disability strategy to guide inclusion efforts across all sectors of society, the Human Rights Commission said.

It listed the issue among key themes in its 2024 Disability Inclusion Report.

It followed a public consultation to better understand the lived experiences of residents with disabilities and to identify barriers to their full participation in society.

“This must be a collective effort; it cannot be the sole responsibility of the Government,” the report recommended.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation later emphasised that accessibility was “a cornerstone of our planning policy”.

The HRC said the road map should clearly define specific initiatives and responsibilities for stakeholders, with measurable goals.

It said that the plan should also include timelines, accountability and enforcement mechanisms and milestones across sectors.

A national commitment to disability inclusion was said to require sustained support, resources and participation from all sectors of life in Bermuda.

“This is about transforming ideas into real, measurable actions, where inclusion is not optional but a national expectation,” the report added.

Lisa Reed, the executive officer of the HRC, said: “The Human Rights Commission strongly affirms the urgency of all the recommendations made by the community in the report, and establishing a national disability strategy is one of the recommendations.

“Through our public survey, focus groups and community conversation, participants consistently and clearly shared that the state of disability inclusion in Bermuda is inadequate.

“They shared countless examples of exclusion, noncompliance and systemic gaps in transportation, access to public and private services and amenities, medical support, education and the built environment.”

She said that since Bermuda is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Government has signalled its commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of those affected.

“Bermuda has a national obligation and an international commitment to act,” she said.

“Existing legislation and policies require compliance; the consultation underscored that these rights must be enforced and upheld in practice.

“We encourage everyone to read the report. Take meaningful action and be accountable to make disability inclusion a reality in Bermuda.”

The commission said that consultation last year was geared at fostering a broader conversation with residents on accessibility, equitable opportunities and societal attitudes towards disability.

While some progress has been made in addressing the issue, the HRC said the island fell short of meeting its obligations to create a “disability inclusive society”.

In the survey in June 2024 — which received 313 responses — 111 respondents were identified as having a disability and 60 were employers who worked in management roles.

The HRC reported that three in ten people said they lacked an understanding of disability rights in Bermuda.

Those who understood their rights believed that there was a need for increased compliance with legislation by service providers, public services and employers, among others.

It called for legislative reform to address disability and improve existing protections.

The report said: “Bermuda must review and strengthen existing legislation to align with current needs and international standards to ensure and enforce disability rights.”

The rights body called for a “co-ordinated, cross-ministerial approach” to embed disability rights across all sectors and to uphold Bermuda’s national and international obligations.

The HRC said there was need for greater enforcement and accountability to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination.

It added that respondents to the survey said accountability was needed to prevent harassment and discrimination and to ensure that people with disabilities have greater access to public services.

The HRC said the most popular suggestion from respondents for improving disability advocacy was to create more initiatives aimed at educating the public and raising awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Respondents believed advocacy led by individuals with disabilities and their families would be particularly effective in articulating the experiences and needs of people with disabilities.

They emphasised that all stakeholders, including members of the public, private sector entities and government representatives, needed to play a role in advocating for people with disabilities.

On public awareness, the HRC said stigma and misinformation must be addressed through storytelling and awareness campaigns.

The HRC said societal pressure and barriers faced by people with disabilities needed to be addressed since some respondents reported being met with “punitive, dismissive and discriminatory treatment and attitudes”.

It said existing programmes and policies must be assessed transparently for functionality and relevance.

The process is crucial to ensure that they are effectively meeting the diverse needs of people with disabilities, the commission said.

A government spokeswoman said last night: “The Bermuda Plan 2018 emphasises this commitment through multiple references to accessibility, including a dedicated policy which mandates public buildings to be accessible to persons with physical disabilities, in alignment with the Bermuda Building Code.

“The same policy also seeks to ensure that all facilities and amenities open to the public should be designed to ensure that they are barrier-free and usable to everyone regardless of age, size, ability or disability.

“The department also has produced a comprehensive guidance note on Accessibility and Access Statements, setting out the details which should be contained within an Access Statement should it be determined that one is required in association with a development proposal.

“Accessibility is also identified as an issue of strategic importance within the recently adopted City of Hamilton Plan 2025, requiring development to consider and accommodate people with a range of physical abilities and incorporate universal design principles where possible.”

The spokeswoman said that the Department of Planning made “every effort to uphold and mandate inclusive design standards” that were supported by legislation.

She added that Bermuda’s Building Code used the International Building Code and ANSI A117.1 standards for accessibility.

The spokeswoman said: “These frameworks are designed to provide broad, consistent guidance for accessible design and are applied as comprehensively as possible.”

She said: “It is important to note that while accessibility requirements can be more effectively enforced in the case of new-build commercial developments — where legislative provisions are clear — there are significant challenges in applying the same level of enforcement to existing buildings undergoing partial renovations.

“In many such cases, the current regulatory framework does not mandate full accessibility upgrades unless the scope of work meets specific thresholds.”

• To view the Disability Inclusion Report, see Related Media

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