Allies, Enemies, or Indifferent? The Disability and Older Persons' Movements under Neoliberalism in Jamaica

Abstract

Purpose: Researchers and advocates alike have noted that persons with disabilities and older persons are the two groups most marginalized by neoliberal economic policies and therefore could come together as a broad-based movement against the roll back of their rights. Yet, these two groups fail to collaborate, and instead compete against one another for an ever-shrinking pool of benefits. This chapter explores the barriers to their collaboration within the context of structural adjustment in Jamaica.

Methods/Approach: The author engages in a critical analysis of neoliberalism's effect on the advocacy strategies of the disability and older persons' movements in Jamaica based on 32 semi-directed depth interviews, participant observation of numerous events, and a survey of media written by local advocates.

Findings: The disability movement makes claims on behalf of their members by focusing on the potential returns that society will gain by providing the opportunities that will make young persons with disabilities productive employees over their lifetime. The older persons' movement advocates by portraying themselves as “vibrant” and worthy of social investment because of the contributions they make. Both of these arguments for inclusion are also exclusionary. The disability movement excludes older persons as potential contributors and the older persons' movement similarly excludes persons with disabilities.

Implications: The only way neoliberalism will successfully be rolled back and universal rights returned is if the disability movement and older persons' movements build an alliance that is more inclusive, including of one another, by rejecting the language of investment and productivity, and instead focus on rights and inherent dignity.

Citation

Meyers, S. (2020), "Allies, Enemies, or Indifferent? The Disability and Older Persons' Movements under Neoliberalism in Jamaica", Carey, A.C., Ostrove, J.M. and Fannon, T. (Ed.) Disability Alliances and Allies (Research in Social Science and Disability, Vol. 12), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 41-65. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-354720200000012006