Special Needs | Digicel Trinidad and Tobago Foundation

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Special Needs

We have spent the past ten years supporting and implementing programmes that advocate for inclusion and improve opportunities available to persons with special needs. Our programmes have been people centered and address fundamental needs of this vulnerable group. Our special needs interventions range from sports for development, therapy, education, inclusion and facility upgrades.

Through our longterm partnership with Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago (SOTT) we have seen the growth in support for Special Olympics National Games.  Additionally, SOTT, through their Community Training Programme has been avidly recruiting and training new athletes and coaches, ensuring the sustainability of the sport development programme.

The Therapy-based Education programme was tailored to provide support to teachers and care-givers in areas of Occupational, Speech & Language and Behaviour Therapy. The programme began in 2015 and to date 15 schools have participated. In 2018, we hosted a two-day workshop for over 150 participants and facilitated discussions surrounding accessing public support and services and looking at interventions that aid in the advancement of persons with special needs.  This intervention has the potential to continue to develop with key partnerships with Occupational Therapists in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Our flagship programme, ‘Preparing You!’ is a disaster management and emergency evacuation programme for persons with special needs. This programme was initiated as a collaboration with the UNDP through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), funded by the Australian Aid. Other major programme stakeholders include the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services, Red Cross, and the Ministry Rural Development and Local Government.  To date, through a new partnership with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB –LAB), the intervention is supported by assistive digital technology to build awareness and support training in disaster risk reduction.  Preparing You was designed specifically for persons with special needs. After four years, the programme now includes a 'new-tech' component to help better prepare students with disabilities for disasters.  'Masters of Prep' virtual reality app that allows students to practice their life-saving skills in a safe environment.  

Our Centres of Excellence programme was designed to further compliment therapy and education efforts a special needs organisations.  It became clear that facilities were in need of dire upgrades.  This intervention refurbishes, remodels and in some instances rebuilds special needs facilities at an international standard. 

All our programs take us a step closer to a society that is inclusive, with citizens who can make a positive contribution toward sustainable development; a world where no one gets left behind.  

Special Needs Statistics
Project Project Partner Beneficiaries Investment USD
Centres of Excellence Rio Claro Development Centre for Special Children, Lady Hochoy School Gasparillo, Lady Hochoy Vocational. Servol Sunshine Hill, Goodwill Industries, Princess Elizabeth, University of Southern Caribbean 681 $390,798
Project
Centres of Excellence
Project Partner
Rio Claro Development Centre for Special Children, Lady Hochoy School Gasparillo, Lady Hochoy Vocational. Servol Sunshine Hill, Goodwill Industries, Princess Elizabeth, University of Southern Caribbean
Beneficiaries
681
Investment USD
$390,798
Preparing You UNDP GEF SGP, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB-LAB) 1,438 $315,000
Project
Preparing You
Project Partner
UNDP GEF SGP, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB-LAB)
Beneficiaries
1,438
Investment USD
$315,000
Puberty Sex and Sexuality Caribbean Kids Families Therapy Organisation (CKFTO) 328 $17,000
Project
Puberty Sex and Sexuality
Project Partner
Caribbean Kids Families Therapy Organisation (CKFTO)
Beneficiaries
328
Investment USD
$17,000
SOFit SOTT 100 $10,148
Project
SOFit
Project Partner
SOTT
Beneficiaries
100
Investment USD
$10,148
SOTT Community Training Programme SOTT 2,581 $126,267
Project
SOTT Community Training Programme
Project Partner
SOTT
Beneficiaries
2,581
Investment USD
$126,267
SOTT National Games SOTT 1,5,87 $177,780
Project
SOTT National Games
Project Partner
SOTT
Beneficiaries
1,5,87
Investment USD
$177,780
SOTT World Winter Games SOTT 50 $40,385
Project
SOTT World Winter Games
Project Partner
SOTT
Beneficiaries
50
Investment USD
$40,385
SOTT World Summer SOTT 100 $37,222
Project
SOTT World Summer
Project Partner
SOTT
Beneficiaries
100
Investment USD
$37,222
Therapy Based Education Programme A&C Foundation 1,042 $281,000
Project
Therapy Based Education Programme
Project Partner
A&C Foundation
Beneficiaries
1,042
Investment USD
$281,000
Special Needs