5K WALK/RUN SPECIAL NEEDS BENEFICIARIES

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk is aimed at increasing awareness around the Special Needs community in Jamaica. The 5K Night Run/Walk is the first ever night race being held in Jamaica, which will be staged in Downtown Kingston, home of our new headquarters. The theme of the event is ‘Take Back the Night’, which seeks to alter perceptions about hosting events at night in Downtown Kingston. For us, the parallel is one in which we wish to redefine perceptions of persons living with special needs. Our Special Needs partners and beneficiaries are: Jamaica Association for the Deaf Vision: A Jamaica in which Deaf persons are empowered to fully participate in nation building. Programmes: Special Education and vocational training; Social support services for Deaf persons and their families; Hearing assessment, enhancement and conservation services; and, Public education and community development. Contact: admin@jamdeaf.org Jamaica Society for the Blind Focus: Helping blind persons adjust to their condition, lead productive lives and encourage, through public education, better eye care among the sighted. Programmes: Vision testing; Rehabilitation; Instruction; Library; Links and Public Education. Contact: 927-3760/927-6758-9 Jamaica Autism Support Association (JASA) Focus: Supporting, Informing, Advocating. An association made up of caring parents of children on the autism spectrum, who come together to share information, resources, feedback and offer support. Programmes: Annual Autism Workshop, Surfing for Autism, Monthly support group meetings, World Autism Day/Month activities Contact: www.jamaicaautism.org Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID) Vision: To provide dynamic leadership, advocacy and influence that will facilitate the full integration and inclusion of persons with Intellectual Disability and other Developmental Disabilities in society. Programmes: Schools of Special Education (Kingston, St. Catherine, Manchester, Westmoreland, St. Ann); Early Intervention; Continuing Education – vocational training; Parent and Professionals in Partnership (parent support); Social Services; Primary Intervention Programme for at risk children in primary schools; and an Assessment Centre Contact: www.jaid.org.jm; jamr@cwjamaica.com; 927-2054/977-1118 The STEP Centre (School for Therapy Education and Parenting of children with multiple disabilities) Focus: One of a kind school in Jamaica for very special children with complex developmental and learning challenges. STEP offers physical, occupational, art, speech/language and therapy as part of its curriculum for the severely disabled child. Programmes: Training resource for student teachers, professionals and paraprofessionals; Curriculum development for the severely disabled child; Advocacy Contact: www.thestepcentre.com; thestepcentre@yahoo.com; 977-3720 NAZ Children’s Centre (Montego Bay) Focus: A unique ‘mixed ability’ school designed to fit each child’s individual learning needs with a structure that caters to average learners, learners who work above age and grade levels, Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Learning Delays. Contact: www.nazchildrenscentre.com; nazchildrenscentre@yahoo.com; 875-3485 Randolph Lopez School of Hope Focus: This school forms part of the oldest and largest special education programme in Jamaica, and is jointly operated by JAID (see above) and the Ministry of Education. Programmes: Support Services including assessment, social work intervention, transition, library; Utlization of curricula from the Ministry of Education and a competency based curriculum geared towards children with developmental challenges; Vocational Training; Resource Programmes; Cultural Programmes Contact: http://www.jamr.org.jm/randolph.htm; 927-2054 Mustard Seed Communities Focus: Serving over 500 children and young adults with disabilities, children who are HIV positive, pregnant teens and their babies. Programmes: Blessed Assurance (Montego Bay); My Father’s House home for children with varying degrees of cognitive and physical disabilities, home to ROOTS FM, and Little Angels Preschool); Jacob’s Ladder (Moneague)providing a home for individuals over the age of 18 with mental and physical disabilities; Jerusalem! (Spanish Town) catering to older teens and adults residents; Sophie’s Place (St. Andrew) home for children with profound disabilities; Widow’s Mite, home for abandoned children with disabilities Contact: www.mustardseed.com; info-jamaica@mustardseed.com; 923-6488