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More than 200 students with Special Needs spanning seven institutions across the island are set to benefit from a special teacher training programme being spearheaded by the Digicel Foundation. The Foundation has been partnering with Special Needs Schools island-wide to create ‘Centers of Excellence’ by providing improved facilities, equipment, resources and on-going training for teachers and caregivers. The project also seeks to create a training hub with Information Communication Technology links into each participating school, allowing students to learn by utilising visual auditory experiences and three dimensional learning tools. Schools partnering with the Digicel foundation on this initiative are: Early Stimulation Plus, Genesis Academy, Liberty Academy, STEP Centre, Mustard Seed Communities and Naz in St James. The first phase of the project, dubbed “Improving Special Needs Collaboratively,” involved the training of over 80 teachers and caregivers across the island and kicked off on Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26 at Genesis Academy, 38 South Camp Road in Kingston. The training was spearheaded by three specialized therapists who worked with the teachers and caregivers to improve weak areas, while further improving existing areas of strength. They offered practical training and support throughout the program with the aim to empower staff and parents to better care for special needs children. Among the areas addressed in the first phase of training were: Occupational Therapy, Academic Enrichment, Speech Therapy and Behaviour Therapy. Hilary Sherlock, Principal at STEP Centre is optimistic that the project was a successful one. “It is something that is well needed in terms of ongoing support for children with special needs. The Digicel Foundation has been very generous in providing us with a building but the training will also help us to improve our programme,” she remarked. Judine Hunter, Programme Manager, Special Needs at Digicel Jamaica said there was overwhelming support from teachers and caregivers for the project. “We are only too happy to be working on yet another project to benefit children with special needs. This is our first such training project. We are pleased to assist in providing the necessary skills and best practices. So far the support has been tremendous.” Meanwhile Samantha Chantrelle, Executive Director of the Digicel Foundation has pledged the Foundation’s continued support for children with special needs in Jamaica. “It is the aim of the Foundation to continue providing assistance in areas where this is needed. The country’s youth are an important part of the mandate of the Digicel Foundation and we are pleased to be a part of this exciting project.”
