STEP Centre Dedication

The School of Therapy, Education and Parenting of Children with multiple disabilities, more commonly known as the STEP Centre, officially dedicated its new school building on Tuesday, April 15 at Tremaine Road, off Mountain View Avenue. For 17 years, the school was inadequately housed in the hall of the St. Margaret’s Church in Liguanea. Speaking at the dedication, Judine Hunter, Special Needs Programme Manager at the Digicel Foundation, said that, “It has been an honour for the Digicel Foundation to be a part of the STEP Centre’s journey so far. The STEP Centre has been instrumental in moving beyond education, to providing the vital advocacy and support that is needed by our children in the Special Needs community. The opportunity to have partnered with them affirms the Foundation’s belief that the welfare and quality of the life of persons with disabilities is of paramount importance”. The STEP Centre is a fully registered independent school for children with multiple disabilities. It is the only school in Jamaica that offers physical, occupational, art, and speech/language therapy for severely disabled children as part of its daily curriculum. The Centre also has vibrant outreach programmes providing training for care staff, parents, associated professionals and para-professionals as well as direct intervention. “We are thrilled to be celebrating our new school today. We believe that our very special children deserve a facility that is both functional and beautiful. We are especially grateful to the Digicel Foundation for helping to make this possible,” said Hilary Sherlock, Principal, STEP Centre. The STEP Centre is a part of the Digicel Foundation’s larger “Centres of Excellence Programme”, geared at increasing the capacity of Special Needs schools in Jamaica. As part of its 10th Anniversary celebrations, the Foundation will be opening 10 Centres of Excellence this year.