Providing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Supporting inclusion through the three 'A's — Access, Advocacy, and Advancement.
As one of Jamaica’s leading corporate foundations with a strong focus on special needs, we are dedicated to addressing the longstanding challenges of limited funding and awareness that have kept persons with disabilities on the margins for far too long.
To date, we have built or renovated 22 special needs schools, transforming learning environments for Jamaica’s most vulnerable students and creating spaces where they can thrive. Our investments have delivered measurable impact. A new facility for the Early Stimulation Programme increased enrolment from just 48 to over 150 students, opening doors for hundreds of families. We have trained more than 390 teachers, caregivers, and parents, strengthening the quality of care and support available to children with special needs, while our Ramps in Schools project has constructed 48 ramps across the island, improving accessibility and inclusion.
In 2018, in partnership with UNICEF, we supported the registration of 3,633 individuals — including 847 students — with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, connecting them to critical government benefits and services they had long been unable to access. We have also partnered with the Early Childhood Commission to establish three inclusive early childhood classrooms featuring dedicated sensory rooms, helping to embed accessibility and inclusion at the very foundation of a child’s educational journey.
When Digicel Foundation turned its attention to the Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Children, only 26 working machines existed for over 130 students, so we acted — launching the "Follow the Trail, Invest in Braille" campaign that united approximately 35 corporate and individual sponsors and transformed our initial donation of three machines into 107 Braille machines, valued at approximately USD $100,000, secured through collective corporate mobilisation and a partnership with the Open Door Jamaica Foundation and media personality Terri-Karrelle Reid Johnson. Beyond the machines themselves, the school has since received two Braille embossers — specialised devices that print raised-dot text at volume, functioning like a printer for sighted students — and the Foundation is now finalising plans to train two teachers at the Perkins School for the Blind in the USA, one of the world's leading institutions for visual impairment education, with training set to commence in summer 2026.
Guided by a commitment to inclusion and equity, we continue to create meaningful, lasting change—ensuring that persons with disabilities across Jamaica have the support, resources, and opportunities they deserve.
Inclusion is Not a Privilege- it is a Right
Special Needs Schools Built / Renovated
21 special needs schools built or renovated island-wide — creating safe, dignified, purpose-built environments where students with disabilities can learn and belong.
Special Needs Teacher & Caregiver Training
394 special needs teachers, caregivers, and parents trained with the knowledge and tools to provide high-quality, compassionate care and education.
Braille Machines Donated
107 Braille machines valued at USD $100,000 donated to the Salvation Army School for the Blind — mobilised through 35+ sponsors and the "Follow the Trail, Invest in Braille" campaign.
Smart Labs for Special Needs
State-of-the-art technology labs have been introduced across four special needs institutions, ensuring equal access to technology and enhanced learning opportunities for all students.
Ramps in Schools
48 ramps constructed across Jamaica's schools — tearing down the physical barriers that once blocked students with disabilities from accessing education.
JCPD Registration Drive
3,633 individuals — including 847 students — registered with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities in partnership with UNICEF, unlocking access to government benefits.