Improving opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

We have spent the past 13 years supporting and implementing programmes that advocate for inclusion and improve opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Our programmes are people-centered and address fundamental needs of this vulnerable group. Our special needs interventions range from sport for development, therapy, education, inclusion and facility upgrades.

Through a long-term partnership with Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago (SOTT), we have seen the growth in support for Special Olympics National Games. Additionally, through their Community Training Programme SOTT, 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 additional support to teachers and care-givers in areas of Occupational, Speech & Language and Behaviour Therapy. The programme which began in 2015, culminated with 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.

Our flagship programme, ‘Preparing You!’ is a disaster management and emergency evacuation programme for persons with special needs. This programme was initiated in collaboration with the UNDP through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), funded by the Australian Aid. Other major programme stakeholders included 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.  A new partnership with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB –LAB) saw the inclusion of virtual reality to build awareness and support training in disaster risk reduction. 

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 sought to provide the necessary upgrades and refurbish or construct facilities that cater to persons with special needs to international standards. 

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.