Bright future for students with development challenges

Principal Director for the Early Stimulation Programme Antonica Gunter Gayle says parents have a critical role in securing an education for their children with special needs.

Seventy-five students with developmental disabilities, who are transitioning into the primary and secondary education systems, graduated from the programme on Wednesday.

"Many of them started with significant challenges. Some couldn't speak or move independently. Now, they are ready to flourish in specialised or mainstream educational environments," she said. Gunter Gayle was speaking at the programme's graduation ceremony at the Apostolic Church of Jamaica, Bethel Temple, in Kingston. Gunter Gayle noted that children from the simulation programme are moving on to both non-traditional and traditional high schools, including Wolmer's High School for Boys, Campion College, Kingston College, Jamaica College, as well as Excelsior, Dunoon Technical and Kingston Technical high schools.

"We have quite a number of children that have done well and have moved on professionally," she said.

"It is very important for the parents to be supportive and to be focused on objectives. [They are] not to feel as if nothing can be done for [their] child, or [their] child is the worst and [they] can't be burdened or bond with a child with a disability. The right approach and the support can help this child to be the best that he or she can be," she added.

The Early Stimulation Programme provides early intervention for children - from birth to six years old - with various types of developmental disabilities. Vivian Blake, from the Ministry of Education and Youth's Special Education Department, said that over the past year, the department has touched the lives of over 3,000 students, offering families from 232 communities life-changing interventions. The programme operates from four centres, two in the Kingston and St Andrew metropolitan region, one in Portland, and one in St James.

Nakeeta Mullings, who travelled from St Ann to Kingston for her son Delvian Brown Jr's graduation, shared that he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2019.

"Thanks to the programme, Delvian, now seven years old, has made tremendous strides. His development has improved, especially with the support of his shadow (a person who provide crucial assistance to special-needs children) at school. We are now trying to work on his speech, and also to get him more settled," she said. The path hasn't been easy for Mullings and her partner Delvian Brown Sr, who, despite both being police officers, acknowledged the financial strain.

"Buying diapers for so long was tough, but any improvement in Delvian's abilities is a major victory for us," the proud dad stated. For Mullings, the programme has been invaluable.

"I encourage other parents in Jamaica to explore this programme. No matter where they are in Jamaica, seek out and try to get on the programme. Resources for autism are limited, but this programme has been a game changer for us," she said.