Desperate dad struggles to provide for autistic sons

Fifty-seven-year-old Deron Daley, a father of three, is struggling to provide even the basics for his family.

At a recent visit to his Franklin Town,, Kingston home by THE STAR, Daley was getting ready to walk to Elletson Road in search of any small job that could earn him a few dollars. Within hours, his sons were due home from school, expecting a hot meal -- but Daley admitted he had no idea how he would provide it.

"I'm heading on the road to see if anybody can give me a little hustle, even if it's just a thousand dollars so I can cook some food," she said.

"Right now, I don't have anything for them. My mother is also there, and she's too old to work, so I have to make sure she eats too," he shared.

Daley's three sons, aged 17, 19 and 20, all live with severe intellectual disabilities and attend a special needs school in the corporate area. The father said he is the sole provider for the household, which also includes his elderly mother.

"I do cleaning work, like toilets and things like that. When I get paid $8,000, and I give my mother $5,000 to buy food, but that can barely cover anything," he said.

"The next $3,000 mi use part a it and tap up the pickney dem lunch card. Mi give thanks say dem deh pon PATH suh dem get lunch. It hard pon we, but mi want di yute dem come out to supme good," he said.

The emotional toll is evident. Daley admitted it has been years since he has experienced a day without stress.

"Mi sweep the road, too, but it is not full-time suh when mi get that money, mi use it and pay the Wi-Fi bill because the yute dem need it fi help with school work," he said.

He added that personal comforts are a distant memory, noting that he has long forgotten what it feels like to buy anything for himself.

"Honestly sometimes mi can't buy a suit of clothes for miself. Mi frustrated bad, especially when mi nuh have it to give dem," he said.

The family's two-bedroom home is in a state of disrepair. Space is cramped, the wooden flooring is unstable, and sections of the roof -- patched together with broken zinc and plywood--offer little protection from rain.

"Mi worry everyday say the roof a guh collapse, but a because mi don't have the money to fix it," he said.

Despite his struggles, Daley said asking for help has not come easily, as he has always tried to stand on his own.

"Mi nuh have much, and mi nuh like beg, but mi can't manage on mi own, and dat is why mi a ask now. Anybody who can gimmi any likkle ting mi, would glad for it," Daley said.

Persons wishing to assist Daley and his family can contact him at 876-896-0488. Donations may also be made to his Scotiabank savings account: 001012913.