Kingston, Jamaica – St. Mary, Jamaica will soon get its first fully equipped learning centre for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Up to now, students who reside in Port Maria and surrounding areas would have to travel at least 30 kilometres away, in Ocho Rios, to enrol in the nearest institution of its kind.
However, a partnership between Jamaica Association for Intellectual Disabilities (JAID) and Digicel Jamaica Foundation has led to the construction of a Centre of Excellence which teaches literacy and numeracy as well as vocational skills to persons with intellectual disabilities, aged 6 – 20 in the capital of St. Mary. The $27-million investment will also cover training of teachers.
“The Digicel Foundation is a committed and dedicated partner,” said Mrs. Christine Rodriquez, Executive Director of the JAID. “What they have given us here today is more than money can buy.”
The demand for a learning facility for the intellectually disabled has been high in St. Mary, explained Rodriquez.
A branch of the JAID, which was first opened in St. Mary in 1977, has had difficulty fulfilling this demand due to the lack of proper facilities. But the soon-to-be-completed Port Maria Learning Centre will have a permanent home that will cater to 36 students and consist of 3 classrooms, a multi- purpose area, administrative office and other amenities.
“We remain committed to enhancing the lives of, and providing opportunities for members of the special needs community in Jamaica,” said Mrs. Jean Lowrie-Chin, Chairman of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation at the official ground-breaking held at the Learning Centre’s new location on the grounds of the Trinity Primary School, Port Maria.
Integrating the intellectually disabled students with their typically-performing peers at Trinity Primary will prove positive on a number of levels, according to the Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing.
The Minister, who is the Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, reiterated that persons need to be more accepting of those who are differently abled.
Theresa Clarke, whose eight-year-old son Jabari attends the Port Maria Learning Centre, feels comforted with the knowledge that her son can receive proper care at a facility that is close to where she lives.
“I feel very good that they have somewhere permanent, no more ups and downs. This is somewhere that they can come and safely learn. They can attend school like normal children,” the mother said.
Digicel Jamaica Foundation’s Centres of Excellence programme has been implemented in six schools strengthening the capacity of special needs students in Jamaica through infrastructure improvement, the provision of equipment and material, and the training of teachers and caregivers.
