In Jamaica, educator calls for greater collaboration to transition special needs students

March 24, 2016 | Mandeville, Jamaica | Nigel Coke/IAD

A lack of information is hindering the process of transition of specials needs students in primary schools. This was disclosed by Education Officer for Special Education in the Ministry of Education Heather Lyn during her presentation at the Abilities Transition Conference hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica.

Heather Lyn, Education Officer for Special Education in the Ministry of Education with responsibility for the supervision of special education programmes in primary schools. Image by Nigel Coke/IAD

Lyn, who has responsibility for the supervision of special education programs in primary schools said that information is crucial to the process of transition of students with special needs from home to school, grade to grade, school to school, and school into the wider community. “There needs to be greater collaboration between parents, school personnel, agencies and the community to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the support they may need at each stage of transition.”

The conference, which was held at the Mandeville Adventist Church in Manchester was the second of two such conferences, and formed part of the special needs awareness week which was held Mar. 7-12, 2016, with Special Needs Awareness Day services at selective church locations across Jamaica.

Lyn added that “There needs to be a greater awareness that persons with disabilities have abilities and can contribute significantly to their growth, wellbeing and the society. Parents need to become greater advocates for their children and empower them to become their own advocates.”

Figures from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveal that there are approximately 785,000 or approximately 28% Jamaicans living with a form of disability.

President of Jamaica Union Pastor Everett presents a wheel chair to Karlene Smith during the conference held in Kingston at the Andrews Memorial Seventh-day Adventists Church. Looking on (L-R) are Pastors Adrian Cotterell, Carl Cunningham and Arlington Woodbourne. Image by Phillip Castell

Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica, explained how special needs awareness forms part of the church’s strategic objectives during the conference.

“Today the Adventist Church in Jamaica more than ever recognizes that it has a God-given responsibility to minister to and serve those persons with physical and other challenges in our congregations. But more than that, we believe that we must also create an environment that is conducive for these persons and those in the wider society to equally participate in the mission of the Church.”

Brown further stated that the vision for special needs ministry is more than a ministry of compassion, but that it is the church’s intention to focus the ministry through acceptance, accessibility and inclusion for all who have special needs.

“We must make all our buildings ‘special needs friendly’. In the construction of all our buildings especially our places of Worship, we must make provision for those with disabilities to not only access the main sanctuary but also access the platform and other facilities of the church building. Our vision is to have a wheel Chair available at all our churches and church offices throughout Jamaica. Six wheel chairs were handed out during the conferences.

In addition to Heather Lyn, other presenters include former president of the Jamaican Senate Floyd Morris; Denworth Finikin, chairman of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities; Camille Bennett-Campbell, Director of Legal Services in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Dr. Joan Reid from the Ministry of Education, and Attorney-at-law Georgette Stewart-Harrisingh.