Prime Minister King announces special assistance to special needs children
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Prime Minister King announces special assistance to special needs children |
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Contact: Claudia Monlouis
Thursday 21 April 2011 – Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King has announced that a new programme will come on stream during this financial year in an effort to fill the existing gaps in the care and rehabilitation of children with special needs.
The prime minister indicated that sub-optimal care only worsens the situation of children with special needs, lessening even more, whatever chances they may have to become income earners in the future.
“It is now time for a comprehensive developmental paediatrics program. This programme should ideally be housed in a specialized development centre, headed by a consultant paediatrician who supervises a team of professionals (Speech & Language therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, Educational Psychologists, Social workers, Guidance counsellors), and who liaise with other medical and nursing staff, community-based rehabilitation officers, teachers or day care staff, parents and families, and other professionals and agencies.
Meantime the Prime Minister in the budget presentation acknowledged the Child Development and Guidance Centre (CDGC) for its invaluable contribution and steadfast commitment to Children with Special needs.
The country's leader said currently, the CDGC is the only agency in Saint Lucia with the capacity to offer comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of developmental delays and disabilities in children.
The centre offers an individualized intervention programme for each child—monitoring him or her within the school and community. The Centre also trains staff and parents, and is currently the sole provider of speech, language, and occupational therapy in Saint Lucia.
To date some 770 children have received a comprehensive assessment and more than 300 are currently awaiting therapy.
Currently, the Center is entirely dependent on donations from parents, local private sector donors, foreign donors and volunteer therapists. |
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