(ZIZ News) – The country’s Education and Youth Minister, Hon. Shawn Richards, wants members of the community to be more accepting of persons with disabilities and special needs.
Minister Richards’ comments came on Sunday when he delivered an address to mark the start of Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School Week.
He said, “We encourage you to accept persons with special needs as they interact with us in the community. Help them engage in community based instruction. Provide opportunities for them to be engaged in service learning to the community. Hire a certain percentage of workers with special needs in our work places. Treat persons with special needs with dignity. Let us accept the challenge.”
The June 14th to 20th observance will be held under the theme, “Teaching outside the Box: A Licence for Success”. The Education Minister described the theme as significant.
“The theme challenges teachers to develop and provide creative and dynamic classrooms, use technology in creative ways to reach students who are de-motivated, encourage children to learn by playing especially those who have problems staying in their seats,” Minister Richards stated.
“Find innovative ways to engage students in and out the classroom. These strategies are also relevant for teachers in regular classrooms who teach students with learning problems,” he said.
The Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School provides education and training for students with special needs, including persons who are autistic, deaf, blind, and have physical and intellectual disabilities.