Caribbean Times 6th Issue - Monday 27th February 2017

14 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Monday 27th February 2017
Wishing Well Foundation donates to swimming &
therapeutic programme for special needs children
When well-known optometrist
Dr. Jilia Bird volunteered
to conduct a vision
screening for a group of students
in 2016 at a special
needs school, she discovered
that quite a few of them were
not visually impaired. Furthermore,
it became clear that
quite a few of the children
had various challenges / disabilities
such as autism and
cerebral palsy. This discovery
guided Dr. Bird’s actions
to create a programme where
these children could not only
get some physical activities,
but also receive therapeutic
relief.
The Wishing Well Inc.
Foundation was recently approached
to provide much
needed resources to allow
at least 15 children, some of
their siblings and some other
adults to partake in this specially
created form of physical
therapy. Rehabilitation
through swimming and other
aquatic activities have proven
to give good results for children
with autism in particular.
The Wishing Well Foundation
is proud to join other
sponsors and driving forces
behind the programme (such
as Social Worker Koren Norton,
Mr. Tony Johnson of the
John Boden Memorial Fund,
the Marlin Swim Club coaches
and many others working
tirelessly behind the scenes)
under the watchful eyes of
Dr. Bird. On Friday, February
24 th 2017 Mr. Lionel Bramble
of The Verandah Resort &
Spa represented the Wishing
Well Foundation while handing
over cheques that would
cover the coaches’ expenses
for the next three months. The
cont’d on pg 15