Times of the Islands Spring 2020

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The TCI Government currently funds the Special Needs Association of Providenciales (SNAP) Centre, a special education facility with 13 students operated under the Ministry of Health. The centre provides both intellectual and life skills training for children and young adults ages 4 to 24 years old, and typically has a waiting list for new students. “We have just the one centre now, but there are many other children in need of assistance,” said Minister Astwood. More families are coming forward for help as the government has been working on educating people about tolerance, acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. This year, the TCI Government is planning to open a second special education facility on Grand Turk, according to Minister Astwood. Officials have been looking at several options to determine if it would be more cost effective to renovate existing space or build a new structure. A total of six children would be enrolled in the new centre during its first phase, with the possibility of future expansion. Opening the second centre in Grand Turk will help families on both the western and eastern portions of the Turks & Caicos Islands. In the past, some families with special needs children have faced tough decisions about changing jobs and moving closer to the centre in Providenciales. There are plans to expand classroom space and hire additional special needs teachers for the SNAP Centre as well, with a combination of government and private funding. The TCI Government has been working diligently to recruit additional special needs teachers. Competitive salaries and benefits are being offered, but the recruitment process has still been a challenge, Minister Astwood stated. Depending on their condition, children with special needs require different types of services, and things that come easily to other children are often greater challenges to them. But teachers at the SNAP Centre marvel at the tenacity of their students, and recognize they possess a remarkable resilience and strong determination to learn. The special education teachers at the SNAP Centre have created a positive learning environment, offering both small group and individualized attention. They present educational material in a variety of ways to meet the learning styles of each student, while working with all the children and young adults to reach their highest level possible of independence. “The attitudes regarding people with disabilities have been changing,” Minister Astwood noted. “In the past, you may have never known about a child with a special need unless it was someone in your own family. Now there is more public awareness, and more acceptance.” The Turks & Caicos Islands Government has been working with the 1 World Foundation for several years to help conduct assessments and develop treatment plans for special needs children. The nonprofit organization sends volunteer health care professionals from the United States and Canada to meet with children and their parents at the SNAP Centre, and at clinics and hospitals throughout the Islands. Since 1994, the 1 World Foundation has coordinated occupational therapy, speech pathology, audiology and clinical psychology assessments for children in TCI, said Howard Ganter, foundation president, New York State. These volunteers have worked with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in sharing their experience and offering additional training. The 1 World Foundation volunteers worked with the Ministry of Health’s Special Needs Unit to develop a registry of children needing services, which totals nearly 200 children to date. The nonprofit organization has also shipped adaptive equipment and program supplies to the Islands and their work has been supported by SNAP Centre student Steve gives a thumbs-up after completing a writing assignment in his small group classroom. His twin brother Steven is the fellow peeking over the composition book on the previous page. 56 www.timespub.tc
Above: Hon. Edwin Astwood, TCI Minister of Health, meets with Joseph Rich of the 1 World Foundation. The nonprofit organization sends volunteer health professionals from North America to meet with special needs children and their parents in TCI. Bottom right: Neuropsychologist Dr. Jeanne Ryan has traveled to TCI from New York State for six years to provide assessments and create individualized treatment plans for many special needs children. Rotary Clubs in New York State, Ontario, Canada, and Providenciales. For six years, Dr. Jeanne Ryan, a neuropsychologist, and her husband, G. Terrence Ryan, a licensed mental health counselor from New York State, have traveled to TCI to provide assessments and create individualized treatment plans for many special needs children, including those with autism. Autism is often referred to as a “spectrum disorder” because it covers a broad range of conditions and is typically characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, according to the Autism Speaks organization. Each child with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges in the way they think, learn and solve problems, and their conditions range from severely-challenged to highly-skilled. The Ryans said they’ve seen more acceptance among families of children with special needs in TCI, although some stigma still exists. “The acceptance by parents is Times of the Islands Spring 2020 57
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TIMES SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURK
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EVERYTHING’S INCLUDED FOR EVERYON
Page 5 and 6: TurksAndCaicosProperty.com Bernadet
Page 7 and 8: Introducing the Boathouses The Boat
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Page 15 and 16: getting to know From top: Gus walks
Page 17 and 18: PROVEN IN PROVO 435’ on Grace Bay
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Times of the Islands Spring 2020

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