Times of the Islands Fall 2023

workshops, and events that cultivate understanding and
empathy throughout the community.
The longest established legal practice
in the Turks & Caicos Islands
Real Estate Investments
& Property Development
Immigration, Residency
& Business Licensing
Company & Commercial Law
Trusts & Estate Planning
Banking & Insurance
1 Caribbean Place, P.O. Box 97
Leeward Highway, Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Ph: 649 946 4344 • Fax: 649 946 4564
E-Mail: dempsey@tciway.tc
Cockburn House, P.O. Box 70
Market Street, Grand Turk
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Ph: 649 946 2245 • Fax: 649 946 2758
E-Mail: ffdlawco@tciway.tc
john redmond associates ltd.
architects & designers
construction consultants
project management
p.o.box 21, providenciales, turks & caicos is.
tel.: 9464440 cell: 2314569 email: redmond@tciway.tc
The cost of compassion
The cost of providing specialised education is significantly
greater than mainstream education due to low
teacher/pupil ratios, individualised therapies, and technological
and specialized interventions. Despite its past
accomplishments, the ALC’s future can only be visualised
through eyes of faith. In fact, the centre operates on a
month-to-month basis.
The cost to educate one child with special needs in
TCI is roughly $21,000 per year ($1,750 per month).
Comparatively, it costs $27,000 per year in the US. The
ALC operates as a non-profit and has set its tuition fees
at a level that is accessible for parents from varying economic
backgrounds. In doing so, the centre aims to create
an environment where financial obstacles do not hinder
a child’s access to quality education. The ALC strongly
advocates that every child has the right to access the services
they need. Every child.
However, tuition from parents as well as direct government
support provides for less than 30% of what is
required to operate the centre. The remainder of the
approximately $430,000 annual operating cost depends
on philanthropic support, aggressive fundraising, and the
kindness of strangers.
Past philanthropic support from RUBiS in 2021 made
way for a technology room to be implemented—a great
addition as many special needs students are technologically
inclined. The ALC’s multi-sensory room was
established through the generous donations of many
people, organised via a Go Fund Me campaign created
by Mark Parrish and his wife Kim Mortimer. Other generous
donations resulted in the refurbishing of the school’s
playground.
Any extra funds would allow for the centre to grow
further and touch the lives of a larger number of children,
to address the need. “We should not focus on the cost but
rather the value of educating and bringing someone into
society, who should be included,” the ALC’s Chairperson
Ben Avenant explains.
Upholding the right to inclusion
Unfortunately, the right to be included cannot be granted
to every special needs child in TCI. The centre is at full
capacity with 20 full-time students. The seriousness
of the issue becomes stark when considering insights
gleaned from the Special Needs Educational Policy (2015),
58 www.timespub.tc