PNP gov't will expand testing facilities for children with special needs - Crawford

Opposition Spokesperson on Education Damion Crawford has outlined plans by a future People’s National Party (PNP) government to increase the number of testing facilities for children with special education needs across Jamaica.

Speaking at a PNP forum for persons with disabilities held on Thursday, Crawford described the current number of testing centres in Jamaica as “unacceptable.”

The Mico University College Child Assessment and Research in Education (CARE) Centre registers about 1,000 students annually for psychoeducational assessments across its three locations — in Kingston, Ridgemount in Manchester, and St Ann.

However, only about 700 students are assessed each year.

The Mico CARE Centre is the oldest institution of its kind in Jamaica.

The Early Stimulation Programme, which has four locations across the island, also offers developmental assessments for children with special needs.

Crawford stressed that these two institutions are inadequate, resulting in long wait times that hinder a child’s academic progress.

“It has led to a waiting period of up to four years, which is one-third of the time a child is likely to be in school,” he stated.

He said the PNP plans to expand testing services to all seven education regions and, eventually, to all 14 parishes.

This expansion will be carried out through partnerships with international entities, which he said will also be tapped to provide scholarships to bolster local expertise.

Furthermore, he said the PNP will expand the presence of "shadows" in schools and “aggressively” improve physical accessibility through the installation of ramps.

Additionally, Crawford said the Opposition will also work to make bathrooms more disability-friendly.

“If you don’t have a disabled-specific bathroom, then you find that there are additional and extensive difficulties,” he said.

In the meantime, Opposition Leader Mark Golding announced that the PNP will establish a disabilities fund, starting with $1 billion.

“That fund is not to displace or replace the existing arrangements and budgetary allocations within government and government agencies that support persons with disabilities. This is supposed to be incremental, additional funding, but dedicated to specific issues facing persons with disabilities,” he said.

This will include assisting organisations that advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as providing funding for individuals who need special devices, aids, and specific surgeries, Golding added.

- Sashana Small

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