Special treat for students with disabilities

Several students with disabilities transitioning into secondary school were lauded for the exceptional amount of effort they put into reaching this stage of their academic journey.

During an award ceremony held at Bagnall Point Gallery, Pelican Craft Village, Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown on Friday the students received certificates, prizes and many rounds of applause upon reaching this milestone in their lives.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey who addressed the ceremony said it was important to highlight children doing positive things and celebrate them when they did well.

He added that he was also committed to breaking down barriers to ensure life was easier for all the nation’s youth.

“One thing that is clear to me is that we treat persons with disabilities in this country at every level in an awful manner. If you look at the [recent] paper that came from the commission [Commission for Improving the Lives of Persons with Disabilities], when we looked at the education system, transportation, health, social care, I mean every category you name it, persons with disabilities were not being treated well and we have to name it and we have to shame it . . .,” he said.

Humphrey added that the current administration was eager to level the playing field and improve the lives of those with disabilities.

“Certainly by the end of September, we will have legislation in place to protect persons with disabilities, but also to empower them, to give them opportunity in this country and to level what is right now a very uneven playing field,” he said.

This year, 180 special requests for children to be exempted from the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination were filed. Of those requests,108, some of whom had disabilities, were approved by the Ministry of Education.

On Friday, 29 students with disabilities received awards.

During the featured address, Government Senator Andwele Boyce gave the students a few tips and encouraged them to always aim for the stars.

“No matter how old you are, no matter what you are doing, this is what you should be aiming for-the stars . . . be clear on what your goal is, it may change over the years and that is fine, but find the thing that you do well and let that take you to the stars. Each of us has special talents,” he said.

“I want you to never stop shining. Take up space. Answer that question, deliver that speech, ask that tough question and be sure that there will be days when your knees will shake and your voice may crack but do it anyway, your impact will be felt by the things that you put your head and your heart into.”

Boyce told the students humility and gratitude was two important traits of a person’s character.

“As you take on this new journey [I encourage you] to remain humble, to remain grateful and to always pay appropriate homage and gratitude to the persons who got you here.”

The Senator also implored the students to commit to excellence.

“Make excellence a habit and be sure that excellence is not perfection. It is not always getting everything right, but doing the very best you can with what you have. And so I [also] want you to commit yourselves to a good work ethic,” he said.

Going forward, the award ceremony will be held as an annual event to honour children with disabilities transitioning to secondary school. (SZB)