Dear Editor
Camp Exceptional swung open its doors on July 9 2012. In burst campers with various disabilities and our eager volunteers to assist. The two weeks of education, fun and adventure came to an end on July 20 2012.
This year we had some 39 campers. The youths enjoyed sessions in craft, music, planting seedlings, health talks, DARE, tennis, visiting Diamond Estate, Stingray City and most of all creating a mural at the Botanical Gardens.
We would like to say a hearty thank you, to all those helped to make this year’s camp a success. Special thanks to Digicel, our platinum sponsor, who continuously show their love for persons with disability. Without whom our camp would not have been possible. Special thanks also to the planning team, the various institutions for children /persons with disability, the Ministry Of Education for allowing us to use the school, Mrs Beazer and Secretary of the Ottos Comprehensive School, the security guards, the volunteers, the cooks who gave us mouth watering meals each day, facilitators such as Mr Alabanjo (Min. Of Agriculture), Ms Monica Gordon, nurse Ingrid Elliot and nurse Edwards, Mr Larry Michael, Major Glyne Dunnah, Girlzone Isaac, Sgt Drew (DARE), Pastor Elizee (Villa Baptist), Crystal, Patrick Simmonds, Nadine, Bless Iye for the entertainment and the disability song “Challenge” and Mr Stafford Joseph who was our guest speaker at the closing programme.
Not forgetting the bus drivers.T hanks also to Shoul’s Toys and Gifts, Gigi industries, Brownies bakery in Point, Shopper’s Paradise on Fort Road, Christo’s Supermarket, Automotive Arts and Bargain Center Hardware. We do appreciate your support in whatever little way and trust that as God prospers you that you may support us once again.
Our children need to be a part of our society; in order to do so we must create an awareness and acceptance of them. This means including them in all activities so that none should feel left out.
We as parents have that vital role to push for the necessities that would help our children to exhibit their fullest potential. At present they seem to lack opportunity. I do applaud the Ministry of Education for the efforts they are presently making to open a diagnostic centre and educating parents, yet, there is so much that needs to be done.
Our youths should be offered scholarships in occupational, speech and physical therapy, neurology and genetics. Having our own people trained in these areas will show that a change will take place because we will have persons on hand to deal with cases. Parents have been suffering way too long and we need positive changes to ease some burden.
The Amazing Grace doors should not be closed. Amazing Grace has much potential yet, nothing is being done. Is it a lack of money or a lack of care?
In the end I do say having a disability is a constant struggle for survival in this country. We all sympathise with those who are struggling but only we who have to suffer understand our hardships.
