Friday 16 November 2018

AND THE CHILDREN RETURN


Heroes Day 2018 -  Learning by playing is fun

Post by Leslie Wan


We are back in the swing of things at school. As usual, we have some new students and some we waved good bye to at the end of last semester. We are happy to have some students back that were sidelined by injury or illness last semester. As usual being back to school is a celebration of spirit in all of us, children, teachers, volunteers and our "fairy godmothers". 

Heroes Day

On the activity front we had a really delightful Heroes Day celebration. Thank you to our special guest judges and visitors on the day Christine Rodriguez and Lillieth Nelson. The children dressed up in characters or else in national dress. I wish a picture did justice to how much they enjoy these moments, but well just a couple. 
"Alexander Bustamante" 



National Dress of Jamaica 

    

   





















A new collaboration to benefit the wider disability community 
  
A couple of months ago Hilary and I, accompanied by our trusty driver and fellow explorer David Wan (my husband), made a visit to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (Hollywell) to discuss with them the possibilities for collaboration on making the park a more disability and wheelchair friendly environs. They have expressed a desire to liaise with us to understand how to make (as best as they can) some foot pathways more accessible for wheelchairs and also some sensory expanding enhancements for all forms of challenges in children. It is their hope that the beauty of the park could become a place where more children could enjoy the wonder of bathing their souls in the sights and sounds of Jamaica's natural beauty. They have vowed to work through some "fixes" and hopefully source some added funding, to allow ALL children to hear the birds, linger in the mist, feel the breeze, smell the plants, and enjoy the peace that sometimes is so missing in their lives. They are working hard up there on so many wonderful changes, including a field house / potential cafe, new nature center (wheelchair access to it in the works) and some leveled pathways for wheelchair use as well. We appreciate their interest in all children having opportunities and we will be taking a couple of children in the future for a trial run. If you have not been up there lately, it is time for you to visit again. As we have said before in this blog, while our mission is about our children, it includes the goal of the wider disabilities community. 
 


Our Garden continues to increase in wonder and functionality for our nature inclusive purposes


1. Thank you to the Sherlock family (here and abroad) for a bench in our garden that blends in the serenity of the garden's purpose, and welcomes all to sit a spell under our shade tree and soak in the wonder. The bench is in memory of Grace and Sir Philip Sherlock. We are so grateful to them for giving us a bench to set a spell and linger peacefully. I sat in it the other day and listened to the birds, watched the butterflies dive and lift, and take in the plants we cherish. Delightful memorial.    

   
2. Thank you to The Key Club of Campion College for spending a morning playing games with the children. The children loved having new playmates and the Campion Key Club has decided to return, to work on a project to re-paint our wall in the garden.  

3.Thank you to the daughters of Dr. Molly Thorburn for providing us with a birdbath in memory of their beloved mother whom, during her life, was instrumental in improving the lives of the disabled, both with rehabilitation work and services for children with special needs.



Citation for Marigold ‘Molly’ Thorburn, OD Distinguished researcher in cytogenetics, pediatric pathology, childhood disabilities. Pioneered home based early intervention programs in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Regional and international consultant, lecturer and author in developing services for persons with developmental disabilities. Initiated and developed community based rehabilitation programmes in Jamaica and regionally. 
(CCRP living legends award) 




 Sometimes it is as simple as bubbles!
          
Leslie's Final thoughts  
Here is something I have to say about our STEP Centre. Because our students have such vast differences in capabilities, physical abilities, mental abilities and sensory awareness, it requires us to spend a lot of time working specifically ON THEM, and FOR THEM. So much of the work with an individual child must be placed on that child and THEIR goals, which means learning is extensively individualized. Sure we have approaches and therapies that are generalized by history, training and best practices, but that must be brought down to their individual needs. Many times it requires us to set aside our former goal for them because we have re-evaluated, or because despite our hopes, their bodies, capabilities and endurance are changing or even diminishing. But as hard as it may be, we are geared to NEVER GIVE UP. So much of our work is not what level they rise to, but are they well cared for, stimulated, loved, ACCEPTED and happy. We hope, we pray, we believe and we accept, because after all acceptance is what they need, and often what they are lacking in their wider world.Once you accept them, you become a believer, and once you believe your heart will NEVER be the same. 

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for believing in our children. Believing is in the title of our blog because it is in our hearts.  

Our major fundraiser has begun!!!! -- Our yearly Christmas card sales. 
Please Support our school by purchasing our cards for all your corporate and family/friend needs. The cost is $130 Jamaican per card and we have 4 new designs this year including new from our children's art. It is a tangible way for your support to be actualized into the needs of our children and the needs of the expenses to run our school. Just contact our school and we will have your order ready ASAP. For a small fee we can deliver. (Click on the photo to see larger) Thank you!!


       


        













2 comments:

  1. Amongst all the bad news there is always a STEP ray of light. thank you so much for all you do

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann, You hit the nail on the head! With all the news we watch in the world and how difficult it can be, the children at S.T.E.P. can simply bring us back to love and laughter.

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