Stella Maris equipped with computer lab

After equipping dozens of schools and libraries with computers and high speed internet connections, an installation by Intelco is no longer big news–except to those fortunate people who will get to make use of the valuable equipment. And today that privilege was extended to one educational institution that is committed to making the most of the opportunity. Marion Ali has the story.

Marion Ali, Reporting

For the one hundred and four students, who attend Stella Maris School and the Academy for the Deaf, learning has stepped to a higher level as this morning they became the latest beneficiaries of government’s internet initiative. The young people with special needs will not be able to prove that they too can join the digital revolution.

Sharon August, Principal, Stella Maris School

“We have two students who are blind and a teacher who is blind. And so for them to access the computer we will need the software called JAWS, which is Job Access with Speech. What that does is makes everything on the computer speak, so although they are not able to see the words, the computer will say everything, all the icons. Whenever they move the mouse toward an icon, it will say what that icon is. Whatever they type will be said also.

For the students who have limited use of their hands we hope that we can probably use head pointers, which is something you can attach to their foreheads, a stick, that they can point on the keyboard and also there can be mouth pointers.”

Plans to install these accessories are already being worked on, according to Project Coordinator with the Ministry of Education’s Schools Computer-wide Area Network, Mustafa Touré.

Mustafa Touré, Project Coordinator

“We are making arrangements with the Special Education Unit, who has a Mr. Cole who is a specialist in these particular matters. He also works with the B.C.V.I., and he has assisted them in getting brail keyboards for the visually impaired. We’re gonna use his expertise to secure the appropriate software and hardware to allow these students to fully utilize this equipment that’s been provided for them.”

But how will these students be able to put their knowledge to use after they leave Stella Maris? Principal of the school, Sharon August, says she will invite prospective employers to see for themselves.

Sharon August

“If they want the students to come in and do only observation, that is fine. If they allow students to come in and do shadow training, which is to follow someone around, maybe for a day or two days and see what that person’s job is. Or they can go to the full scale and also do on-the-job training. We are hoping that through that method, they will see that people with special needs are able to do things. And so when they leave the school employers will be more open to accept them as employees.”

Currently, Stella Maris offers education up to first form level. Some of its graduates enrol in special skills training at the YWCA and Centre for Employment Training. Marion Ali for News 5.

Stella Maris has fourteen staff members and ten supporting employees.