Expo 2000 at Stella Maris
For far too long, people who are a little different from the rest of us have been shut away and barely talked about. But fortunately, every day old stereotypes are broken down and hopefully some day soon, the full integration of the disabled into Belize’s society will be more than wishful thinking. Today, the Stella Maris School held an information fair, hoping that through knowledge, people will realize just how special everyone is in their own way.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
They may be disabled, but these boys and girls from the Stella Maris School and disabled people, in general have made giant steps towards their goal to live as normal a life as possible. While the journey has not been an easy one, and there is still a long way yet to go, their struggles have been made a lot easier by services that specifically cater to the disabled both young and old. Expo 2000 showcased those services and materials that are available to persons with special needs. Eleanor Castillo, Principal of Stella Maris School says just as it is important for the disabled to know what kind of help they can receive, the abled public needs to be just as informed.
Eleanor Castillo, Principal, Stella Maris School
“It is mainly to sensitize or to give information to the public as to the kinds of services that are available for persons with special needs, both adults and children in Belize.”
But has the community come to accept the disabled?
Mervin Lambey, Executive Director, BAPD
“Disability is not getting the attention it warrants and the reason for that is that most people don’t have the faith in people with disabilities. They too can reach their potential if they are given the opportunity.”
Eleanor Castillo, Principal, Stella Maris School
“I find generally that people are becoming more aware of the needs of persons with disabilities. Maybe because of the growing awareness that has been taking place over the pass few years. People have come out a lot more than they did before to receive information and they have been asking a lot of questions as to how they can go about working with their children at home or outside of the classroom.”
It is important that families of persons with disabilities get them registered. The Belizean Assembly of and for persons with Disability, located at St. Mary’s Hall on Angel Lane is an umbrella organization that provides this kind of service.
Mervin Lambey
“If and when they bring us the name of the persons with disability, we visit the person then we register the person. Then we have continuous visitations to help the person for life.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What kind of help is offered to the disabled?”
Mervin Lambey
“Help like setting up medical appointments, if there is need for anybody to go abroad, we can negotiate to get the person to go abroad and to get the necessary help that they need. We can also help with therapy. We can help with the repairing of equipment for the disabled. There are a lot of little things that we can do. We need the public to know that we are there waiting to serve.”
The Special Education Unit assesses persons with special needs and trains teachers to work with disabled children.
Merleen Garbutt, Assessment Manager, SEU
“Children who have been referred to us have learning disabilities, hearing impairments, mental retardation, visual impairment.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So once they get here, you assess them and then what happens to the student?”
Merleen Garbutt
“We work with the teachers in primary schools and the special schools.”
Also on hand were other organizations like the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired and the Belize Disability Services.
Reporting for News Five, I am Jacqueline Woods.
This is the first time that such an expo has been held by the Stella Maris School.
