The unwavering determination demonstrated by Marvin Staine back in 2007 in ensuring that his daughter, Doris, was able to fulfill her dream of attending mainstream school despite her challenge with spina bifida was a shining example of the kind of fortitude parents need to ensure that their children’s right to a good education and their right to seek out their educational options is not denied to them.
The fact that some children might have different physical and mental abilities, does not mean that they cannot learn, and it does not always mean that they cannot enter mainstream schools; it just means that the wider community needs to find ways to embrace them, as St. Luke Methodist School did in the case of Doris. Her special needs, once treated as obstacles and reasons to turn her away, were eventually overcome.
Today, CARE Belize is holding an open day to ensure that parents of “differently abled” children who are making that difficult move away from homecare and into preschool and daycare are connected with people who will embrace them.
Inga Sandoval, CARE Belize’s Rehab Field Officer, says that she has 38 clients in the Belize District area, and today’s open day is targeted at making connections for Belize City children with potential schools.
Sandoval says they have invited parents to come in first to view a PowerPoint presentation, which will give them pointers on how to make the best decision for their children, and next they will be able to have one-on-one sessions with the different preschools and daycares invited to set up booths for the event.
Sister Beverly Hoffman, physical therapist at CARE Belize, notes that in Belize preschools are very open to “differently abled” children, and they do not have a major problem with placements. In fact, she says, preschools contact them saying they would like to have the children in their schools.
The more difficult period is actually the transition from preschools to primary school, as was the case with young Doris back in 2007.
Primary schools are not so much play-oriented but more academic, but NARCI (National Resource Center for Inclusive Education) has a system of providing services for those children who need a little extra help. For example, they have been giving Doris remedial lessons to help her learn more effectively at her level.
Some teachers’ attitudes are negative only because they are not being informed or educated on how to adapt, because all children can learn, Hoffman stressed.
“It is important for [parents] to see that their child has a right to be educated, and that they have to be advocates for that education, and one way they can do that is by being informed,” she added.
Today’s CARE Open Day informs parents what their options are, she explained.
Participating schools are Little Citizens Daycare, Lloyd Coffin Preschool, Pine Street Preschool Daycare, Ethel Vargas Preschool, Kiddie’s Campus Preschool and Daycare, St. Martin’s Preschool, Pickstock Preschool, and Stella Maris, which also takes in preschool-aged children.