Blind Jamaican Senator in Turks and Caicos for Special Needs symposium

#Providenciales, November 28, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The compelling story of perseverance against all odds is expected to be a tremendous motivator for Turks and Caicos educators and stakeholders who are expected to fill the Occasions conference room at Airport Inn for the National Symposium for Individuals with Special Needs.

Jasmin Walkin is the Ministry of Education’s Special Needs Officer and explained that among the reasons for the symposium is that “Special Needs must be viewed beyond the disability, the services needed or even the access to quality education.

The National Symposium is an opportunity to develop a strategic plan for focusing on what accommodations are needed for Special Needs Individuals beyond secondary education; such as tertiary education, career development and training, employment, living fulfilled adult lives despite their disabilities.”

The Keynote speaker for the opening ceremony is a man with a tremendous story.  Senator, Dr. Floyd Morris is legally blind and is the first blind person to serve in Jamaican parliament.

Dr. Morris, who earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of the West Indies is widely known and celebrated for speaking candidly about his trials and triumphs.

During the ceremony in November  2017 where he was honoured with the doctorate by the University of the West Indies (UWI), Senator Dr. Morris said this: “My accomplishment is undeniable proof that no matter who you are and where you are from, you can achieve anything that you set your mind to, even if at the beginning the road ahead seemed dark and perilous…as the one I was born to travel.”

Mr. Walkin acknowledged that it is with the support of corporate partners, Department of Education, Ministry of Health’s Special Needs Unit and the Deputy Governor’s Office that the National Symposium for Special Needs was organized.  The two day symposium begins today, Wednesday November 28 and has as its theme:  ‘Creating Change through Compassion, Data and Intervention’.

A Public Service Leadership Summit is also linked to the symposium; it is set for Thursday November 29, and offers training for Special Education Teachers, Guidance Counselors & Parents.

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