Special Needs gets a Special Boost; 75% More Money

#TurksandCaicos, November 5, 2021 – Nearly doubling the previously earmarked $200k for Special Needs is expected to bring a radical boost to the sector which has struggled to provide vital services, support and a broader-based education to Special Needs people in the country.  Special Needs spending will hit $350k for the 2021-2022 financial year.

A string of private sector led donations and firm chastisement by members of the Public have fast-tracked more adequate and immediate support for Special Needs people and families in the country.  The government, recognizing the weariness of residents who are year after year disappointed by unfulfilled commitments to this sect of society went back to the drawing board and carved out an extra $150,000; it was announced as part of the Budget Supplementary presented in the House of Assembly at the close of October.

Both Ministers of Health under the nine-month-old Progressive National Party Administration (Hon E. Jay Saunders, now the Minister of Finance and Hon Jamell Robinson, new Minister of Health), joined by its Education Minister (Hon Rachel Taylor) have been vocal about the weakness of the special needs infrastructure in Turks and Caicos; all had vowed to fix it.

“The Treatment and Care Line Item within the Special Needs Unit Budget was originally $200K. It increased by $150K to a new total of $350K for this budget year. Future projects will see that line item increased to $500K annually. The overall Special Needs Unit budget this year is over $2 Million dollars,” informed Jamell Robinson, Minister of Health & Human Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The allocation is commended, and with an annual commitment of half a million dollars, it seems Special Needs in the Turks and Caicos is nearing the end of the must for parents to send their children out of the country for specialized treatment or for them to uproot their entire families to other countries in order to access the specialists their special needs children require.

Angela Williams, is the founder and administrator at Ashley’s Learning Center in Provienciales, Turks and Caicos.  Ms. Williams explained to us that her school welcomes the support earmarked to come from a Budget Supplementary, which was on Tuesday (November 2) passed in parliament.

“First and foremost, this will lead to stability in staff and human resources.  This will support parents in this difficult time,” said Williams, grateful at the news of an increase.

Ashley’s Learning Center recently benefited from a donation of a computer lab courtesy of Rubis and a retrofitted playground, courtesy of Graceway Supermarkets and Hon Sammy Been, Member of Parliament for the district where the school is located.

The increase to the Ministry of Health, now puts money where the mouth is when it comes to support to Special Needs children.  The supplementary begins to level the playing field when it comes to the quality of education afforded to all children in the Turks and Caicos receive.

Jameka Williams, the Government’s appointed member to the House of Assembly in her contribution said that she is happy the government is listening to the cries of the people with a $150,000 allocation to assist with overseas care for children with acute disabilities and it will assist with bringing in specialists, she said.

Ashley’s Learning Center founder agrees, saying the financial resources will ensure there are timely visits by a behavioral therapist, speech and language therapist and it will help in developing other programs.

On Monday November 8, Rachel Taylor, the Minister of Education will make a significant announcement about Special Needs, including that November has been officially declared its focus month.  Turks and Caicos will also witness the return of Jas Walkin, author and a Special Needs individual as Special Needs Director at the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile at Ashley’s Learning Centre, Angela Williams informs that support of her Centre means support for 33 children and counting.  Her students range in age from five to 20-years-old and are keen on learning despite diagnoses of down syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADHD, being visually impaired and having learning disorders.