Sam Sharpe TC enters partnerships supporting disabled children

Sam Sharpe Teachers College (SSTC) has collaborated with the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI), to offer a Master’s Degree in Special and Inclusive Education, commencing next year. Applications are now being accepted.

This was disclosed by SSTC Principal, Dr Lorna Gow-Morrison at a webinar, held on December 3, 2020 on “Supporting Disabilities in the Covid-19 Pandemic”, presented by the college’s Department of Special Education.

Dr Gow-Morrison said an analysis of the education system pointed to the need for more special education specialists to impact policy, curriculum and practice, stating that the collaboration with UWI was predicated on the need for increased competences and educational opportunities.

Sam Sharpe is one of three colleges in the island with a focus on special education and according to Dr Gow-Morrison, given the impact of the coronavirus in highlighting the degree of exclusion globally the need for disability inclusion was critical; the college was therefore responding to the call of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which implored that no one should be left behind.

Each year, she said, Sam Sharpe’s Special Education Department collaborated with the Placement & Promotions team to ensure access to training in special education and, “for the last three years there has been a 200 percent increase in enrolment in terms of special education and a 100 percent increase in the enrolment of male students.” There was, however, room for more students, especially males.

Dr Gow-Morrison revealed that during the prevailing Covid-19 period, Sam Sharpe’s Diagnostic and Early Intervention Centre has been providing a one-hour weekly virtual session focusing on providing psycho-social support for students attending primary school  in the region of the Centre. It is also engaged in online intervention providing academic assistance to struggling and non-readers as well as support for students who need to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, Mondays to Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Centre has also partnered with the Community Based Rehabilitation Jamaica (CBRJ) which is now providing support for children with physical disabilities in western Jamaica. Dr Gow-Morrison informed that “the CBRJ plans to screening and assessment clinics, home-based rehabilitation and intervention programmes, as well as assistive and adaptive aids, training of parents and healthcare workers and the provision of support for teachers in the classroom.”

In addition, active discussion has been taking place with Reach to Teach Passport which is seeking to partner with the Diagnostic and Early Intervention Centre to ensure that audiology screening are done. Also, Spotlight on Autism in Jamaica has shown an interest in a partnership to deepen the focus on children with autism.

The webinar, which attracted hundreds of participants from across the island, was in response “to the unique challenges that have surfaced in teaching students with exceptionalities during this unprecedented shift in the educational landscape,” said Lecturer in the Department of Special Education, Mrs. Udana Vickers Morgan.  She said the webinar was being used as an avenue for sharing strategies relevant to supporting for disabled students and wards at this very difficult time.

In concurrence, acting head of the department, Dr Christine Pinnock said given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Covid-19, special consideration must be given to those with special needs. She underscored, however, that “this does not imply pity but the provision of the necessary resources and coping mechanisms which will afford them an equal opportunity to maneuver themselves in this very challenging time.”

Dr Pinnock said the Special Education Department at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College offered support to persons living with disabilities and to increase awareness while extending its services to the disabled community. “Additionally, we want to extend a great sense of compassion towards persons living with disabilities,” she said.

Noting that approximately 10 percent of the world’s population has “invisible” disability, Dr Pinnock said a considerable number of such persons remained undiagnosed.