FIVE special needs institutions will be added to the list of schools already benefiting from a $100-million Digicel Foundation disbursement for special needs projects.

Digicel Foundation made the announcement at their 10th anniversary celebration last Wednesday.

According to Samantha Chantrelle, executive director of the foundation, the institutions which meet the required criteria will be observed and selected to join The STEP (School for Therapy Education and Parenting of children with multiple disabilities) Centre, Naz Children’s Centre, Genesis Academy, Early Stimulation Plus and Liberty Academy.

“To celebrate this 10th anniversary milestone, the Digicel Foundation will announce a number of collaborations that will be undertaken. The special needs portfolio will continue to work with schools across the island to make them into centres of excellence for special needs students, bringing the total number of centres from five to 10,” Chantrelle told Career & Education.

“It will take the next three years for us to work with these special needs schools and make them into centres of excellence. We are working overtime with our partners to identify these needy special schools and make sure that their administrators have the need, the commitment, the willingness to work with us and build a good relationship,” Chantrelle said.

She said the onus should not be solely on Government to tackle the challenges of institutions which cater for those with special needs.

“In addition to the five new special needs schools we will identify and assist, we continue our long-term investment in training the teachers who cater to special needs students. We also want to start assisting adults with special needs from the Jamaica Association for the Deaf and the Jamaica Association for the Blind,” Chantrelle said.