KINGSTON, Jamaica — Forty-one members of the community of persons with disabilities on Thursday joined the ranks of the skilled and certified members of the Jamaican workforce following their graduation from the Abilities Foundation.

The graduates attained HEART certification in the fields of carpentry, design & décor, housekeeping, beauty services and data operations.

In addition to providing skills training and certification, the students received support through life skills coaching, professional development seminars, remedial Mathematics and English.

They will now benefit from the foundation’s job placement, coaching and mentoring services. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, placements in summer jobs and work experience opportunities have already been secured for 32 of the 41 graduates.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony earlier on Thursday, portfolio Minister Pearnel Charles Jr congratulated the graduates for their perseverance and resilience in conquering their fears and surpassing their own expectations.

Noting that three graduates of the Abilities Foundation had recently been engaged on the Overseas Employment Programme (farmwork), the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to “integrating more persons with disabilities into the workforce” including the Canadian programme.

He added that the ministry was already receiving requests for additional people with disabilities.

The graduating class was also addressed by Tim Harris, international motivational speaker, author, and successful restaurant owner, who was born with Down Syndrome, as well as Digicel Foundation CEO, Charmaine Daniels.

Digicel Foundation has been a strong supporter of the Abilities Foundation and recently donated $8.4 million to renovate the information technology facilities at the Abilities Foundation.

A registered training institution with the HEART NSTA Trust, the Abilities Foundation operates under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to provide specialised vocational education and training services tailored to increase the employability of young adults with disabilities. The foundation has been in operation since 1992.