AS the new school year approaches, the Digicel Foundation is helping to ensure that students with special needs head back to the classroom equipped and empowered.

The foundation visited three special needs institutions to hand over back-to-school supplies as part of its ongoing commitment to inclusive education.

Schools visited were the Salvation Army School for the Blind in Kingston, Catherine Hall Primary Special Education Unit in St James, and St Christopher’s School for the Deaf in St Ann.

Each school received essential school supplies such as backpacks, writing tools, notebooks, and other learning materials tailored to meet the needs of students living with disabilities.

“Every child deserves a fair start, and for students with special needs, access to the right resources can make a world of difference,” said Jamilia Crooks-Brown, special needs and education programme manager at the Digicel Foundation.

“The visits are part of the foundation’s wider back-to-school outreach, aligned with its core mission to create a world where no one gets left behind,” added Crooks-Brown.

Since 2004, the Digicel Foundation has invested more than US$12.09 million in special needs and has built or renovated 21 special needs schools; trained more than 390 teachers, parents, and caregivers; and impacted more than 170,000 lives.

“We are especially proud to stand with our special needs community as the new school year begins. We will continue to advocate for inclusive education, invest in accessible learning spaces, and celebrate the potential in every child,” added Crooks-Brown.