A student at Genesis Academy enjoys his playtime.

I HEARD them before I saw them coming down the supermarket aisle - the unceasing drone of a child pretending to be a truck, and the calm, soothing voice of mother trying to keep him quiet. She seemed to comprehend his 'language'; he, anywhere between age 12 and 15, seemed agitated.

He held her arm and the shopping cart tightly, and I wondered about the daily challenges she, and other mothers of children with special needs, face on a daily basis.

My mind went back to Genesis Academy, a facility for children with special needs that I had the privilege to tour just days before, and thought, we need more facilities like this in Jamaica.

professional services

Genesis Academy is a school for children and young adults (up to age 21) with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities. The student population largely comprises students diagnosed as having autism, dyslexia, Down's syndrome, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), or physical challenges, neurological disorders or behavioural problems.

The school provides professional services from special education teachers and the appropriate academic and vocational skills training for the students. One of its main objectives is to adequately train students to help themselves when they graduate. This includes creating work experience opportunities, job placements and leadership training.

Chairman of the board at Genesis Academy, Donna Lowe, said that many of the parents were happy for the break from their precious children even for the few hours at school. And, at the supermarket, I saw that it made sense. "As time goes by, we will have an after-school programme, and they will be able to stay until five in the evenings," Lowe said.

Another worthy objective of Genesis Academy is to enhance their limited, but well-needed community programme, through sponsorships, to include low-income families who have children with intellectual challenges. The academy will also provide training and support for parents and caregivers of children they cater to.

Genesis Academy is now housed in spacious new surroundings at 38 South Camp Road and this is largely out of the kindness and initiatives of David Hall, former Digicel head, who was led to the school by a series of coincidences. It was formerly housed in Barbican, St Andrew.

While still at Digicel, Hall had participated in the television show, Fame and Fortune. "Chief executive officers were playing for money which was going to charity and I was given the charity, Genesis Academy,' he said. At the time, Hall had been in a three-month search for a project that he could personally tackle to give back to Jamaica, a country which, he said, "had been good to me".

project search over

When he went to present the cheque to Genesis, Hall said he realised that it was a school for children with intellectual challenges. Back in his country of birth, Ireland, his god-daughter Sara has Down's syndrome. So, his search for a project was over.

But his challenges at Genesis had just begun. All over the world, Down's syndrome is a difficult disease for which to raise funds. "It is just not 'glamorous' and here in Jamaica, there are many needy areas," Hall said. But the team, led by board chairman Donna Lowe, is committed to the task. Their goal is to transform the new premises into a state-of-the-art facility for the precious students.

To date, they have received funds totalling $25 million but they need a further $12 million to finish the skills-training block, auditorium, indoor recreational facility and provide the effective learning tools for students.

Hall approached Government and Opposition and managed to get a long-term lease at a peppercorn rent in the school's name. He said the derelict building was dilapidated and unused, and a lot of work was required to bring it up to a usable state. But, in the end they raised substantial funds to renovate the building and equip it for the 'special' children.

gives the student purpose

There are some 50 students on roll, and as many families as well. "What people don't often realise is that the school is not just for the students - but actually, is so important for the families. Very often the workload on a family unit is huge, due to the fact that the family member is intellectually challenged. When there is a place for the student to go for seven hours a day, this not only gives the student purpose, but also the family a break," said Lowe.

"These young people did not ask for autism/Down's syndrome, etc., but were obviously born with these challenges," Hall reiterated. He is cognisant of the fact that the Jamaican society, due to the volume of needy cases, can leave some persons at the back of the line. He notes that persons with intellectual challenges don't have to be a burden on the state - but can actually add a lot of value if given the chance.

When completed, the school will be equipped with resource rooms and offer courses that will hopefully be certified by the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART). Students will then be able to earn a living. A computer lab is also almost complete. Home economics, needlework, agriculture, horticulture and jewellery making are also in the future curriculum plans of the school.

The school will have its official opening in November and scholarships will be offered to students from very poor backgrounds.

Barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com

Genesis Academy schoolyard and parking lot that will double as a recreational area and basketball court later on. - photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Freelance Photographer

Consultant Social Officer Rohan Bell meets with Donna Lowe, chairman of the Board of Genesis Academy, and Maureen Webber (right), a member of the project and fundraising committee, while doing a tour of the school located on South Camp Road.

Students using the Genesis Academy computer lab.