Child unable to attend holiday camp because she is disabled

Although parents of special needs children have the option to place their child in a government holiday care facility, if the child wants to go on field trips, they must be accompanied by a friend or family member.

But in a family with three children and both parents ÷ Daron and Hyacinth ÷ working full time, that condition is impossible to fulfil.

Mr. Lowe said: ãMy mother is very helpful, but I canât guarantee that she will just be able to do it for the whole holiday. For this reason I canât, with clear conscience, sign the form.ä

Mr. Lowe, a youth minister, came to the Bermuda Sun to talk about his familyâs situation with the hope of sparking government into action and letting other parents of special needs children know they are not alone.

The saga began when Daniella-Jade expressed an interest in attending one of the government holiday camps with her friends. The East End Primary student, who made the schoolâs honourâs list, was born with spina bifida. She is confined to a wheelchair and has minimal use of her body from the chest down. Mentally and emotionally she is no different from any other child.

Another provision in the application for the half-term holiday camp (from February 14 to 18 at a fee of $65), is that special needs children are only able to attend one of the five camps around the island. For Daniella-Jade this means the Salvation Army Citadel.

While Mr. Lowe was sure the facility would be up to standard, his concern was that his daughter would immediately be separated from her friends who would stay in the east end of the island.

Mr. Lowe said he is pleased with the mainstreaming of special needs kids but as government is providing equal opportunities in the schools, he believes this should be extended to holiday and after-school care.

ãI believe that Daniella-Jade has been disadvantaged by the lack of choices she has with regards to the holidays.ä

Mr. Lowe said he was told that staffing issues led to special needs children being placed at one centre, as well as the field trip requirement.

ãI understand that side but if you are going to do a programme that is linked to the government mainstream of education, then the holiday care should also consider that.

ãI am aware that it will take time, manpower and money - but that should not be an excuse for not doing something.ä

Previously the family has been placing Daniella-Jade, their eldest daughter, in private care but now she wants to be with her friends instead of being placed with a ãbabysitterä.

ãWe have never taught Daniella-Jade to play upon her disability. To the other children at school she is not just a kid in a wheelchair, they relate to her as Daniella-Jade.

Mr. Lowe said he is left with few choices as to how to care for his daughter over the school break and may even have to take her into work with him.

He is also concerned with the summer holidays. Last year she attended a private camp for half the holiday ÷ but that option is not always available, he said.

A spokesman for the Community Education Department said in a written statement: ãSpecial needs children sometimes need much more skilled care and assistance than normal children.

ãAs a result the Community Education Department has a camp programme specially designed for special needs children and staffed by people who are skilled in accommodating the multiple and varied needs of special needs children.ä

The requirement for camp outings that a relative or friend accompany the special needs child is for safety reasons, added the spokesman, ãespecially as we use public transportation...

ãIt is not practical to staff the programme with enough people to give one-to-one supervision.

ãHowever, we do provide small group supervision and will accept most special needs children into the camp programme once the registration process has been properly followed.ä[[In-content Ad]]