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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
LEFT: Blairwood Academy student Christos Tynes gets a word of encouragement from REACH President Mario Carey during a visit to Government House April 9. Photo by Derek Smith Jr. for DP&A; RIGHT: Governor General Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes enjoy a performance by students from Blairwood Academy as Dillon Fernander takes a break from singing to hop on Sir Arthur’s lap. BOTTOM: Blairwood Academy President Kim Kooskalis shares a hug with a student who brought joy to Government House this week as part of autism awareness month. Pictured behind her are REACH President Mario Carey, Lady Foulkes and Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General, along with other students who are part of the school’s autism unit. Photo by Derek Smith Jr. and Six-year-old Dillon Fernander, diagnosed with autism, showed his star power during an impromptu performance at Government House Wednesday following the scheduled song and entertainment by Blairwood Academy that stole the hearts of Governor General Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes. (Photos by Derek Smith Jr.)
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Nassau, Bahamas - It only took a small group of the estimated 35,000 children with autism
and other special needs a moment to steal the hearts of the Governor
General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes today in one of the most
touching courtesy calls in the history of Government House.
“A
lot of important people come to Government House,” the Governor General
told the 25 or so students from Blairwood Academy. “The Queen has been
here. Prince Harry has been here. Mr. Mandela has been here. Today, we
have you. You are also very important people and we want you to know
that you are loved.”
The visit by students from Blairwood
Academy, organized by the autism education, resources and support group
REACH, was part of autism month activities. Events kicked off last week
in Rawson Square with youngsters from several area schools for children
with special needs entertaining dignitaries in a ceremony called Light
it up Blue. At that time the Prime Minister, whose own son is autistic,
said as many as 35,000 children in The Bahamas have been diagnosed with
autism or other challenges that can impede their ability to learn in a
traditional environment. But success, he said, can – and does follow –
with the right combination of teachers, classrooms and learning styles.
“We
have a long way to go,” said REACH President Mario Carey, “but with
programs like the one offered by Blairwood where children can learn in a
safe, secure, non-bullying environment, we are beginning to make
progress.” That progress will be jumpstarted, he noted, when
government’s plans to create a special needs learning centre on
government land become reality. Carey serves on a committee helping to
design those facilities. But the immediate need, he said, is for more
teachers trained to work with students who, because of autism, have
heightened sensitivities that make what seems like an ordinary set of
circumstances feel overwhelming.
“There is a lot of work to do
but with what the prime minister hassaid is 35,000 futures at stake, we
cannot afford to waste time or to bury our heads in the sand,” Carey
said later, referring to the Ostrich Program aimed at jarring the public
out of its head-in-the-sand slumber.
Carey used the Government
House visit to encourage youngsters who brought spirited song to the
usually reserved formal hallto work hard.
“You can succeed,” he
said. “Look at my son Cole. “He’s 6’3, 17 years old and is president of
his horseback riding club, active in school, and a member of the
National Honour Society. You can do it, too. Believe in yourself and
don’t give up.”
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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