Reigning Miss Dominica, Lesslassa Armour-Shillingford, is appealing to the authorities to improve training for special education teachers.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the observance of International Down Syndrome Day on Thursday, Armour-Shillingford said “education for all creates opportunity for all. Disabled persons cannot and should not be an exception.”
“We should add our voices to that of the National Down Syndrome Association to make a plea to the UWI Open Campus and the Ministry of Education to improve special-ed teaching programs,” she stressed.
She noted that children with Down Syndrome should be part of age appropriate inclusional classes and should be seen as ‘students’ like everybody else.
Meanwhile, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Dalton Maronie, called on students to assist in eradicating negative mind-sets towards people with Down Syndrome.
International Down Syndrome Day is being observed this year under the “Don’t look at my disability, give me an opportunity.”
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome is the most common chromosome abnormality in humans.
It is typically associated with a delay in cognitive ability (mental retardation, or MR) and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics. The average IQ of young adults with Down syndrome is around 50, whereas young adults without the condition typically have an IQ of 100.
Y do Dominicans like to bring down other Dominicans.. the young lady is obviously doing something good y not encourage her instead of bringing her down
Special Education Teachers requires very in depth education and training and requires a Bachelors or Masters Degree. One day of training cannot prepare teachers with the skills for special Ed. I consider this training as an inservice/seminar
Its very obvious that someone wrote the speech. that’s normal practice. One’s intelligence can more be accurately judged when speaking spontaneously.
There is special Education Training at the DSC as part of the Associate Degree Program in Early Childhood Education.Teachers who pursue the Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education complete 12 credits in Special Education.I will agree with you that more needs to be done to ensure not only children with Down syndrome recives quality education but all children with special needs. However there has been efforts by the ministry of Education to accomodate children with down syndrome in the mainstream classroom while some principals do enroll children with down syndrome in the schools .What i would advise the National Down Syndrome to do is to have an education series on educating children with Down Syndrome. They can learn if provided with early stimulation, the right environment and right teachers. Congratulations to the association for hosting world down syndrome day.
Good going, such an important topic but hardly spoken of, it’s like disadvantaged persons back hom just do not stand a chance. For a Christian country we really do not seem to care too much about the disadvantaged or challenged among us.
Whoa.. Im Totally Impressed with Miss Dominica. For the first time a queen with beauty and brains. or did Someone just write her that speech? guess she is about 19 yrs old, How would she know about inclusional classes.
Now, I would like to know how do u go about labeling students, “Special Ed?”
Special eduction is not a label . When we have children with special needs we always see the child first and then the disability . One of the greatest barriers to inclusion is societal attitudes. If we can just overcome that hurdle then we are well on our way to an inclusive society. Disability has no face . It can affect persons from all walks of life, the rich, the poor so we need to continue to accept diversity and promote acceptance.
You read ? THats how you learn … and you learn so you know.
Well is Dominicans like you dat does discourage people. How you can say how she know about dat?? Give d girl a chance, and how you mean if she wrote her own speech?? Stupes go an sit on a bucket eh DominicFirst.
Making Dominicans in d diaspora think is a bunch of idiots dat down here den!
I disagree with you as well DominicFirst. She’s obviously a very intelligent young lady much like the other intelligent people on this beautiful island. She was chosen for queen because of her brains and her beauty. What’s wrong with that. I see somebody doing something positive and adding her voice to an issue that is obviously very important to her. Why belittle her? doesn’t she have a degree or two as well?
Additionally, I think it’s unfair to say that this is the first time we have a queen with brains and beauty.
Let’s credit positive people who are doing positive things and give Leslassa credit because it’s due.