Digicel delights children with special needs during Christmas treat at Hope Gardens

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-06 | Original Article

Christmas carols rang through speakers at Funland in Hope Gardens, Kingston, yesterday as excited children with special needs enjoyed games and competition organised especially for them by the Digicel Foundation.

 

On the periphery of the merry-go-round, trampoline, and train rides, parents and teachers looked on, grateful for a place where the children could revel in carefree fun, and where they themselves could also relax.

 

There was no way Janice James could make the occasion miss her seven-year-old autistic daughter, Gabrielle Francis, who she said “loves these events”.

 

“She’s been on the majority of everything, most of the trains and the horses and carousel,” James told The Gleaner. “If it’s not for events like these I wouldn’t come here. If it was a regular fun day event, I couldn’t bring her because to handle her ‘round other children and the crowd, it would be frustrating for her.”

 

The 41-year-old cashier from the parish said that rearing her only child, who is minimally verbal, has been filled with challenges, especially as she has been unable to get her into speech therapy.

 

“It’s not only the availability to pay for the speech therapy, it’s also to find one (a speech therapist). When I was told that she needs speech therapy, it was about three years ago, and I contact UHWI (the University Hospital of the West Indies)... and everybody have a two-year waiting period,” she said.

 

Stressing the need for more speech therapists on the island, Francis is hopeful for a grant next year to cover the therapy sessions of $7,500 three times each week, now that she has finally secured a therapist.

 

“I plan for next year now where I have to budget for it,” she said.

 

Yvonne Smith Tracey joined her daughter, Sekaai Tracey, on the carousel which was a hit among the 150 children at the fun day.

 

Her 17-year-old daughter has Down syndrome, and Smith Tracey told The Gleaner that events catering to special needs children are crucial for their development.

 

“Children need to socialise and they need to have fun so, instead of having them home all day and just lock up inna di house, sometimes they want some outside space, and this is really an event for them to come out and meet other children and just have a good time,” she said.

 

It’s also an opportunity for parents of these children to connect, another parent who opted to remain anonymous said.

 

The parent, who brought her two-year-old son who also has Down syndrome to the fun day, said she appreciated how accessible everything was.

 

“Normally, when we go anything that have fun day and stuff, him normally can’t go on the ride but here there are a lot of rides that he can go on,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Jamila Crooks-Brown, portfolio manager for education and special needs at the Digicel Foundation, said nine special needs schools were invited to come and enjoy the fun day’s second staging.

 

These include Genesis Academy, Jamaica Down Syndrome Foundation, Danny Williams School for the Deaf, Salvation Army School for the Blind, Vision Academy, Best Care Special Education School, Lister Mair Gilby High School for the Deaf, Promise Learning Centre, and the Early Stimulation Plus Programme at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

 

“One of the primary pillars at the Digicel Foundation is special needs and we always try to find ways of how we can ensure that these children are not left behind, and we know at Christmas time everybody do the norm and focus on the regular stuff, and given the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and what it has psychologically done to children with special needs, we wanted to bring a little cheer to them for them to appreciate the season a little more,” she said.

 

The activities are not only fun, she said, but many also offer sensory stimulation designed especially for them.

 

“The children are really excited. Some said they didn’t sleep because they were excited about coming here, and once they came in and saw the set-up – they’re very eager to spend the day,” she said.

 

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com

 

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