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Sagicor and IGT have donated educational kits and devices to the Learning is for Everyone (Life) Centre and Caribbean Kids and Families Therapy Organisation (CKFTO) to support children with autism in their home schooling. This was announced in press releases from Sagicor on Thursday and IGT on Friday last week.
Autism encompasses a range of neuro-developmental behaviours. The centre provides special education services for people with autism spectrum disorder. While many autistic people learn to manage their condition, their quality of life is determined by the severity of their symptoms.
Remote education for students with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder is no easy feat, said Dr Shara Zoe, principal of the centre. The centre's programme involves virtual group sessions, one-on-one teaching sessions, independent activities, therapies and co-curricular activities such as yoga, music, art and craft and physical education.
"Our dedicated staff rose to the challenge and have been working tirelessly to meet the needs of our students remotely...We found that the best way to meet the needs of our students is the use of virtual instruction in tandem with hands-on manipulative. These manipulative are prepared by our hard-working teachers and crafted to meet the needs of our students. They are assembled in packages and sent home for students to use in their sessions.”
Zoe said the donation of materials from Sagicor is "more than welcomed" because it gives the group the resources needed to continue meeting the diverse needs of their students for another term of virtual teaching and learning.
The Life Centre had to reduce both its staff and salaries over the past year. Zoe called on other companies to step forward to help NGOs affected by the pandemic restrictions.
“There are organisations in TT, just like Life Centre, who have a dedicated mission to making the lives of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) better – Autistic Society, Support Autism T&T, Right Start, just to name a few. Find these champions and advocates and help. Give of your time, expertise, finances whatever you have to offer, and join us in creating an inclusive society for people with ASD.”
Sagicor's vision statement is: "To be a great company committed to improving the lives of the people in the communities in which we operate."
Keston Howell, president and CEO of Sagicor General Insurance, said the autistic community is one such group.
"Many of us understand disabilities we can see, when a person has an unseen disability, it may be more challenging for us to understand the ways in which we can help. Bringing awareness to this spectrum disorder is important, as ensuring all children receive the best possible education is close to our heart. Sagicor is proud to support the Life Centre family in their commitment to supporting those impacted by this disorder.”
Sagicor is also supporting the centre with its awareness T-shirts fundraiser to celebrate World Autism Day, as part of the focus for April.
CKFTO is a non-profit organisation founded in 2008. Its mission is to provide affordable, professional and empathetic therapeutic services to children with special needs from birth to age 21, regardless of income level. CKFTO operates as the sole non-profit multi-disciplinary therapeutic and support centre for children with disabilities in TT.
It also provides therapy services for children with disabilities at their clinic in St James, and free therapy services and parent training sessions for families at community centres in Carlsen Field and in Arima.
Krista Hamel-Smith, CKFTO general manager called on corporate TT to hire people with autism and other people with disabilities, because they are capable of achieving and making meaningful contributions to the workplace.
“Highlight the person, not the disability, and what they have overcome and achieved,” she said.
IGT first partnered with Life Centre in 2018 when it provided iPads, iPods, and touch screen computers. In September 2019, the centre got iPads, touch screen computers and software from IGT.
In 2012, CKFTO received its very first donation from IGT. The organisation received high-tech, smart devices donated CKFTO’s unique needs in mind. The technology has been frequently updated by IGT over the years and continues to serve as integral communication tools which are used during therapy sessions.
Hamel-Smith said, “Since schools have been closed, the children have not been able to receive their much-needed sessions face to face. As such, CKFTO has started providing virtual group therapy services using devices given to us by IGT. The donated laptops have been a great help in the transition from direct therapy to virtual therapy. As direct contact has been reduced, many of our therapy sessions have been completed virtually on these laptops.”
IGT’s country manager Roger Bolai, said the company is committed to using its expertise to help vulnerable children and those who have mild-to-severe disabilities.
"They are our main concern and, although we were involved in these programmes long before the pandemic, covid19 simply made what we do even more impactful.”
IGT donates new computers, printers, software, furniture, and volunteer hours to non-profit agencies through its After School Advantage Program in TT and where IGT conducts business worldwide.
He said the programme allows IGT to apply its technological expertise, as a leading provider of technology and services to lotteries and commercial gaming operators worldwide, to assist in the education of young people.

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