Job/Roles in the ECE Community: National and Federal Levels

Job/Roles in the ECE Community: National and Federal Levels

The three Jamaican organizations and communities of practice that appealed to me are:

1. The Mico University College Child Assessment & Research in Education (C.A.R.E.) Centre which is Jamaica's leading public education institution, which offers the highest quality diagnostic and therapeutic intervention services for children with exceptionalities, as well as providing specialized support and education for parents, teachers and other caregivers.   It advocates for the early identification of all students who have special needs; early intervention where necessary in the learning experience of our children; the enrichment and improvement in the delivery of special education in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean.

 

Functions of the Centre

• Diagnosing and remediating learning problems experienced by children in the school system.
• Assessing and offering guidance to the gifted and talented population.
• Providing school-based evaluation of children.
• Fostering/facilitating research in Special Education.
• Educating the public on all aspects of special education in order to foster the right attitude to the “Special Child”.
• Upgrading teaching skills of classroom teachers in Primary and Secondary schools through seminars, workshops and conferences.
• Providing clinical practice for persons in training in child-related disciplines.

I would be interested in fostering and facilitating research in special education as a career option.    The Assessment Centre interests me because there are a number of talented and committed experts in the field of Special Education, General Education, Research and Administration who are committed to the mission.   The focus of the Center is to provide a work environment that is conducive to high levels of employee
productivity and excellent delivery of service to the population we serve.

2. 3D Projects

This is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of Persons with Disabilities. 3D represents the three major areas of disability- sensory, learning, and motor- and three crucial areas of rehabilitation: social, educational and economic. 3D Projects are Jamaica's first fully established community based rehabilitation programme. This organization recognizes that all persons with disabilities should be recognized as citizens and should be accorded all rights extended to other citizens.

I am in agreement with their statement that all persons with disabilities must have the equal opportunity to participate in the social and economic life of the community. Persons with disabilities must have access to supports and resources to enable them to participate.  The goal of this process is to create a warm, loving environment within their homes and communities.

Services Provided

Provides community based rehabilitation (CBR) services for persons with disabilities requiring the following:

1.     Home training programmes;

2.     Counselling;

3.     Educational placements;

4.     Job placement or employment development;

5.     Provides advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families in obtaining community services in home training   programmes;

6.     Develops parent associations and leadership for the purposes of solidarity, advocacy, and parent mutual support.

7.     Trains people in the community in many aspects of inclusion

8.     Inclusive Pre-School Education.

The Career at 3D Projects that I would be interested is in the advocacy programme for placing children with disabilities in regular schools where they are supervised by the psychological assessment clinic and school visiting programme. The latter combines the identification of children with disabilities in regular schools with the exposure of teachers to the needs of youngsters with disabilities through training courses. 

3. Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) is the Government Agency responsible for rehabilitations, vocational training and placement of persons with disabilities in Jamaica. Under the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, it has as its objective the Equality of Opportunities between the disabled and the able-bodied. It seeks through its services, to establish social and economic independence for Persons with Disabilities through their own efforts and labour.    The JCPD’s mandate is to promote the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and offers services and programmes  such as  skills training, help with job placement, early childhood stimulation and access to many  social benefits.

In this Council I would be interested in the policy and decision making aspect especially as it relates to the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities which is geared towards:

·       Setting guidelines and directions for the Government, for the equalization of opportunities for people with disabilities.

·       Assisting government in strengthening its capacity to address disability issues as well as assist individual agencies to improve their capacity to address disability issues within their area of functional responsibility.

·       Providing a framework for agencies of government to cooperate in developing and implementing policies designed to provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities in all aspects of life.

·       Assisting government in implementing the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities.