Deandra Newton, the mother of a disabled child on the island of Abaco, is questioning why her daughter cannot be accommodated at a school on the island.
Newton’s daughter Royalty, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was enrolled in Central Abaco Primary School until about two weeks ago. She told ZNS News, “I got a phone call from the Principal telling me that I would need to go and talk to the ministry because today would be the last day for the teacher assisting her to the restroom. But prior to that there was a cleaning lady who had agreed to assist her from she had started grade two. She never did grade one in the government system because from 2023, when she was the age of five, I always got the same answer, there’s no teacher’s aide, there’s no teacher’s aide available.”
Newton created a social media post sharing her frustration with the education ministry because her daughter is no longer in school. She said, “their motto is every child counts. Every child can’t count, it can’t county because this ain’t right. My daughter is so smart. She can read. She can write. She can do any and everything a normal child can do except get up and walk like we could. She can walk short distances but she can’t do it for long. She can’t balance on her own for too long. So yes, she uses the wheelchair. I am not looking for a teacher to physically go into the toilet with her and watch her use the toilet. It’s just to wheel her to the restroom.”
Royalty previously attended a private school which became too costly for her family along with her medical bills. Newton called on the ministry for help with her situation.
Director Of Education, Dominique McCartney-Russell told ZNS News that she was alerted to Newton’s social media post and has requested a full report. “Our priority area is special education. So bringing in more teachers, ensuring that students are included, providing more accommodations, providing more modifications to the curriculum we have supported students who have special needs,” she said.
McCartney-Russell intends to meet with Newton and the school’s Principal after the requested report is received.
