PRESS RELEASE - The Cerebral Palsy Association of Saint Lucia (CPA) is now two years old and continually impacting the lives of its members.
The Association recently had the pleasure of hosting its 2nd Annual Respite Day on Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Dame Pearlette Louisy School. The aim of this day was to honour parents and caregivers who deserve this much-needed time off. Parents spent their afternoon at Sandals Halcyon having lunch and socialising with each other.
During this time, the children were engaged in motor skills programmes, arts and crafts programme and sensory play to further stimulate the senses and ultimately foster new brain connections. New environments are a good way to introduce variation to the brain, which is important for learning. The assistance of the group ‘Believe in Volunteering, the Adventist Community Services’, a special needs activity coordinator, along with teachers and other volunteers made this programme a success.
Parent, Rosanna Judaine, said: “I had an amazing time, thank you for this opportunity.”
President of the Association Daria Robinson-Ernest said: “We the Association are doing our best to engage the families and children with CP. This Respite Day allows us to treat the parents while offering a safe environment for their children. The parents deserve this time to socialise with each other and share heart to heart stories of their journey.”
The Association now offers the following activities at no cost to the families: Monthly Horseback Riding Programme introduced in September 2013, Swimming Programme introduced in February 2014 and Quarterly Sensory Birthday Parties. The Association continues to advocate for continuous therapy for the children, early intervention, and specialised programmes in schools tailored to each child’s individual needs.
The CPA appreciates that the government is tapping into managing such a delicate area, childhood disabilities, by implementing a $200. We implore them to continue networking to find solutions to curtail the numbers from increasing. More emphasis is needed though, in ensuring the basic needs of children and adults with special needs are met.
Other sponsors of the event included Windward & Leeward Brewery, Exelsign and Peter & Company Ltd.