Children with Down’s syndrome to get tablet computers

Annette Clayton Baker, director of the Jamaica Down's Syndrome Foundation, has hailed the donation of $1.5 million by the Digicel Foundation as a welcome injection that will assist the organisation in empowering some of the country's developmentally-challenged children.

The foundation said that the money will be used to purchase tablets, complete with educational applications that have been purposed for children diagnosed with Down's syndrome.

"We are extremely grateful, extremely excited and we are indebted to the Digicel Foundation. For many years, Digicel Foundation has been supporting us and our member families, and we are extremely honoured to be considered by them on this occasion," Clayton Baker said.

She said that there has always been a need for tablets to assist special needs children in developing their aptitude and motor skills. Furthermore, she said the need was heightened due to the coronavirus pandemic, where face-to-face learning had to be halted.

"The tablets are particularly useful to them and it is ideal for them. Children with Down's syndrome, electronic devices are useful for them, not just for the software, but it also helps them with their motor skills and they also use special toys that build the strength of their motor skills, because their hands are smaller than other persons. It is, therefore, critical to develop the dexterity of their hands and finger, and just using the tablets alone is good to fine-tune their motor skills, so they know how to hold a pencil or hold a fork," Clayton Baker explained.

She added that there is a need to have more specialist teachers, as well as to develop an educational application to assist children living with Down's syndrome. This is to aid in early childhood stimulation, which starts in the child's first five years.

"If the child does not have early stimulation, then the child's chances of advancing in the future are slowed down. The apps are very hard to come by, and what we need is an app, in particular, for children living with down syndrome, because we have to do a lot of investigation to find one that is specific to down syndrome," she said.

Clayton Baker is hoping that more assistance will be provided to the Down's syndrome community. She told THE WEEKEND STAR that there needs to be more acceptance, awareness, and exposure for persons who have been diagnosed with the genetic condition.

"Parents with children with down syndrome, if you ask them what their number one need is, they will tell you acceptance and respect that their children can have the love of the community in which they live. We want more persons in Jamaica to be aware of their presence and what they can do to help children with Down's syndrome. In addition to that, we need more tablets and electronic devices and a special area for families to meet with a specialist and assist the parents, but we need a physical space for this to happen," she stressed.

March 21 is recognised as World Down's Syndrome Day.