The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SPECIAL needs school in Abaco has experienced some impact from the world premiere of a documentary film featuring the institution.

And while the film “Every Child Counts” has brought in donations to the learning centre after which the documentary is named, ECC founder Lyn Major said there is a need for more teachers with formal degrees in special education.

The film, which was produced by independent film director Wendy Loten in conjunction with Ryerson University, chronicles ECC’s journey from a typical island school to a beacon of hope for disabled children faced with limited educational options.

The school provides an alternative education for children with learning, developmental or physical disabilities regardless of financial, family or social restraints and strives to maximise each child’s ability to become a productive, successful, and independent citizen.

“It has been shown in a number of places,” ECC founder Lyn Major said on Monday.

“It was shown at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival in November. It was shown on public television on TV in Ontario, twice last week, we’ve shown it in Hope Town and Treasure Cay. And it’s to be shown at the Manitoba Film Festival shortly, so it’s gotten around to a few places.”

“I think there was consideration of it at a film festival in Connecticut, so I think there’s other showings planned and it’s been good because it’s just brought an awareness of what we’re doing and awareness to the school which is always helpful.”

“There have been donations given in response . . .so I can see that actually being helpful in terms of fundraising because it’s a way to reach more people and to get more people involved. So it’s been good.”

It costs nearly $400,000 a year to run the school, which has 100 students and a little over two dozen instructors and assistants – its costs are covered by donations and modest tuition fees. The government currently provides salaries for only two of the instructors at the school.

“We have teachers but this is something where the College of the Bahamas might be able to work with us,” said Ms Major.

“We do have a number of teachers who don’t have training or assistants who would like to be trained but they’re not in a position to leave to get the training in Nassau.”

“We’ve worked with a speech and language pathologist from Howard University, Dr Shamika Johnson, whom I think had some contact with COB and she certified a number of our teachers in speech and language for remediation or assistance so any of those certifications helps them in terms of not only their own skills but in terms of degrees and recognition. So the more we can do of that, the better because we have some very hard working, dedicated young staff.”

Dr Keithley Woolward, COB’s director of graduate programmes, said Ms Major’s concern is something COB is seriously considering.

“(We are) thinking (about) being able to offer something through distance learning via an interactive platform,” Dr Woolward said.

“And as long as you have access to the Internet, you can access the classes and faculty through an online Skype-like version of classes. So hopefully soon there can be a formal relationship with ECC in terms of community engagement, including those aspects in some of the courses we’re going to be developing out as we transition to university status but also putting into the work that the college does, an obligation to be involved in the community in some kind of way.”

ECC hosted Ryerson University’s Department of Sociology’s Spring 2015 International Community Engagement course in Abaco between February 13 and 23, 2015. Dr Woolward participated in the course in Abaco this week.

The course is headed by Jean Golden, professor of sociology at the Canadian university based in Toronto, Ontario.