Some 150 students of School for the Deaf Grenada are set to benefit annually from a newly outfitted Educational Assessment and Resource Room dedicated to assessing students’ learning needs, identifying their strengths and areas for improvement, and providing tailored resources and support to enhance their learning experience.
The newly equipped Resource Room which was made possible by a donation of more than EC$21,000 by the Sandals Foundation now includes a self-advocacy screener for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, new furniture, sensory toys, educational games and puzzles, technological equipment, and the Second Edition Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) — a standardised assessment tool to support the diagnosis of disabilities and measure adaptive behaviour.
Michelle Brathwaite, Principal at the School for the Deaf Grenada, said the newly outfitted Resource Room is a tremendous help in facilitating this process. “To assess the needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, teachers must perform comprehensive evaluations of students’ academic abilities, learning styles, and special education needs. This includes formal and informal assessments, observations and consultations with teachers and parents. This newly resourced space and new tools will help make this possible.”
The School for the Deaf Grenada supports students in the mainstream education system using its headquarters as a base to conduct counselling sessions, hearing assessments, and other educational assessments for children and adults [Grade 3 to Tertiary Level] who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Travelling teachers at the School for the Deaf go out daily to provide support services for students and teachers in the mainstream system, making referrals to the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Unit and other specialists based on students’ needs.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held on 18 July, Deleon Forrester, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Grenada, said, “The furniture and equipment being provided today is a critical investment in supporting an inclusive education system here in Grenada. Making sure we are supporting the journey of self-expression, personal and psychological growth and the academic goals of students who are deaf and hearing impaired.”
The School for the Deaf Grenada offers a wide range of educational materials, tools and technologies that support various learning modalities, creating a safe and comfortable environment with psychoeducational support.
The Sandals Foundation supports key educational programmes across the Caribbean, working closely with schools, government ministries, and other organisations to support the educational and psychosocial needs of diverse students.
Sandals Foundation
