May 20, 2021
Tablets Give the Gift of Voice to Stella Maris Students
Several more children from Stella Maris School were given the gift of language – or the ability to communicate that language – when they received electronic devices with a special app. News Five was at today’s happy handing over.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Seven students from Stella Maris each received a tablet through the partnership of Autism Belize, Cellular World and some generous private citizens. Christy Castillo Almeida of Autism Belize says they now have the power of communication.
Christy Castillo Almeida, Founder/Executive Chair, Autism Belize
“It is the gift of communication because these are kids who are living in their own world because they don’t have a way to share or they don’t have a way to tell you that they are hungry or that they are happy or that their stomach hurts.
Apr 29, 2021
Autism Belize Hands Over Tablet to Non-Verbal Siblings
Today, a short handing over ceremony was held at Stella Maris School in Belize City. Two non-verbal students, who were diagnosed with Hunter’s Syndrome, were gifted a tablet with an app that will help them to communicate at home and school. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Christy Castillo Almeida, Founder/Executive Chair, Autism Belize
“Everyone should be able to express their basic needs. I need to go to the bathroom, I am hungry, I am tired, I feel frustrated. Every child – two, five, fifteen, twenty-five, forty, should be able to do that.”
Participant, Autism Walk 2021
“A co-worker of mine has a child with autism and is a part of the organization. So I work at B.T.B. and this year we decided to lend our support and I decided to bring my daughter out for the walk to show support for her.”
Mirna Grinage, Participant, Autism Walk 2021
“We wanted to support this organization. It’s a new organization and I believe they need all the support that they can. We have a lot of cases of autism in Belize and I don’t think we have the resources or the personnel to actually deal with it in the way it should.”
Jan 27, 2021
A Family’s Experience in Bridging the Learning Gap for Special Needs Students
The distance learning approach has been in effect since the 2020 school year began. At the start of every week, weekly packages are picked up, completed by students, and then submitted by the end of the week, while others engage in online classes. But what about students with special needs? News Five’s Duane Moody visited with the Stephen family, whose youngest member is autistic, to find out what the experience has been like and how they’re coping.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Meet Eric Stephen – he’s celebrating his seventh birthday today with his family at their home in the West Lake Community in Western Paradise Village. But he is autistic – diagnosed about two years ago at level three on the autism spectrum, which is the more severe level of autism. And keeping him and his siblings engaged during these COVID times has been a challenge.