Two Persons with Disabilities to benefit from Technical Vocational Training Scholarships

Two Persons with Disabilities receive Technical Vocational Training Scholarships

22-year-old Miss Rhonda Stevens and 24-year-old Mr. Bernard Warner, both with disabilities, have received Technical Vocational Training Scholarships to go to the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) in San Fernando, Trinidad, West Indies.

They were chosen from a field of candidates to take up a ten-month training course in Office Practice and Woodwork/Upholstery respectively that started on April 8, 2002.

Initial funding for the scholarships was negotiated by ABAPD from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and was facilitated by ABAPD's regional umbrella Organization, the Disabled Peoples' Organizations of the Caribbean (DPOC); however, the budget for the project exceeded the funds being granted by the IDB which meant ABAPD was responsible for the outstanding sum.

We were able to secure funding to complete the project from the Stanford International Bank, the Antigua Barbuda Investment Bank (ABIB) and the Bank of Antigua.

ABAPD undertook this project to fulfill several Goals & Objectives that are in tune with its Constitutional mandate that include:

Improving the lives of persons with disabilities by equipping them with technical and employable skills which will render them eligible for self-employment or attachments with private and/or public sector organizations;
Establishing a core of skilled individuals who can act as facilitators in the transference of skills to persons with disabilities in Antigua & Barbuda;
Developing a cadre of professionals who are fully integrated into society;
Challenging the long held views of society of the capabilities of the disabled.

The candidates will receive Vocational Assessment & Testing, Computer Literacy Training, Remedial Education and Independent Living Skills as part of the total package in addition to certification in the chosen Courses. The programme is certified by the Ministry of Education, National Examination Council in Trinidad.

Miss Stevens is hearing-impaired and Mr. Warner is an amputee.