From left to right: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Mrs. Petrona Davies and Minister of Health and Social Development, Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE QC are pictured here with Mr. Peter Symmons, QC, a Trustee of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust and Project Manager, Ms. Donna Clarke. (Photo Credit: Ministry of Health and Social Development)

In a press release issued by the Government Information Service, it states that last week, officers from the Ministry of Health and Social Development met with officials of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, a potential funding source for the first phase of the Autism Programme. Project Manager, Ms. Donna Clarke and one of the Trustees, Mr. Peter Symmons, QC, visited the Territory to visit the site proposed to house the programme and to meet with government stakeholders.

Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe in the press release, affirmed that the meetings were fruitful and the two officials were very pleased with the outcome of the meetings. Mrs. Igwe stated, “The Virgin Islands is now required to submit a proposal which will be presented to the Board of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust”.

According to the Ministry of Health and Social Development, in October 2009 Ms. Sue Osborne from Kingwood Trust in the United Kingdom met with government officials, some adults and children with autism, as well as their caregivers and parents in order to assess their challenges and to develop a plan of action to address their needs.

Upon Ms. Osborne’s return to the United Kingdom, she submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health and Social Development. Since then she has been exploring various funding sources for the Virgin Islands to implement the project.

A few months ago the Maria Holder Memorial Trust in Barbados was identified as a potential partner for the Autism Programme.

Mrs. Igwe said, “We anticipate that our proposal will receive consideration so that the programme can begin later this year”.

The aim of the Autism initiative will be to provide a day programme that can cater specifically to the needs of children and adults with autism. Training will be provided for professionals in the public and private sectors, as well as parents and caregivers, and will build capacity for addressing the needs of persons with other types of disabilities. At the end of 18 to 24 months it is anticipated that the local capacity will be built to continue the programme.