During the summer we told you about the state of affairs with regards to Special Needs Education in Antigua & Barbuda. We said you needed to get serious about it. We told you why. We said we need to act now and not later. We told you why. We said we (as parents) have to continue to be the biggest advocates for our children. We told you why.  At that moment, we’re still working on getting the message out to you, the press, and the public.

Can you believe it? We’re still being told that we should "lighten-up", "give the Ministry of Education a chance they have a lot to do", "the government is facing significant financial challenges" "What about the Adele School? Can't the children enroll there?" To them, Parent 1 says; "Give the Ministry a chance? My child is 12 years old. I have been giving everyone a chance. When do I begin to demand that someone gives my child a chance?" Parent 2 says; "I pay tuition for private special needs schooling in the thousands of dollars per term. It’s a huge sacrifice for my family but it’s one we’re willing to make. My heart breaks when I think of the families who cannot even afford to make that sacrifice if they wanted to." Parent 3 says; “The teachers at Adele are nice but my teenager goes there and we’ve come to realize that niceness alone doesn’t cut it. The school is overcrowded and under-resourced. They’re doing the best they can with what they have. Adding more students will help no one."

ABILITY says…"The last time we checked, education was a right, not a privilege!" "When we say no child will be left behind – Doesn’t that mean NO CHILD - And that EVERY CHILD is entitled to an education?" So yes, we disagree with anyone who says there’s no reason for alarm. And yes, we disagree with anyone who says it’s going to take a lot of funding to get done so we must wait. When we talk about solving this crisis in education we realize that we will need massive public support to make it happen. Of course we know it’s going to take some financial investment. But we believe that the true strength of our campaign is the number of “everyday people” who are not directly affected owning a piece of it.

So we refuse to believe that this cannot be done. Ultimately we want to see a proper system-wide Special Needs Education Program within the public school system – And we’re lobbying for these reforms with a vision.  ABILITY did not come about just for a few victories but rather for long term social change. We need to make reforms in Special Needs Education today. Not because a few modifications will make perfection.  After all we’re not seeking perfection, because if ever we think we’ve found it then we have probably lost our way. No, what we’re seeking is a change that will open the door for the radical changes our Special Needs Education system so desperately needs.

A lot of people out there are wondering whether we can inspire the kind of grassroots support which ABILITY came out of. A lot of people out there are already saying many have tried before but good luck with getting anything done. So we've got something to prove. As we’ve said before… We all have different reasons for getting involved in this effort, and here's one ABILITY would like you to consider today. People are counting on us. There are too many children who need us to ensure that they get the education they deserve - And we also need to protect the progress we've already made.

Special Needs Education has been the focus of numerous newspaper articles and headlines. Even the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech made reference to Special Needs Education indicating that "No child will be left behind"…That's progress! Representatives of ABILITY have had serious dialog with officials at the Ministry of Education…That's progress! Recently, Ashworth Azille, the Secretary General of the Antigua & Barbuda Union of Teachers agreed with ABILITY in that there is a need for a national policy on Special Needs Education…That's progress! There will be an article (written by a parent who is a member of ABILITY on having a special needs child) in the upcoming issue of Business Focus Magazine... That's progress! There’s a new and exciting TV program called Lifestyle which will be launching soon and will feature ABILITY and what we’re seeking to accomplish…That's progress! More people are talking about it…That's progress!
 
Is it enough? Absolutely not! Do we want to see more happening? Damn straight! We'ree not just going to continue to wait – And we'll be keeping up the pressure by making sure they’re hearing from folks across the island everyday about why they need to act now. Many supporters are already at work on the ground, talking to their family and friends, pitching in however they can, but none of us can sit back on the sidelines and hope that alone will be enough. It won't.
 
Time cannot be replaced; it just continues. The time we have left are all we're going to get. Right now, we all have the time, and the opportunity, to step up and make a commitment to be a part of the work that we know will make the difference in Special Needs Education in Antigua & Barbuda. The reality we'll all face, more so our children, is something we can affect with the actions we decide to take today. Are you ready to talk to whomever, whenever about whatever aspect of special needs education that makes you mad that we’re not doing more? Do so by owning a piece of this campaign. Forward this email to your friends, discuss on Facebook and Twitter, write letters to the editor of the local paper and call in to your favorite radio shows to air your views. Tell your story of why we can’t wait any longer.

Now is the time: Let’s get out there.

*** Salma Crump is mother to 8-year-old Kuba who was diagnosed with autism at three years of age. She writes on behalf of and is a founding member ABILITY, an association of parents with special needs children. She may be reached at (268) 770-5600 or 764-5604, salma.crump@gmail.com. Check out her blog: www.momtuition.com, facebook, or via Skype name: salmacrump.