Special needs athletes shine at Inter-Schools meet

The Special Education Inter-Schools Sports Meet was held on Thursday, March 19, at the Mindoo Phillip Park, the eve of World Down Syndrome Day. Scores of students with special needs competed in traditional foot races as well as events such as the sack race, lime-and-spoon, beanbag throw, and fill-the-bottle.

About 100 students from the Dunnottar School, Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre, Dennery Child Development Centre, Vieux Fort Special Education Centre and the Soufriere Special Education Rehabilitation Centre participated.

Students were placed in three divisions – junior, intermediate and senior – based on their abilities rather than their age. In the junior division, Kevin Edmendson (Dennery) was the most outstanding boy, and Delly Emmanuel (Lady Gordon) the top girl. Vieux Fort’s Delan Joseph and Ranelle Chalmagne were the most outstanding intermediate athletes. And in the senior class, Vieux Fort’s Kimani Tal and Lady Gordon’s Derressya Giddings took prizes.

Dale St Juste, Education Officer for Special Education, explained to St Lucia Times that Thursday’s meet was the highlight of the physical education experience for children with special needs. It’s the culmination of the physical literacy programme that special schools have,” explained St Juste. “Whereas physical education is important for all children, it’s probably more important for children with various special needs, because it helps to stimulate cognitive activity. 

“Many of our children have challenges with motor coordination, muscular strength, and so on. So the preparation for today’s events helps to build them in those various domains where they have challenges. Besides that, just the competition, the rivalry, the fun experience they have, that’s good for them emotionally. So it’s contributing to the effective experience of education.”

St Juste also noted that children with autism, Down Syndrome, and similar special adaptations can benefit immensely from participation in physical activity. He explained that whereas participation outlets may not always be available in schools serving the general population, it’s important to create space for individuals who function differently. 

Johnson James, sports coordinator for special schools, told St Lucia Times that the sports day contributes greatly towards the kids’ general well-being and their self-esteem. “For them, this is like the pinnacle of sports,” he reiterated. “You know, the students at the regular school have inter-primary and Island Champs. So for them, this is like the highest level. And so, for them, it does a world of good.

“We have students who came to the special schools with really low self-esteem, and they were not thinking about any sports. And now they are at the special school, they’re doing well. And now they can participate in other events, because they have that self-esteem, that image that was repaired. And so it’s doing a world of good to our students.”

Over the last year, special-needs competitors have been included in local track meets alongside traditional athletes. They have also participated in school table tennis and competed in schools’ calypso competition. Special-needs student athletes like Dillan Joseph and Kimani Tal are showing the world that they may be different, but they are definitely able.