My disabled child needs an education

YVONNE WEBB

A Penal woman is pleading for Education Minister Anthony Garcia to help her daughter Khaleesi Webb get an education.

Khaleesi, five, was born with Spina Bifida, a disability which forces her to use a walker to move around.

On Garcia’s intervention earlier this year, she was placed in the Penal Quinam Government primary school, after three other schools had rejected her. However, Khaleesi’s latest hurdle which has prevented her from attending school for the past three weeks, is a lack of transportation.

Parents Kerisha and Rafael Webb of Charlo Village said that with Khaleesi’s medical expenses, they cannot afford to hire transportation and were depending on the good graces of a taxi driver. However, the driver had an argument with a teacher at the school and told Khaleesi’s parents he will no longer drop her and pick her up.

Webb said when her child was granted a school space, the ministry promised her a place on the special-needs school bus. Arrangements were also made for an aide to be provided through the Student Support Services (SSS) to assist the child in going to the bathroom among other tasks. Neither of these promises were fulfilled.

The frustrated woman said when she attempted to access the transportation, she was told there was no space for her child and space would only become available at the end of the school year in 2018, when Standard Five students leave for secondary school. “The school supervisor said he could not put out a student to make space for Leesi,” she said.

“I cannot wait until the end of next year for transportation. My daughter is doing well, her teacher said she is at the top of her class.

She brought home test papers showing she made 40 out of 40 in one subject and 100 out of 100 in another. She loves her school, she loves her friends, I am begging the Ministry to help my child fulfil her potential,” the weeping woman said.

Webb said if she is unable to get transportation, she is requesting a transfer to the Penal Rock Road primary school which has facilities for persons with disabilities.

“There is a child at Penal Rock Road who also uses a walker. This child also has an aide and I can get transportation to that school. The problem is, the principal said she has no space,” Webb said. Calls to Minister Garcia went unanswered.