Skills training boost for the disabled

The lack of entrepreneurial opportunities for people with physical and mental challenges has led the Christian Learning Clinic (CLC) to partner with the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) to host a craft skills training course.
CLC administrator Loretta Lashley said yesterday there were programmes for the blind but for people who had other disabilities, there was really nothing out there. 
Speaking at the end of a six-week training session and craft initiative exhibition at the CLC office, Lashley said there should be a workshop for them and the Stepping Stones programme could be it.
About a dozen individuals with physical challenges, mainly autism, learnt how to make cement stepping stones and jewellery.
BIDC chief executive officer Leroy McClean said the corporation was always looking to see where it could help to develop skills, foster and encourage entrepreneurship to ensure that everyone who had a skill or business idea got the opportunity to explore and develop that skill or idea.
McClean commended Lashley for her efforts in exposing people who previously did not have an opportunity for education and training to the programme.
“We are hoping that through this venture and what assistance we can give, we will be providing an opportunity for persons . . .  that are, in the normal scheme of things, overlooked.” McClean said. (LK)