STARR Computer answers ICT need for disable students

Georgetown: In supporting the work of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre in the age of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) STARR Computer voluntarily donated a Computer Smart Lab to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Center on Thursday.

Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation teachers and students test their new computer lab while STARR Computer representatives (extreme right standing) look on.

The Computer Smart Lab includes a computer system, six monitors, keyboards and mouse, APC backup battery and a smart lab kit.

At the simple ceremony at the Centers Carmichael Street, Georgetown computer lab, Rehman Majeed, General Manager of STARR Computer said the lab was designed to be energy efficient with low maintenance.

“The lab will make a major contribution for the learning and development of skills, this is my first visit here and I am thoroughly impressed at the work of staff and management, the results are shown in its modern features, the organisation, persons in the private sector should visit and they may learn a lot,” Majeed said.  

He commended the staff at the Information Technology department for doing an exceptional job with the children and the maintenance of systems.  

Mr. Majeed noted that every child, despite challenges, physical or otherwise, can become masters in their field of choice, once they are empowered and given the opportunity to do so.

Hyacinth Massay, Rehabilitation Officer of the Centre said the center is extremely grateful since there was no request made for the donation.

Davie Beepat, One of the rehab teacher said the new computer lab will help in the implementation of the curriculum since the children at the center learn by audio and visual.

“When they see things they learn and remember it better than chalk and talk, the keyboard also helps in the children identifying numbers and letters. There will also be new software in use which will help them in speech therapy and motor skills, some of the more mature students from the vocational training center would be trained to duplicate documents and prepare them for the world of work,” Beepat explained.

The Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre provides rehabilitation services for over 100 children and 30 adults annually while its day care service provides care for up to 35 children and nine residents.  Another component of the facility, the Harold B. Davis School has 45 students enrolled.

The Centre was originally established in January 1967, by the Ministry of Health to provide rehabilitative services for those children who had suffered residual paralysis following the 1960 and 1964 poliomyelitis epidemics.  The institution has since then has developed a comprehensive programme for rehabilitation for children with various types of physical and other developmental disabilities. It currently offers services such as physiotherapy, special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling and educational services for parents of children in rehabilitation programmes and provisions for orthotic and prosthetic appliances for the physically disabled in Guyana.