“Enabling Minds and the leadership at The St. Charles Borromeo School in Croix-des-Bouquets share a similar vision with the Special Olympics: by helping to include people with intellectual disabilities into the community, the entire country and world will benefit. In September 2013 the School in the Santo 19 section of Croix-des-Bouquets will begin a pilot class of 10 children with developmental disabilities, virtually all intellectual disabilities. Enabling Minds, a United States group that strives to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities in underserved regions, is working to assist the St. Charles Borromeo School in serving these children by providing financial and educational support. This project will allow children with disabilities in this community to attend school and be included with children without disabilities. Special Olympics Haiti will open a practice program in order to integrate these children to the world of sport, partnership, friendship, love and socialization.”

by Georges Bony, National Sport Director for Special Olympics Haiti. Originally published by Special Olympics International May 28, 2013.

Read The Original Article:

http://www.specialolympics.org/Stories/General/Sharing_a_vision_Special_Olympics_Haiti.aspx

On October 1, 2013, Enabling Minds will visit the St. Charles Borromeo School in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti to help open the first class in the community for children with developmental disabilities! This class will begin with 10-12 students with developmental disabilities. Because of a lack of resources and the great stigma associated with disabilities in Haiti, children with developmental disabilities rarely are given opportunities to go to school and participate in community activities.

This will be a great opportunity for the Santo 19 section of Croix-des-Bouquets, as it will allow a special needs curriculum to be offered to children with intellectual disabilities, and will give these children an opportunity to experience the joy of being a part of a school environment.

Enabling Minds is hoping to improve the lives of these children and help eliminate some of the prevailing cultural stigmas associated with having a developmental disability.

Enabling Minds will be hosting a fundraiser this spring to celebrate the launch of our website and help fund the 2014-2015 class for children with intellectual disabilities at the St. Charles Borromeo School in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. Please stand by for more information about our fundraiser!