Remarks by Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr.
at the "Voices that Count" Annual Conference

University of the Virgin Islands, Great Hall
October 21, 2009

GOVERNOR de Jongh: It's my pleasure to be with you here today in recognition of the Sixth Annual Voices That Count Policy Forum on behalf of the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD). I join others in welcoming all conference participants, parents, family members, teachers, and administrators to this important discussion. 

Special thanks to Dr. Yegin Habtes, Gerri Hanna, and Stephanie Barnes for their expert assistance in coordinating this important dialogue. I am pleased to see this issue have this broad-based platform in the Virgin Islands: bringing together the “voices” of individuals with disabilities along with service providers, advocates, legislators, and government. It is important that we facilitate discussion on these issues, including for special education, compliance, improving inclusiveness, and other key concerns.

For the past six years, VIUCEDD has been diligently raising awareness on the unique concerns in the disabilities community. They are educating others, bringing stakeholders together, and providing for overall forward progress. They continue to demand leadership to better serve the disabled and we are proud of their continued actions. 

Any “Call for Action” is a request for real change. It summons the community’s best and brightest to the task at hand. And that is what brings us here today…so I thank you for your commitment to this critical issue. 

As a Government, we have made sure to incorporate programs and initiatives that support the disabled. There are a number of success stories including: 

At the Department of Education, officials are working with parents and families to help them understand their rights, as well as how to advocate for their disabled children. Specifically, the department hosted a Parent’s retreat for this purpose. In addition, the Department is providing student self-determination trainings for the disabled so that students may participate in developing their own IEP (Individual Education Plan). This has been underway for the past two years and helps with confidence levels. The Department also developed special evening programs for disabled students who are about to graduate so they may successfully transition to work. The trainings incorporate courses on work readiness and help to bridge the gap into the employment arena. This program is especially significant as it came about thanks to the funding from the stimulus monies from the Obama Administration. VIDE also purchased assistive technology to help students, including specialized laptops, motorized chairs, and other tools to help with their physical condition and otherwise enable their success. 

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health co-hosted the “Best Beginnings Conference,” a 4-day conference in both districts to work with parents, childcare providers from the start, which includes children with disabilities. In 2007, a baby was presented to the Department of Human Services after it had been brutally beaten and rendered disabled as a result. The child was immediately airlifted to Florida to receive care and treatment, representing the quick response of this Administration to do the right thing when needed, including paying for the costs associated with the transport and care. The child is permanently disabled and will be in residential care most likely for the balance of its life. For Deaf Awareness Month, DHS hosted a number of events in which individuals were taught sign language, in conjunction with the Lion’s Club. Also, as part of a partnership with the Youth Rehabilitation Center (YRC), disabled children, including those who have been in trouble with the law and who have been previously misdiagnosed or undiagnosed are treated through the assistance of a Special Education Teacher.

The Department of Health revised its Medicaid state plan to add services that will improve the health of children, such as covering in-patient psychiatric services for MAP recipients. The plan hadn’t been revised since 1994 and increased eligibility for more residents to get medical assistance, including the disabled. The department also collaborated with the Department of Human Services for the “Best Beginnings Conference” with families, public/private providers to gain valuable insights in working with children with disabilities. 

The Department of Labor hired a Disability Program Navigator (Territorial) through a competitive grant award for $100,000—increasing access to jobs, training, and other support services for disabled persons. This means that the V.I. can now compete for additional grants that enable services to persons with disabilities. A Partnership Memorandum of Agreement was signed with the with Department of Human Services for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Through this effort, at least 15% of workforce investment monies are targeted annually to funding programs and services for persons with disabilities, to include specialized trainings and summer programs. Specifically, this past summer, sixty special needs persons Territory-wide (thirty in each district) were hired by VIDOL through partnerships with Work Able Inc., and the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled. 

In fact one of the hallmarks of my Administration is the encouragement that I have given to the departments and agencies of the V.I. Government to work together in partnership to initiate programs that assist and benefit the entire community—which certainly enables us to make strides in serving the disabled population. 

Today’s sessions promise to further the dialogue on what we can all do to help make a difference in the lives of those with a disability. Based on the U.S. Census data, there are more than 26,000 individuals with a disability in the Territory. Today’s “Call for Action” truly demands collective leadership to help better serve those with special needs, whether through legislation, compassionate action, or other community-based programs. 

Throughout the forum, ideas will be born that will help nurture and guide our forward progress to help teachers, administrators, and program organizers to continue to make important strides so that resources and opportunities are available for the disabled. 

Try as we may, Government can’t solve the challenges associated with having a disability, but Government can and does partner with parents, families, and local organizations to provide support and information. 

From the start, we must be proactive in addressing early educational and developmental needs so that every disabled child and adult may have a quality of life and a range of opportunities that we can all be proud of. 

In closing I would like to leave you with a quote from Frank Klein, an author who writes about disabilities: “From a young age we must work with a child’s strengths to overcome developmental weaknesses and overcome barriers. You do not have to ‘cure a disability.’ If we start early, we will be taking critical steps to safeguard our most precious resource—our children.”

Thank you once again for the invitation to share a few words with you today. And welcome once again to all participants. Enjoy the conference. 

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