Bethesda visits Tobago: expands disability inclusion training, sibling support

Bethesda Director Saira La Foucade visited Tobago in October to expand disability inclusion training for Catholic educators and catechists. The program aims to provide teachers and catechists with the skills to include children with disabilities in mainstream classrooms.

The training sessions began on October 10 at Scarborough RC, where Bernadette Phillips, the Scarborough Vicariate Catechist Coordinator, led thirteen catechists in the training alongside Tobago Catholic Education Board representative Mary Rogers. On October 12, the program launched at Delaford RC Primary School with ten staff members in attendance. The training continued on October 13 at Scarborough RC Primary School for 20 staff members, including the acting principal, guidance counselors, and the librarian.

Bethesda works through the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission and the Catholic Education Board of Management, led by Father David Khan, to identify Catholic primary schools for these early intervention efforts. While the initiative originally focused on catechists, it has expanded to include school teachers due to increased interest from educators.