00:00The chief secretary has given an instruction for all divisions within the THA to hire those who are differently abled.
00:08And might I say, that process has started.
00:12Mr. Pallard, speaking at the Magdalena Grand, said he intends to have established sensory haven inclusive play parks,
00:20equipped for the visually impaired, those confined to wheelchairs, and the wider differently abled community.
00:27I have started conversation with Habitat for Humanity in our meeting a couple of days ago.
00:33I'm going to have conversation with the IDB and the UNDP to make sure that we have funding.
00:40These parks cost $550,000 per park.
00:45I'm trying to get three constructed here in Tobago, one in the north, one in the east, one in the
00:50southwest.
00:51Founder and chairman of the Down Syndrome Family Network, Glenn Niles, said,
00:55despite advocating for his son Tyrese over the years, this country still has a long way to go where advocacy
01:02is realized.
01:04If I didn't give up the fight for Tyrese, I couldn't get him in a school.
01:09My son Tyrese, I've been struggling for that.
01:13And the same excuses that they gave me over 25 years ago, there are teachers here.
01:21If I ask them why persons with intellectual disabilities are not allowed in the schools,
01:26they will probably give me the same excuse 25 years later.
01:32Nothing has changed.
01:34Executive Director of Down Syndrome International Andrew Boyce reiterated the theme of World Down Syndrome Day
01:42to be officially celebrated on Saturday.
01:45What we need to realize here is that there is a truth we need to face.
01:49And that is that many people with Down Syndrome experience loneliness.
01:56And it's not an occasional thing.
01:58It's a regular part of their lives.
02:01In fact, a study in the UK found that people with intellectual disabilities
02:06are seven times more likely to feel lonely than the general public.
02:12The theme of World Down Syndrome Day 2026 is to gather against loneliness.
02:18Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
