Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn and Premier Dr. Orlando Smith sign a contract with the Maria Holder Memorial Trust. The Barbados charity will fund the territory’s Autism Programme, which is scheduled to commence in September. Photo: GIS

Help is on the way for Virgin Islands residents with autism and their caregivers. A new programme tailored to their needs is to launch in September at the Rainbow Children’s Home.

On Tuesday, government officials signed a contract with a Barbados charity, Maria Holder Memorial Trust, which has pledged $381,529 to fund the initiative. Another contract was signed with Kingwood Trust, a United Kingdom organisation that is to administer the programme.

The pilot will last for 18 to 24 months and will be conducted at the Rainbow Children’s Home, said Health and Social Development Minister Ronnie Skelton.

The programme aims to help participants function better in society, Mr. Skelton explained.

 

See the April 26, 2012 edition for full coverage.

{fcomment}