It was obvious he was very intelligent, but for most of his life Delroy Gordon had difficulty communicating with the outside world. Being profoundly deaf, he wasn’t given the same opportunities as other children in the territory, according to Lorna Dawson, former special education officer in the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Ms. Dawson, who is now the programme director of the Autism Centre, worked closely with Mr. Gordon, and watched his growth throughout the years: passing through the halls of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, then the Technical Vocational Institute, and eventually on to Gallaudet University in Washington DC, where he is currently enrolled.
“He’s in his second year, and he’s doing quite well,” Ms. Dawson said. “He’s becoming quite independent.”
During a recent trip home to the Virgin Islands, Mr. Gordon received a donation from the Rotary Club of Tortola to help continue his education. The club, through its Henry Osmond Creque Educational Trust, donated $12,000 to assist him with his academic pursuits.
At the age of 20, Mr. Gordon is only just learning to read and write.
Because he never learned such basic skills, he is currently enrolled in an intensive English as a Second Language Programme at Gallaudet, a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
See the Aug. 29, 2013 edition for full coverage.
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