Parents Grateful for Free Autism Screening

Alison McFarland of Moy Hall, St. James, was concerned when her son’s teachers indicated to her that he was struggling with his lessons and was not staying in class.

“He’s always on the outside; he’s not writing,” she told JIS News.

“When I spoke to him, he said that the teacher is writing too fast for him,” she pointed out.

Miss McFarland said that she met with the principal who suggested that her son might be on the autism spectrum and he would need to be evaluated.

“So, me and the daddy took it from there and we have been trying to get the help,” she said, noting the cost constraints.

Miss McFarland’s son was among 181 children from across rural parishes who benefited from free on-site screening at a recent autism expo organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Jamaica.

The inaugural event, held at the Hopewell High School in Hanover, was designed to provide early assessments, referrals and information on services ranging from speech therapy to specialised education programmes.

It connected rural families with specialists, educators, and community support through a network of exhibitors, including specialised schools, educational professionals, speech therapists, clinical service providers, government agencies, and community support groups.

The expo was a welcome resource for many parents, who are seeking answers to developmental concerns and need help in accessing affordable care and support.

Miss McFarland, who told JIS News that she learned about the event from a friend, said she was grateful for the assistance.

“I have a better understanding of autism, and if he is indeed on the spectrum, I know how I can proceed with assisting him,” she said.

For Naomi Alves of Rosemont, St. James, the event was beneficial, providing guidance in what has been a confusing and often overwhelming process in getting a diagnosis for one of her children, whom she suspects is on the autism spectrum.

“I would like to say that this information, this experience here at the expo is really informative, because there are a lot of persons who have the same issues as me, and they are confused. So, the expo does lead the right direction as to where to go,” she told JIS News.

Her partner, Wayne Wright, noted that cost is a barrier for many families in seeking diagnosis and care.

“One of the concerns is to go to a doctor just to hear about this exorbitant bill,” he said.

“Being able to get this, even if I have to spend some money later, at least I know exactly where to go. A lot of us are poor people. It is free here today to get the screening for our children,” he pointed out.

Kimarie Lyttle-Griffiths told JIS News that she made the trip from Sheffield District in Westmoreland after a private doctor suggested her youngest son might be on the autism spectrum and recommended a formal evaluation.

She said the expo presented an opportunity she could not pass up, as it allowed her to have her son evaluated and also gain a clearer understanding of autism.

“An event like this is more than worthwhile because there are persons out there like me who cannot afford to take their child to get the proper assessment that they need. So, this was an opportunity [and] it is more than a thumbs up,” she added.

President of JCI Jamaica, Marklon Bedward, told JIS News that children and adults were screened.

“The age groups are for young children, ages four to eight [and] nine to 12, and we have an adult screening as well. For those adults found to be on the spectrum, what a specialist can do is to help them to rehabilitate and find that independence for themselves,” he pointed out.

“So, it’s not only to just help them to find routine but to help them to become independent people in our society, because they can contribute to our society positively if they have the network of support needed,” he added.

Vice President of JCI Jamaica and Managing Director of the Life Pak Foundation, Dr. Yochel Samuels-Williams, indicated that the expo was designed to close the gap between early suspicion and formal diagnosis for children who may be on the autism spectrum.

Given the needs, JCI Jamaica will be doing a review to determine whether to stage additional expos this year.

Assistance with autism diagnosis and support is available through the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which provides early intervention for young children.

The Special Education Unit (SEU), under the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, offers assessment, placement, and intervention for students with special needs aged three to 21.

Help in diagnosing learning challenges is available through the Mico CARE Centre in Kingston, and the Sam Sharpe Diagnostic and Early Intervention Centre in St. James, which provides psychoeducational assessments and remedial interventions for children with special education needs.

These initiatives are complemented by a range of private specialists, and non-profit organisations, including Jamaica Autism Support Association (JASA), Caribbean Tots to Teens, Jamaica Autism Academy, among others.