The editor of the New People has “unreservedly apologised” for the use of a word which has been considered to be offensive to people with disabilities. A statement issued this afternoon says there is “no excuse” for the failure to spot the offence that the word would create adding that it “will not be used again.”
A statement continued: “Additionally, the New People notes the huge advances made in the past ten year since the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party and the Liberal Party took office in Gibraltar in relation to all matters affecting people with disabilities.
“That progress has arisen after many years of under investment.
“Additionally, the New People also notes how closely its articles are read and scrutinised and is pleased to see that it continues to set the political agenda. Our readers can be assured that we will continue to highlight the uncomfortable issues that our ideological political opponents wish they could avoid. We will also continue to point out their inconsistencies and failures. We shall ensure we do so without employing language that any collective may, rightly, find offensive and which might permit our opponents the luxury of umbrage.”
The Gibraltar Disability Society is outraged by the use of the derogatory word “retarded” in the recent New People article. It is disheartening to think that certain publications are so far behind the times that it does not occur to them that, by using such a term, it can cause a huge insult to a large percentage of our population. The Society calls for a public apology from the Editor of New People for the offense such language has caused. The Ministry of Equality has recently delivered staff training on general disability awareness and disability language and etiquette, so the Disability Society would go so far as to suggest that the Editor and Staff of this publication may wish to consider attending such a course.
The Governor today welcomed to the Convent Nicole Stewart and Hannah Pilcher, the Directors of the new charity PossAbilities, together with four Trustees, Jane Tunbridge, James Levy, Benjamin Borastero and Maurice Valarino. The other Trustee Michael Llamas was unable to attend and sent his apologies. The Governor is patron of PossAbilities and is very proud to support the charity, which provides a bespoke community support centre for those with Special Educational Needs and their families.
PossAbilities are proud to announce the creation of Gibraltar’s first independent, privately run, Special Educational Needs support facility.
PossAbilities is an NGO with charitable status (non-profit organisation) aiming to provide a bespoke community support centre for those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and their families. It is a Charity run by experienced individuals and professionals, some of whom are also parents of those with SEN. The team will be working in collaboration and closely guided by local, UK and other European experts to ensure delivery of the most professional services.
Facilities will be available to all individuals (and their immediate families), who are pending or in receipt of a SEN diagnosis, likewise through a professional referral.
PossAbilities will be open 7 days a week, all year round – timings will be released on schedule.
The organisation will carry out various fundraising initiatives and continue to seek private sponsorship to assist the centre to operate and thrive. The service users will be required to sign up as members and pay a modest monthly membership fee in order to access and book the various provisions. Consideration will be given to those in extenuating circumstances to ensure the provisions are available to all who may benefit from the service.
PossAbilities is aiming to fill a current gap in SEN opportunities and will do this by providing various facilities and support in addition to the existing provisions, whilst enhancing current services by HM Government of Gibraltar. This support will initially include early intervention support, pre and post diagnostic support for families, an information library, provision of seminars and workshops by expert professionals, age and peer appropriate facilitated support groups, after school clubs and further educational classes and supported employment training initiatives.
Another much needed pillar provision will be a ‘crisis’ hotline for SEN individuals and families to afford 24/7 contact to a member of staff, for any support that can be offered.
Other core services will include access to state of the art SEN facilities in the form of all age soft play rooms, an adapted fitness centre, games and leisure room, interactive sensory room, life skills and home economics centre, relaxation room, family resource facility, sensory / equipment library, pet corner, a newly refurbished secure outdoor play area, horticultural spot, chill-out lounge and presentation / workshop facilities.
Registered members will be able to access a structured schedule of these amenities by booking the facilities through an array of accessible methods including online or at the premises.
The support centre will aim to provide our SEN community with access to a peaceful, equitable, helpful and dedicated oasis. The NGO will also aim to build bridges with the rest of the community to help increase awareness and acceptance of our SEN neighbours and loved ones. One of the ways in which we will aim to do this is by hosting an on-site cafeteria and kiosk that will be open to the public which will foster relations with the community while also creating further supported employment opportunities and training initiatives. The GHA, Care Agency, Department of Education, St Martin’s School and Early Birds Nursery, along with all other Government departments who are involved in the support of SEN individuals in our community, will also be able to make use of these premises to allow a broader scope and reach for their lines of work such as respite provisions.
This will all be made possible by PossAbilities inheriting the site of the old St Martin’s School which HM Government of Gibraltar have generously facilitated for this project. The premises will shortly be renovated in order to create a new, welcoming and warm state of the art building.
PossAbilities will aim to work with other local charities and groups, to assist, promote and where possible, form part of the solution to SEN provisions in Gibraltar. This will include advocating for tertiary educational facilities, supported employment opportunities and assisted living provisions, all which need to start to be delivered now to cater for the growing local SEN community.
PossAbilities will be run and lead by Nicole Stewart (nee Buckley), who whilst continuing her charity and management studies, has also been an avid and active member of Little Smiles Charity, which has seen the implementation of Gibraltar’s first SEN and Disability after-school clubs, public campaigns and awareness initiatives while independently supporting the children of St Martin’s School and Early Birds Nursery.
PossAbilities will also have a team to manage the day to day running of the facility. These positions will include those of a Project Manager, Personal trainer and Sports Coordinator plus further front of house staff. Positions will be opened to members of the public who wish to apply, including creating suitable employment opportunities for SEN parents / guardians and supported employment positions.
Ms Stewart and the PossAbilities team will be supported by a Board comprised of leaders in business, the legal field, charity management, operational acumen and disability rights including His Excellency, the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir David Steele, as their Patron.
The Charity has been working closely with HM Government of Gibraltar and would like to thank the Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, the Hon Prof Minister Cortes MBE MP and the Hon Minister Sacramento, for their unwavering support.
Works will shortly commence on the new site and until then progress and key dates will be announced on an accessible website once launched and via all encompassing communication lines. In the run up to this, all queries are welcomed at info@possabilities-gib.com.
