ELEVEN Persons With Disability (PWD) were on Thursday charged to remember that they are limited by the skills they have and not by their disability, as they graduated on Thursday from various courses which they did at the Open Doors Centre: National Vocational Training Centre for PWD, during a ceremony at the Herdmanston Lodge.

Manager of Open Door Centre, Arthur Lewis, told the graduates that they are now equipped to better overcome at least some of their many challenges. “It is a known fact that PWDs face enormous challenges especially in today’s society. Across the world they are perceived as helpless, unemployable, dependent and objects of social welfare. Even some say they are menace to society, that’s what they go through,” Lewis reminded. “But they are all part of our society and should be included in every aspect of society. Our mission at Open Doors is to offer technical and vocational training to PWDs to make them productive members of society.”

The graduation ceremony marked the ninth such event since the school first opened in 2001, with the aim of providing technical and vocational training with two year courses in Information Technology (IT), Garment Construction and Craft and Carpentry. The courses are supported by remedial classes in calculation and communications.

Though the school caters to PWDs between the ages of 16 – 45, exceptions have been made for persons outside of the age range who qualify to be registered at the institution. During the training, the trainees are exposed to work attachments at various organisations. This year’s batch did their attachments at the Carnegie School of Home Economics Craft Production Unit and the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD).

They are also introduced to entrepreneurial training, and partake in a number of extracurricular activities, such as sports and camping. Althea Thomas was adjudged the Best Graduating Trainee. The 32-year-old Thomas thanked the institution for giving her the first opportunity to attend school. Wheelchair-bound since the age of four after being injured from a fall, Thomas thanked the wonderful staff. “I just want to say thank you for making my school days wonderful because I never had one so thank you so much. I’ve learnt a lot and I would encourage anyone to come to Open Doors, they have a lot to offer,” Thomas related as she delivered remarks.

This latest class started with some 31 students, with 10 in the IT course, 11 doing Garment Construction, and 10 doing Carpentry. However the carpentry class did not participate in this graduation exercise after the parents and instructors decided that those students would be given some more time to complete their course.

Lewis also explained that throughout the course, some students were unable to continue with their programmes, while others were added. The disabilities of the students ranged from mental to physical debilities. Lewis, in his report, noted that over the years, the school has made much progress and one of its biggest achievements over the past year has been the acquiring of state-of- the-art equipment to bring on stream their course in beauty care. The school has collaborated with Kevin’s Reflections to also offer students the opportunity to undergo a barbering course.