Working to change people and perception

IN September of this year, Erica Verwayne and various other instructors and facilitators of the ‘Open Doors Centre’ hosted another graduating batch of students. The centre, formally called The national Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, opened in May of 2001.

Erica Verwayne has been a part of Open Doors for over seven years and holds the position of Acting Manager of the institution. The Open Doors Centre has a total of eight instructors who work to help train individuals from the ages of 16-45.

The aim of the institution, Erica stated, was simply to help people living with disabilities become an important aspect of society. She stated that, “Our focus is to train young adults with disabilities in Guyana to have a skill; to make them marketable and independent and contributing members to society.”

Open Doors and the work done at the institution is incredibly unique. The skills being taught and training for persons with disabilities are not being done anywhere else in Guyana. Erica expressed, “It is also important because we are the only institution in Guyana that provides skills training for adults with disabilities between a specific age group.”

More often than not, greater emphasis is placed on the theoretical and intellectual aspects of education, which leaves very little space and consideration for more practical skills. This is what the Open Doors project is all about. Erica explained, “We offer four skill areas: garment craft, beauty care, information technology and carpentry. And before the year’s end, our plan is to implement block-making and agriculture.”

The belief and sentiment that every child is different is emphasised at Open Doors. The institution also provides housing for persons with disabilities. After an in-depth screening process, students enter the training centre. From this point onward, the trainees are constantly being assessed to ensure they are given the best help required.

“All of our courses are two years. If we realise that a trainee is not 60 to 70 percent capable of going out there and being independent in the skill that they are taught, we keep them back so that they can grasp more,” Erica stated. This commitment to achieving the highest quality of education possible is perhaps why the institution has such good reviews backed by high levels of graduating students.

Because Open Doors is an umbrella training centre, they accept several people with varying disabilities. Erica explained that, “We have persons with physical disabilities – whether they are a wheelchair user or they have some problem with a limb. [We house] persons with intellectual disabilities as well. We also have a few persons with Down Syndrome.”

The main objective of work done at Open Doors is to focus on skills training. However, this does not mean that other avenues are not taught. Erica explained, “Apart from the core courses, each trainee has to do something we call remedial education. This is where they are taught a little bit of mathematics and calculations. Although they will have a skill, they still need to know how to utilise the skill.”

Regarding the challenges faced by the Open Doors trainers, Erica stated that both she and her teachers find what they do easy. “I don’t think we have any challenges because we gear ourselves to working with persons with disabilities. It is just that one of the things that we say to people is [there must be a] willingness to learn. We are going to take them in and work with them to the best of our abilities so that they can grasp something to make themselves independent.”

Creating a welcoming atmosphere is also important at Open Doors. Erica explained, “Although trainees may see some people just like themselves, the teachers at open doors work to alleviate all doubt and fear for their students.

Erica stated that, “Sometimes we might crack a joke to make them feel comfortable, especially because they are starting at an institution where they may see persons like themselves who have disabilities, but still, we have to make sure the teachers are welcoming because we have to lead by example.”

And lead by example they do. At the end of every course at every graduation, Erica says she is happy to know they have accomplished their goal. “Seeing the children graduate makes me feel ecstatic and amazing; like the objective has been fulfilled. Our reason and purpose have been made.”

For their future endeavours, the Open Doors Centre is working on expanding. “One of our plans is to roll out a few new areas and we are also looking to start a course in caring for the elderly. We are trying to make sure we have courses that are of today’s use,” Erica said.

Apart from teaching those inside Open Doors, Erica says they are also working on shifting the opinions and stigma about people with disabilities. “What we have to start doing is looking at the person’s ability and not their disability because not all disabilities are recognisable.” Erica further stated that, “Once we get away from that stigma and we open up to knowing the person, instead of looking at the person’s disability, we are good to go.”