Kavir is a 25-year-old energetic and talented dancer from Couva, who lives with his parents and his sister. Through the years, he attended various schools such as the Pointe-a-Pierre Special School, Lady Hochoy Home in Gasparillo, Goodwill Industries in Port of Spain and the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities in San Fernando.
At present he is being taught at home by his mom, who is focusing on helping him acquire life skills.
Kavir dances with his sister and her dance group, Nritta Dance Company and he hopes to open a cafe to sell puffs one day.
Kavir’s mother spoke about raising a son with Down syndrome in TT.
“Kavir was like any normal child, but his learning style differed from what was perceived as normal by society’s standards. The challenges we faced were not due to him, they were because of the people in the system, with whom I had to interact to ensure his growth and development to become an independent, self-sustained individual. Stumbling blocks and challenges were as a result of the national education and support system; my work environment; the advocacy and empowerment group and peoples’ perception.
"Kavir was unable to gain admission into the general school system and the special schools were few, far and expensive, while at the same time afforded no solution to his learning style for him to move forward.
"Kavir's experience is one where he was physically abused by school personnel at three of the four schools he attended.
"Numerous attempts at getting the authorities to intervene proved futile. Student support service in most instances was unreachable.
"One of the major challenges that prevented me from giving the required care and attention to Kavir was the action of my superiors in the workplace. They were unwilling to facilitate and refused to understand my plight as far as the care of my child is concern.
[caption id="attachment_945771" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kavir receives a token of appreciation after a performance with his sister.
- Photo courtesy Sataish Rampersad[/caption]
"The advocacy group which I thought would have aided in bridging the gap and help with accommodation for better service of special-needs individuals was a disappointment. Having joined, I realised it was more of a forum where persons can market their business.
"Taking Kavir out was another challenge because of the way in which people reacted to him. Being very amicable, Kavir would on many occasions walk into a setting and verbally greet people or pay a compliment. There are some who refused to answer and looked at him with scorn.
"If Kavir has a meltdown in public people question my parental style.
"It is actions like these that add to the stress; we always have to be on guard and not allow him to interact, which means he's not free to explore his environment. Notwithstanding, there are persons who do the opposite and comes up to converse. They are few but I am very thankful to them, as it's a learn
