PHILIPSBURG:--- Kidz at Sea, Sint Maarten and SEA the Vision. Dallas, TX passionately launch their next non-profit collaboration for Sint Maarten. Garth Steyn and Lorraine Talmi , founders of Kidz at Sea along with Ellen Haag, Founder of Sea the Vision, Inc., a newly forming non-profit in the US, have successfully partnered over the past 4 years providing eye exams and free glasses to students in Sint Maarten and clients of White and Yellow Cross in need of vision correction. To date over 3,000 eye exams have been conducted by top Optometrists and their support team from the US, resulting in over 2,000 pairs of free glasses. While the two groups plan to continue providing assistance with vision correction, they are now advancing to the next phase of the Sea the Vision Mission.
The core mission for this US based organization is “to provide assistance to individuals in need through vision care, education and personal health care.” The two organizations are successfully on a journey supporting vision care and are now debuting their first project for education.
On August 9-10, 2019 a team of experts in Special Education from the US will be in Sint Maarten conducting the first annual SPECIAL EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM. This FREE symposium has been developed specifically for Educators, Health Professionals and Caretakers of Special Needs Children and Adults. While 80% of a child’s learning occurs through their eyes, vision is just one of the critical components to success in the classroom. Although there is a lack of concrete data globally on how many individuals are facing disabilities such as autism, learning disabilities, dyslexia and emotional and behavioral disorders, agencies in the US currently believe that 1 in 7 children have some form of disability. Numerous studies have reported that individuals with disabilities often face significant bullying, more physical and mental abuse in addition to being outcasts throughout many communities.
The American University of the Caribbean (AUC) will be hosting this FREE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM on Friday, August 9, 2019 with six hours of innovative education provided by the US team. In addition to the free Symposium on Friday, the team will also conduct additional seminars at White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation on Saturday, August 10, 2019. There will be a session fully dedicated to the parents and families of special needs individuals. Additionally, they will conduct a community session for anyone in Sint Maarten who would like to learn more about how to be more inclusive of those with disabilities.
Anyone who would like to attend the FREE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM on Friday, August 9, 2019 at AUC may go to seathevision.org to register.
All special needs parents and family members will be welcomed at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation.
For anyone who would like to attend the community session, you will be welcomed at 6:00 pm on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation.
The leaders of both organizations are deeply committed to elevating and expanding their combined contributions to the students and residents of Sint Maarten.