In a significant advancement for special education, the Digicel Foundation has revealed plans to establish five additional fully-equipped Innovation Labs in specialized educational institutions by year’s end. The initiative targets Lady Hochoy Cocorite, Eshe’s Learning Centre, Cascade School for the Deaf, Servol Sunshine Hill, and St Dominic’s Trade School, providing cutting-edge technological resources to enhance learning experiences for students with disabilities.
The comprehensive technology package includes state-of-the-art computers, immersive virtual reality systems, interactive smart boards, specialized assistive technology accessories, and ergonomically designed furniture. This infrastructure aims to foster more inclusive, hands-on educational approaches tailored to diverse learning requirements.
Educational leaders from the beneficiary institutions recently conducted an observational tour of the existing Innovation Lab at Palmeras Learning Centre in St. James, established through Digicel Foundation funding in 2024. Under the guidance of IT instructor Faith Jackson and Principal Earlene Phillip, visitors witnessed firsthand the successful integration of technology into specialized curricula.
Principal Phillip characterized the lab’s impact as transformative: ‘The Innovation Lab has fundamentally revolutionized our educational methodology. Students actively seek opportunities to incorporate technology into their daily learning activities. While the smart board remains particularly popular, the overall access to computers and internet resources for research and skill development has proven invaluable.’
Diana Mathura-Hobson, Project Manager at Digicel Foundation, emphasized the broader vision: ‘These five institutions join an expanding community of educators dedicated to digital inclusion. Our Innovation Labs initiative strives to guarantee that students with special needs receive equitable access to technological opportunities.’
This program operates within the Foundation’s Digital Citizenship framework, which seeks to equip youth and marginalized communities with essential digital skills, tools, and confidence for full participation in the digital landscape. With these additions, the Foundation will have established 20 Innovation Labs nationwide, systematically integrating adaptive and accessible technologies into specialized education systems.