Foundation member of the Autistic Society and Chairperson of ASTT's South Support Group   

Excerpts of a tribute delivered at Mrs. Copeland's funeral service at the St. Paul's Anglican Church on Monday 24th October 2011

I first met Mr. and Mrs. Copeland when we got together with a few other families in 1989 at the Kiwanis Club Library Building at St Helena Village, Piarco. We met as parents who had children and young persons with autism mainly to help support each other.

 The Copelands were more informed of the neurological disorder because Gabrielle, their daughter was a teenager at the time. Mrs. Copeland was seeking help and answers and we decided to form a group. They became very active executive members of the parent support group which we named the Autistic Society of Trinidad and Tobago. It was established in May of 1990.

For many years ASTT has tried to lobby Governments to recognize the needs of families who have children /adults with autism. One of the needs families are desperate to have satisfied is to provide respite care facilities. These Centres must be set up with personnel who are trained to take care of our children and adults with autism. Many of our adults with autism are placed in homes for the aged, Institutions for the mentally ill or other places where they do not get the appropriate therapies and variety of activities they require.

 Mrs. Copeland tried for many years to set up such a facility in south and while waiting on the resources needed the group used the lady Hochoy School at Gasparillo on a Saturday and then rented the Lodge in Medine Street so that some therapies could be offered to our children and adults with autism during the week.

I wish to appeal to the Government  to meet with us and work with us in establishing Centres in different parts of T&T. The South group needs a Centre and when it is built I would like to suggest that Mrs. Copeland's name be given to it as a lasting memorial to her.

In 2007 Mrs. Copeland and her friend Mrs. Fenton together with a few members of ASTT started the South Support Group under the Autistic Society of T&T.

There are so many persons who would like to pay tribute to Mrs. Copeland and I have received many emails which I have sent on to the family,including a letter from Autism Tobago-also formed by members of ASTT.

I always considered Mrs. Copeland to be a personal friend and friend to my family. She was not only a friend but a strong co-worker in our efforts to improve the lives of our children with autism and the families of persons with autism.        

My family  and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Copeland family and friends, and as  President of ASTT I wish, on behalf of all the families of ASTT throughout T&T (~400), to extend deepest condolences to her family and I can assure her family that her memory and contribution will continue to live on. Her passing is a great loss to us all.

I will miss our conversations during which so many plans were discussed.

It is my hope and prayer that the South Support Group will continue the work of Mrs. Copeland - to continue to welcome and support the many families who have a child/young person with autism.

Teresina Sieunarine

President

ASTT

Press Release from Autistic Society of T&T re. Passing of Mr. George Daniel of T&T chapter of Disabled Persons International.

 On behalf of the families of the Autistic Society of T&T I wish to extend our deep sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr. George Daniel. 

He was passionate in championing the rights of the disability community and joined in the protest outside the National Flour mills in 2003, risking his health in the process.

He represented his organization at many overseas conferences and the UN, in an effort to have persons with disabilities included in society and ensure individual human rights for all. 

There have been many positive outcomes of the protest outside the National Flour Mills For example, the organization of a Think Tank on Disability, Integration and Development at the University of The West Indies , St. Augustine , in 2004. The aim of the three-day Think Tank was ‘to discuss ideas and strategies that would facilitate the successful integration of persons with disabilities into the arena of education and ultimately into all areas of society.’

This led to the formation of a new course, ‘Social Disability Studies,’ which is open to students of UWI St. Augustine.

 There are still many barriers to full social participation of persons with disabilities. We hope that others in T&T will take up the challenge to work for equal opportunities in education and the job market, as well as equal access to buildings and services for all our citizens.