UNITED NATIONS – Guyana will establish its first specialised school for children with autism later this year, marking another significant step in the country’s efforts to expand support services and educational opportunities for children living with disabilities.
Arya Ali, the wife of President Irfaan Ali, told the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) that GUY$316.5 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004cents) had been allocated in the national budget for projects and programmes to assist children and persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
She said that the new facility for autistic students will be built at the Cyril Potter College of Education in Turkeyen, a neighborhood in Demerara-Mahaica and that the initiative forms part of Guyana’s broader commitment to creating a more inclusive society and ensuring that persons with disabilities are afforded equal opportunities to participate fully in national life.
The planned institution builds on recent efforts by the Guyana government to strengthen educational and social support systems for children living with disabilities.
In 2025, Guyana opened its first school dedicated to providing specialised services for children with hearing impairments, retrofitted schools and public buildings. This will improve accessibility and provide literacy and skills training for 830 PWDs.
Beyond education, the government has implemented a range of measures to improve the quality of life and economic prospects of persons living with disabilities. The government issued permanent disability benefits to over 26,700 PWDs, raised monthly payments to GUY$22,000, and offered a one-time cash grant of $50,000 to all registered beneficiaries.
Mrs Ali called for stronger collaboration among governments, international organisations, technology stakeholders and persons with disabilities themselves to further advance inclusion and accessibility worldwide.
