Adaptive equipment collected for people with disabilities in Turks, Caicos

Sept. 20--WATERTOWN -- Donations of gently used or new adaptive equipment from north country residents will help people with disabilities living on the Turks and Caicos Islands lead fuller lives.

Crutches, canes, wheelchairs -- both electric and manual -- shower chairs, lift chairs and splints, among other equipment, are being collected by the 1 World Foundation to assist the island chain in enhancing its services for people with disabilities.

Foundation President Howard W. Ganter, who also is executive director of the Jefferson Rehabilitation Center, said services and programs for people with disabilities there aren't as advanced or as widespread as they are in the United States. Turks and Caicos Islands government officials have worked with 1 World Foundation throughout the past couple of decades, and more so in the past few years, to turn that around, Mr. Ganter said.

The head of the Red Cross there and the Ministry of Health also reached out to the foundation for assistance, he said. This summer, the islands paid for two of their youngsters with disabilities to attend Dodge Pond, a fully accessible camp for youths with disabilities in Oswegatchie.

"There is no social network there like Medicaid," Mr. Ganter said. "Right now I have an adaptive wheelchair for a lady down there. She's 32, and she has no adaptive equipment. They pretty much pick her up and carry her around."

To further help people like her, Mr. Ganter said, people can call him at 836-1230 to let him know if they have equipment to donate. He also is looking for people who work with adaptive equipment, including physical therapists, to evaluate the equipment to see if it is OK for use or needs adjustments.

Items will be driven to a port in New Jersey, then shipped to the islands. Mr. Ganter said the Ministry of Health will receive the items and "distribute them based on need."

"They have nothing down there," he said. "There's a lot of need for services. There's no income tax. Their business is tourism; they should be paying for services there."

But outside of the beach resorts, a couple of blocks down on the most populated island -- Provinciales -- are poor neighborhoods. Nearby, Mr. Ganter said, people, especially Haitians, are living in the bush.

Mr. Ganter also said there are transportation struggles, and no integration for people with disabilities in school systems. Those also are aspects of life the 1 World Foundation hopes to improve there, he said.

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