MESSAGE BY MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
 HONOURABLE CARVIN MALONE
IN OBSERVANCE OF AUTISM CENTRE 7TH ANNIVERSARY

OCTOBER 29, 2019 

Greetings Virgin Islanders, residents and visitors. Today, October 29 marks the 7th anniversary since the Autism Centre was commissioned and officially began providing services and treatment to children and adults with autistic needs and other learning disabilities in our Territory. But just like anything else, the storms of 2017 caused severe damages to the building leaving our clients and staff displaced. I am now happy to report that thanks to our partners and friends near and far and with the resilient hardworking staff and management, the Autism Centre was able to rebuild and restore services to now serve 33 clients on a weekly basis. The staff has even embarked on building their capacity to provide enhanced services to clients in need. Some of those include:

• The Secret Agents Society which is a computer based game aimed at helping children ages 8 to 12 develop social skills.
• Equipping Minds which is a cognitive intervention programme that helps to develop the foundational cognitive skills necessary for learning.
• The Interactive Metronome which is an assessment and training tool that improves timing in the brain for increased cognitive, communicative, sensory and motor performance.
• And Identifying the presence of retained primitive reflexes and using specific exercises to help them lay dormant.

All of these trainings are critical as we remain committed to growing and adapting our services at the Autism Centre, the BVI Services and the Social Development Department to ensure that every single differently-abled child and adult are best equipped to live the most normal and dignifying lives. Happy Anniversary Autism Centre!