Since its founding just over 25 years ago, the Sunrise Adult Learning Centre in the Cayman Islands has improved the lives of many adults with disabilities within the community. In addition to caring for and providing a place of stimulation and growth for some with disabilities, the centre is also known for its work in facilitating the development and integration of people with disabilities into areas of work and everyday life.  

With a new director at the helm, the Sunrise Centre is off to a running start for the next 25 years.  

Incoming Director Shari Smith has taken over from Roberta Gordon, whose 21 years of service and vision have played a major role in the evolution of the Sunrise Centre and set a foundation that Smith can build on. 

“We are pressing forward and looking at what the mission and vision of the centre is with regard to the ‘Training for Life’ aspect of what we do and over the past two years we have added music and art therapy, with professionals from the National Gallery and Cayman Music therapy coming out for session once a week,” explained Smith. 

According to the director, some of the highlights over the years are the establishment of the training centre and being able to successfully place individuals in the work force; two of whom have been working for more than 18 years. She explained that forming a strong bond with the community and working towards awareness for disabilities were also great strides for the Sunrise Adult Learning Centre over the years. 

Top tier government officials who gathered at the Sunrise Adult Learning Centre to celebrate the 25-year milestone, as well as to welcome Smith, praised the work of the centre. 

“This is an important service to the community, which we can expand upon so that the clients can have something to do during the day. We are hopeful in this regard despite budget challenges,” Premier McKeeva Bush commented during the visit.  

The premier also highlighted the efforts of those who were instrumental in establishing the programme, which started in 1986.  

“I want to publicly acknowledge the efforts of people like Alitha Powery, Maj Ebanks, Pam Burke, Victor Ebanks, Crestwell Powery and Kay Powery, as well as Rev. Jonas Shepard and Mr. Benson Ebanks, who was the Minister of Health, Education and Social Services at the time,” Bush said, adding that the Sunrise Adult Training Centre was formed mainly because students enrolled in the Light House School were growing too old for that facility.  

When the centre started, there were only nine “trainees’ and four staff. It has developed steadily since then, and now provides roughly 58 clients as they are called, with care and developmental stimulation throughout the week.  

The government supports much of what is needed to keep the clients and the facility going, but a lot of the help is also community based.  

“When we see them out working and not locked away, we know there is progress being made and it is a testament to the effectiveness of the programme,” said Education Minister Rolston Anglin.  

During the tour of the facility officials got to see the team at Sunrise working with clients, as well as gaining a first-hand appreciation for some of what is required to assist in their development.  

Governor Duncan Taylor said how celebrating with them on their 25 year anniversary was particularly meaningful to him. 

“I have had personal insight into the matter and a real perspective on the work being done,” said Taylor, with regard to the challenges and rewards of caring for someone who may be challenged.  

In addition to music therapy and art therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, as well as motor skills development and training are offered in what is a holistic approach to clients’ wellness. 

Smith said the Centre has always had the support of successive governments and with numbers continually growing as new clients come in and the older clients remain, she added that this would be crucial in the future. 

“When people are a part of this programme it is essentially for life, as they require that assistance on an ongoing basis and this is the reason we are always growing. The oldest client at the moment is 56-years-old,” explained the director who noted that she hoped to see the programme develop into several arms, which would include a recreational aspect for those who at retirement age, in addition to the Training for Life programme for high functioning people with physical impairments that limit them despite their intellectual capacity.