Dozens of guests filled the State Room at Government House on Thursday as William Hilton joyfully sang the National Anthem a cappella, to begin an Evening Under the Stars commemorating R.E.A.C.H. Bahamas’ fifteen year anniversary.

The audience erupted in warm cheers and laughter as William, a charismatic 10-year-old student at the Autism Unit of Garvin Tynes Primary School took a bow following his rendition. William was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) just before his first birthday. “William is my first child, when he started having seizures I took him to the hospital and that’s when they told me that he was not developing at a normal rate,” stated Jacqueline Whylly-Hilton, William’s mother. Nonverbal until the age of five, William would hum the tune of his favourite songs but would not speak. He is a testament to the benefit of early detection and intervention treatment services and how they can greatly improve a child’s development.

“When children are diagnosed, early intervention is essential to assist them in reaching their full potential,” stated Kim Gibson, VP of R.E.A.C.H. and the mother of a son with ASD. “Unfortunately, there are few therapy options here and those

that are available are out of the financial reach of many parents. It is our dream to make therapy available to all children diagnosed with autism in The Bahamas regardless of their financial position, thus giving all children on the spectrum the same opportunity to success.”

ASD affects 1 in every 68 children according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. It is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in The Bahamas. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but is almost five times more common among boys than among girls.

R.E.A.C.H. has been promoting ASD awareness and education in The Bahamas since 1999, providing free services and resources for children and families affected.

The reality that many parents raising children with ASD face is daunting. Homes are refinanced to fund treatment services to address a child’s challenges in communication and physical health. Jobs are lost when a handful of sick days are sucked up by the innumerable days a child with ASD may need direct attention with no available caretaker. Simple trips to the grocery store make children with ASD a target for onlookers eager to comment on their behavior without an understanding of the interactive challenges children with ASD battle.

For these parents, R.E.A.C.H. provides a number of free outreach services, including a weekly Parent Support Group. “We invite guest speakers that can provide information, guidance and assistance as well as counseling for parents and emotional support,” stated Gibson. “We assist with school placement because there is a lack of space in public special needs classrooms.”

After fifteen years of service, R.E.A.C.H. is looking to the future. “Our main objective for 2015 is to secure a bigger office space where we can eventually offer therapy,” stated Gibson.

The government has committed to building a full centre for the disabled, complete with education, training and recreational facilities on a 20-acre site on Gladstone Road. During her address, The Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services confirmed that groundbreaking for the centre will occur in January 2015.

Significant strides have been made in recent months to benefit those with ASD and other disabilities. The passing of the Bahamas Disability Bill provides for the equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Bill also carries an affirmative action stipulation which requires companies with more than 100 employees to ensure that 1% of those employees are citizens with special needs.

“We have to move persons with disabilities from second class citizens to the first class,” asserted Minister Griffin.

The Best Buddies program assists with this goal. Best Buddies is a global volunteer movement that seeks to integrate those with ASD into the workforce. Corporate volunteers welcome those with ASD into the workplace where they are assigned a buddy who works with them one-on-one with the ultimate goal of securing rewarding jobs that will allow adults with autism to become part of mainstream society.

Baha Mar has already implemented the program. Three young men with ASD recently graduated from the Leadership Development Institute and have secured full-time jobs at Baha Mar.

Minister Griffin urged parents of children with ASD to continue to fight for their futures and advised that the government, parents and community must work together to uplift the standard of living for those with special needs.

This Saturday, R.E.A.C.H. in partnership with the Ministry of Education will host an Autism Training Session at Queens College starting at 9:30am. The session is aimed at teaching daily living and independence skills in the home and community as well as individual education plans. Pre-registration is not required and child care will be available at the session.

All Smiles – William Hilton, pictured with his mother Jacqueline Whylly-Hilton, opened R.E.A.C.H. Bahamas’ 15th anniversary event A Night Under the Stars with an a cappella rendition of the National Anthem. William is a 10-year-old student at the Autism Unit of Garvin Tynes Primary School who was nonverbal until the age of five.

Committed to making a difference. – R.E.A.C.H. Bahamas Board of Directors pictured Left to Right: Mr. Robert Turnquest, Mrs. Barbara Barnes, Mrs. Marcia Newball, Dr. Anya Remy, Mr. Neil Strachan and Mr. Dwayne Gibson.

A Collaborative Effort - The Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services joined by Mario Carey, President of R.E.A.C.H. Bahamas greet guests at A Night Under the Stars on Thursday to commemorate R.E.A.C.H. Bahamas’ 15th anniversary.