Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf began 22 years ago as a tangible commitment to the belief that deaf people are as intelligent, creative and able to learn as anyone else. Ignoring those who thought it would do no good to educate the deaf, JCSD strives to provide quality education to deaf children and to break negative stereotypes that surround handicapped and deaf people in Jamaica. The teachers and staff have accomplished this goal by consistently graduating students who are well adjusted and able to get jobs, have families and lead normal lives.

Sophia Reid, the Principal of JCSD, has been involved in this ministry for over 20 years. During that time the school has had six different locations, and has gone from being a part time outreach to a full residential school. The current location, purchased in 1996, is in Eden and is the permanent campus.

JCSD is a privately funded school, receiving no government funding. In many ways, the school is a faith-based ministry, relying on donations and sponsorships to fund its month-to-month expenses. It takes only a brief tour of the campus, or a five-minute conversation with Sophia to understand how important this school is to the deaf community in Jamaica. There are so many heartbreaking stories of children who were mistreated, abused, or neglected by families who just didn't know what to do with a child who had special educational needs. After coming to JCSD, many of these children flourish. These are the amazing testimonies that drive the staff at JCSD to work so hard at loving these children and teaching them how to live up to their individual potential.

Dian Thompson, Senior Teacher at JCSD

“We are molding the lives of these children to become responsible and productive citizens in their country. Our main goal here is to make sure that these children leave with a skill and basic knowledge of how to interact with people. And to let them know that they are not different from anyone. They just can’t hear. And, not to let anyone regard them as less then what they really are.”

JCSD is starting the 2005-2006 school year with a new classroom building, a newly constructed playground, and an enrollment of 34 students. The new classroom building is part of the steady expansion JCSD has been working on for the past nine years. A lot of prayer, sweat, and donated time and money went into the completion of this building. The playground was donated and built just in time for the start of the new school year by a group from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

To learn more about JCSD or to find out how you can get involved in their ministry, go to http://www.jamaicalink.org/involved/partners/jcsd.html

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