Faith’s Journey and the Love of a Mother
On behalf of Voice of the Disabled, we send our warmest congratulations to Faith Grant, her mother, Yolanda Grant, their family and the dedicated educators. God has blessed Faith, kept her and provided guidance along the way. With a mother who has been passionate and persistent, Faith successfully completed her primary education and ultimately showed the country that all people are capable of achieving greatness, despite differences.
Nearly ten years ago, Mrs. Cheryl Adams and Ms. Yolanda Grant were introduced to one another by Sister Samuel, who served as Programme Coordinator for an annual event recognising persons with disabilities at Calder Adventist Church. This introduction would begin a friendship that blossomed and grew into partnership. As a parent of a child with a visual impairment, Ms. Grant recognised the importance of educating herself, connecting with a supportive community, and seeking out the proper resources.
Ms. Grant was invited to become a member of Voice of the Disabled. Shortly after joining the organisation, she was assigned to the role of Public Relations Officer, and served as Parent Group Coordinator. Throughout her time at VOD, she delivered training for teachers and parents, and along with Mrs. Adams, worked collaboratively with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment. Not only did Ms. Grant commit to enhancing the life of her own child, but she dedicated her time to serving the community and contributing to a meaningful cause for differently abled Vincentiens.
Together, Mrs. Adams and Ms. Grant worked to identify a school for Faith and advocated for proper accommodations. Securing resources for Faith required a great deal of engagement with the Ministry of Education. Ms. Grant had been using her own money to cover the expenses for specialised support and services for Faith. VOD raised the family’s needs to the Ministry of National Mobilisation, who at the time was responsible for persons with disabilities. In response to the request for intervention, the Ministry of Mobilisation relieved some of the financial burden by coordinating assistance through SVG’s Youth Empowerment Service (YES) programme.
There were many challenges and obstacles. However, Faith proved to be a determined, talented, intelligent and resilient young person with a strong desire to learn. She has achieved a national rank of 19th among her female peers, and 43rd overall for the 2026 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment. Faith is now 11 years old and will be attending Girls’ High School, one of the top secondary institutions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Every child deserves a fair opportunity to reach their highest potential. Learning institutions, at all levels, should continue to evolve to meet the demands and needs of our diverse population. Creating adaptive materials, providing assistive technology, incorporating Braille and other. Alternative communication methods, offering family support, providing specialised training to staff and improving accessibility to physical spaces are just a few ways to promote inclusivity. We still have a long way to go as a society and a country.
Parents and guardians, please take note of Faith’s story. We hope that you feel inspired by Ms. Grant’s unwavering pursuit of a quality life for her child. She understands the value of education, the power of advocacy and the importance of being present. This is only the beginning.
Faith will need much love, encouragement and support as she tackles the different phases of life. As a person with visual impairment, Faith will also need assistive devices and other tools, which can be costly. If you find it in your heart and are able to offer your support, reach out to the family. You can use your voice and your actions to support local causes in your community and help other children like Faith.
Voice of the Disabled will maintain its commitment to serving the community by advocating for change, encouraging independence through education and training, offering parent support, engaging with local churches and other entities, performing outreach, partnering with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and raising awareness about the matters concerning persons living with disabilities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
