Single mother launches foundation to support parents with special needs children

Oct 04, 2020 News, Special Person

By Rehanna Ramsay

Kaieteur News – Having a child with special needs is a blessing and a challenge. This is the perspective of Guyanese beauty entrepreneur, Michelle Playter; the proud mother of a special needs son.

Guyanese beauty entrepreneur, Michelle Playter with her sons.

Playter recently opened up to Kaieteur News about how her life changed after having her son, Jaden.
Through her foundation which was launched last weekend, the young mother of two is hoping to help parents, particularly mothers, with special needs children.
She explained that Jaden’s Foundation will be a voice for women dealing with special needs children and help them to be better informed as it relates to taking care of their children.
Playter noted that support is essential for any parent raising a child or children, more so, one that has special needs.
“As a working mother, I know the struggles of having to ensure that your children are left with the right care, especially Jaden, I had to make sure that when I am working he was left with a caregiver who understood him and his needs,” the single mother added.
She noted that her son has several impairments. “At 14 years old, Jaden doesn’t talk and can’t do anything for himself. He can walk and that’s about it. So, when I have to leave him to go anywhere for work it’s a challenge to get the right baby sitter. I know struggles so, through my foundation, I am hoping to be able to offer parents the type of guidance and support they need to raise a child like mine,” added Playter.
She told this newspaper that her experience raising her son drove the decision to start the foundation. “I have been wanting to do something like this for a while now because I remember after I found out that my son was going to have developmental challenges growing up, I was extremely concerned and I did not know where to find answers to the many questions on how to care for him properly,” Playter said. She reflected on the moment she realised her son had missed certain growth marks.

Jaden, Michelle’s special needs son, at the launch of the Foundation.

According to her, Jaden appeared to be a normal baby until he was about eight months.
“When he was about eight months, I realized that Jaden was not walking or even attempting to talk. I became concerned because children usually walk at eight months but then I thought it was maybe because of his weight. He was very chubby,” Playter said
“My fears were only realised after a visit to the doctor’s office,” added the beauty entrepreneur.
She noted that while the doctor did not specifically diagnose Jaden’s condition, she was told that he would possibly never walk or talk.
“First I was told that he had microcephaly because his head was kind of smaller than normal but then I learnt that he may have suffered brain damage due to complications at birth. Whatever the condition was, I knew that my son would need extra care and attention and I had many questions and wanted answers on how to raise him right,” she stated.
The young mother noted that it was a challenge finding the answers to her many questions. For this reason, Playter said that Jaden’s foundation was started.
“That’s why I started my foundation to help give mothers like myself get professional guidance and pointers they need on how to care for children with special needs. While for each parent the circumstances may differ depending on the condition of the child, our foundation will be sharing advice and information on a variety of scenarios,” she said during an interview.
She said that the foundation will also be looking to provide support for special needs children in a more tangible way. “For instance, we will be offering mothers a spa day where they will be treated to the much needed time to cater to themselves. I have my own makeup studio. So, I will do some of the work and I will network with other salons to do some of the work as well because as a beautician, I know how important it is for women to look and feel their best.”
Since its launch, Jaden’s Foundation has already garnered support from a few overseas based foundations with similar mandates. Curtis Nelson of Sesame flyers a youth and community development organization in Brooklyn, New York and Mike Johnson of the BK Styles Foundation are already on board to support the Foundation in its efforts.

Members and supporters of Jaden’s foundation at the launch last weekend.

The Foundation will also be supported by medical specialists like Dr. Karen Butters who spoke at the launch about her work with children like Jaden. Dr. Butters was instrumental in helping Playter understand Jaden’s condition. The doctor recalled that when she met Playter, she had many questions.
“Unfortunately as doctors we don’t have all the answers but what we can offer you is support both moral and education. I am part of this foundation because I have seen and heard the cries of parents of special needs children for love, support, care and understanding. Each child’s needs are different and we all must endeavour to help maximize their fullest potential which is what this foundation wants to do.
We want to be a resource centre where we can create public awareness about conditions of special needs and we would like to offer support both medically and treatment. And we want people to understand that God created all of us including the special needs children with a plan and a purpose,” she remarked at the launch, last weekend.
Much like Dr. Butters, Playter noted that she takes pride in caring for Jaden.
“I want other mothers to know that it’s nothing to be ashamed off. Of course raising children like Jaden is more difficult because of the dependence but surely they are a blessing. I have learnt so much from raising Jaden. He taught me by not even uttering a word, how to be grateful for the little things in my life. I have learned how to be more patient about stuff too and just how to be grateful for life in general,” the doting mother said.
Playter noted that she is particularly passionate about the work that Jaden‘s Foundation will do for all mothers raising children with disabilities.
While, the Foundation is in its initial stage, Playter is currently working on building its online presence through social media.
Most of the work is being conducted online due to the COVID -19 pandemic. The Foundation, however, intends to start giving out some food hampers at Kamuni Creek and Santa Mission, situated along the West Bank of Demerara.