Abstract
This chapter opens with the ironic refrain from a popular satirical calypso of the 1980s to provide the backdrop for both groups of parents’ voices as they describe their efforts to adapt to a continuing context of societal negativity and absence of services. Although several parents view public attitudes as having become more positive over the period of 40 years, all present a contrast between “nice” and “not nice” aspects of the society regarding disabilities. While the parents pursue various avenues of advocacy and take action to create meaning and purpose in their children’s lives, they describe and lament the obstacles presented by both bureaucratic and unsystematic implementation of well-intentioned government policies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Gayle-Geddes, A. (2016). A situational analysis of persons with disabilities in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago: Education and employment policy imperatives. In P. Block, D. Kasnitz, A. Nishida, & N. Pollard (Eds.), Occupying disability: Critical approaches to community, justice, and decolonizing disability (pp. 127–144). New York: Springer.
Kirk, S. A. (1984). Introspection and prophecy. In B. Blatt & R. J. Morris (Eds.), Perspectives in special education: Personal orientations (pp. 24–55). Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman.
Morgan, P. (2014). The terror and the time: Banal violence and trauma in Caribbean discourse. Kingston, Jamaica: University of the West Indies press.
Ong-Dean, C. (2009). Distinguishing disability: Parents, privilege, and special education. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Rohlehr, G. (1990). Calypso and society in pre-independence Trinidad. Port of Spain, Trinidad: Gordon Rohlehr.
Sen, R., Goldbart, J, & Kaul, S. (2008). Growth of an NGO: The Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy from 1974–2006. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 5(2), 105–111
Turnbull, A., Turnbull, R., Erwin, E., Soodak, L., & Shogren, K. (2015). Families, professionals, and exceptionality: Positive outcomes through partnerships and trust (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Harry, B. (2020). “Trinidad Is Nice, Trinidad Is a Paradise”: Navigating Negativity and Creating Love. In: Childhood Disability, Advocacy, and Inclusion in the Caribbean. Palgrave Studies in Disability and International Development. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23858-2_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23858-2_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-23857-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-23858-2
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)