On August
20th, the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru (CASP) celebrated 35 years of fruitful institutional
life, fully dedicated to providing high-quality education to people with
different abilities (autism, mental retardation, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and
other cognitive limitations) and their families, so that they can become
independent, productive, and happy people in our society.
The
results obtained throughout our institution’s history fill us with great
satisfaction, because we have contributed directly to the development of Peru
and because we have been considered as a model research, demonstration and
educational center for other national and international organizations with which
we share the desire to highlight the talent of people with different abilities.
35 years
ago CASP committed itself to giving a chance to people with different abilities
and working for them, so they can be included in all aspects of life like anyone
else by raising their quality of life and promoting development and policy
change in order to transform our country. Currently it serves over 450 students
and families, 100 of which are working in real jobs, and another 70 are included
in regular schools.
It is also
important to note that the government of Panama adopted the Peruvian model to
create the Centro Ann Sullivan de Panama (CASPAN); and that over 25,000 parents
and professionals from 24 departments of Peru and 15 countries from Latin
America and Europe benefit from the online long-distance education system that
CASP has used to make a difference in the lives of people with different
abilities and their families since 2008.