Every child is, at birth, special. Kester Edwards became even more "special" after a bicycle knocked him down at age eight, leaving him mentally challenged.
Says the Tobago born Special Olympian: "I am what you call a slow learner. I do not get seizures and fits as I was not born with the disability. It is just book-work that takes me a long time to catch on. " About twenty years ago, Kester, the eldest of Alma Melville Edwards' six children was happily attending primary school in Delaford, Tobago, when the accident that was to change the course of his life happened.
"I was about to enter Standard One in the year of the accident so if I had the problem I guess they would have picked up on it. I remember the assessment showed that I was not 100% disabled. They were not saying that I cannot learn but will take a slower time. It was back in the 80's and the system did not cater for mentally challenged and slow learners so I did not get the schooling I should have gotten to perfect reading and writing. People will not see me as having any disability, the head injury led to a minor disability."
Also at that time there were no integrated schools so for the eight year old it was a case of either staying at home or going to Happy Haven, a school for the mentally challenged so he would at least be in a school system. Kester then moved to the Lady Hochoy Home in Cocorite before returning to Tobago to become proficient in masonry at the Roxborough Trade School.
Kester became involved in Special Olympics at age eight and has participated in aquatics, athletics, football, basketball, volleyball and floor hockey. Being a disciplined athlete he did well and was selected in 1987 and 1991 to represent Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago at the International Special Olympics Games where he won a gold medal in football and both silver and bronze in aquatics. In 1995, he served as an official at the Aquatics venue at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Connecticut. He has also excelled as a trainer, working to condition Special Olympics athletes in Aquatics. "I see Special Olympics as a sports organisation that basically helps build self-esteem and gives moral support."
As the first Special Olympics athlete from this country appointed to Special Olympics Inc Board of Directors, Kester recently came home to represent the organisation at the formal opening of the Caribbean Office of Special Olympics at No 7 Delhi Street, St James. And as a spokesperson for the organisation, Kester visited Barbados to speak at special schools because "as a Caribbean athlete who has excelled, I can motivate them by telling them you can't be me, but you could try." He also recently received an award in Washington D.C. on behalf of Special Olympics in recognition of the work the organisation is doing for people with mental retardation.
In 1999, the young man from Delaford, Tobago, met American, Emily White, while visiting a friend in Austin, Texas. By March 2000, having spent time in each other's countries "to basically feel out the relationship" the couple were married in Tobago.
They lived for one year in Austin where Kester worked at a group home for adults with mental retardation. In June 2001, Kester accepted an offer from Special Olympics Inc as a Coordinator for Special Olympics' Health and Research Initiatives, as well as the Regional Growth Division. "We bring health services to the athletes, especially at the Games, and look after all the problems that children would have on a normal basis. In the area of Regional Growth, we look after accreditation programmes; tracking of athletes; and keep a data base relating to regional growth."
He now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a charter member of a local Lions Club, attends night school, and is working towards becoming certified as a coach for a local Special Olympics Maryland basketball team.
Kester and another athlete have been responsible for the introduction of methods of teaching special people in a very simple way, such as, through cartoon figures. "It encourages families to understand and help their kids, such as, to brush their teech twice a day, use deodorant, stretch before you start running and much more. We do this through plenty pictures and less text. The pilot which has been started in English speaking countries will spread to other languages."
But Kester's major goal is to make the difference in how the public looks at people with disabilities. "People in the Caribbean need to be a little more educated about people with disabilities. Business people must look at what they can do for them, as getting a job is one of the hardest things for a disabled person. They mess with your mind. I have gone through a lot of that. If the public will just hear me out so that anybody at all with a disability will be given a chance. A lot of disabled people in the Caribbean do not get a chance to get an education. Why can't our system put the two streams together as going to a separate school puts you back instead of getting your mind challenged."
Kester is passionate about the fact that "everybody should be able to go to High School even to do one or two subjects, but give them the opportunity. Here, it is the school uniform which is part of the problem. In America nobody can tell what school you are going to, and this is what can make you or break you - people calling you names. People could call me all the names they want but I know who I am."
He speaks of a very strong bond with his mother who although sad at his leaving, has given him that space to develop. "She is very proud at where I am from where I was." At a point where Kester is trying to excel: "There is no limit. It was not all easy, I had real down moments. My family was not rich. I just had to come to terms with it all. I could give myself up to liming on the block and slacking away, or give myself some kind of responsibility as you really can't blame anybody. Some of the richest people have come out of the poorest places and got there by getting up and getting it themselves."
Kester does not forget his roots: "The Trinidad and Tobago Special Olympics helped me a whole lot. All you need is somebody to tell you very good, keep doing your best, as long as these words are singing in your ears, you will excel."