‘I wish I could get him in school’ - Parents seek help for autistic boy

As their strength wanes and the resources needed to care for their autistic son become harder to acquire, Sharon Allen and her partner, Gladstone Palmer, are hoping for a breakthrough.

Their seven-year-old son, Ramel, requires round-the-clock supervision. He wears diapers and has never been to school due to his ailment.

In July, THE STAR highlighted the couple's plight, which resulted in the family receiving help - food, some clothes, and diapers - from persons locally and internationally for their son. They also got funds to sustain them for a while.

But though grateful for the kindness, Allen indicated that the needs are always great as cost of living increases and efforts to sustain the family have been crippled.

"Gladstone got some help and was able to start a little business where he jerk chicken and pork on the weekends ... . We were hoping that from that we could get the funds for Ramel to go to school, but it didn't work out how we thought it would ... but we are not giving up," said Allen.

The struggling mother earns $3,000 per day, twice every two weeks, for domestic duties.

"... To by food stuff, Pampers, wipes, and so, oh Lord ... when I do one day's work and get $3,000 when I go into the supermarket sometimes I can't even afford a pack of Pampers. Me have to buy a half dozen and I just have my fare left to come home ... It costs about a little under $10,000 per week for Pampers and food items," the mother said.

On a bad day, Allen revealed that her son requires changing up to eight times, making a pack of 30 diapers grossly insufficient for two weeks.

"You see because he is not speaking, too, it makes it very hard to potty train him ... With him urinating it's not as bad because we time him, but when he is passing his stool, that we cannot time," she added.

Because of their son's behaviour patterns, Allen said that their son has to be watched 24/7, making it difficult for her to work more days as not everyone can manage to babysit an autistic child.

"It is so very hard. Sometime he doesn't go to bed until 3 in the morning and you have to be up with him. You can't leave him. You have to be constantly watching him," Allen said.

Above the needs for financial assistance with living expenses, the family say they now need the help more than ever with getting the last of their four children into a school staffed with special-needs professionals.

"I wish I could get him into a school. You see if he could talk, I feel like he would be better able to state how he is feeling and we will know what to do. The professionals would know how to help him more," Allen said

Allen holds it as her greatest wish to see Ramel improve at the hands of those who are experienced in the field.

Sharon Allen may be contacted via telephone at (876)802-7789, and Gladstone Palmer at 876592-1410.