The Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home originated to respond to the tremendous
need of many children in the Liberian Society, suffering from serious mental and physical disabilities, including those suffering from cerebral palsy. TEAM
The home is currently managed by a staff of
eighteen (18) persons. We are currently seeking a
Physiotherapist and Nurse for the midnight shift. HOW IT ALL STARTED
The h
ome originated to respond to the tremendous
need of many children in the Liberian Society, suffering
from serious mental and physical disabilities, including
those suffering from cerebral palsy. These
children became taboo, abandoned by parents, and
were left on steps of hospitals during midnight
hours. The first child was abandoned on the steps of
the JFK Hospital in 1965 and thereafter, mothers
who delivered disabled children simply walked away
from the hospital leaving the children and at the
same time, more and more disabled children were
taken to the hospital that the pediatric ward had no
space to accommodate children who were actually
sick. This situation therefore, became a national crisis and
was brought to the President, H.E. Antoinette Tubman to organize a group of women to
look into the problem and find a solution. The group
was comprised of Mrs. Antoinette Tubman, Mrs. Ellen Mills- Scarborough, Sarah George, Eva Hilton,
and Mrs. Marco Prout including others. The women
decided that the best solution would be to create
the home where these disabled children, though not
medically ill could be removed from the hospital and
be cared for. They acquired a parcel of land in Virginia,
Liberia and constructed a building in which to
house the children; and they called it Antoinette
Tubman Orphanage. They operated from this location for a number o
until they later came in contact with Air Chief Marshall
Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris who volunteered to
work with this group and later introduced them to the
Leonard Cheshire Disability organization in London
and a rewarding relationship developed between the
two groups. Because of this good relationship, it was
decided that the name of the organization be changed
to reflect this good bond of friendship. Hence the
name Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home. THE ATCH PROCESS
the project has two phases: PHASE ONE: has been
attained: removing the children from hospital wards
and providing care and protection for them. With the
full implementation of appropriate therapy, Phase
one will be completed, PHASE TWO Family Training
and Re-absorption entails restriction intake to the children
already taken from the hospitals. New applicants will be considered on the basis of
family involvement. Families will be trained at ATCH
to care for their disabled children. These will be reintegrated
into their families. Only in special cases, and
when space permits, will the number of permanent
residents be increased.
