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Gladstone Palmer and Sharon Allen are seeking assistance for their seven-year-old autistic son Ramel. They say the expense to care for him is beyond what the family can afford.

Allen does domestic work only three days every other week. She told THE STAR that it is difficult to provide and care for her child.

"Some a di days we tired but cah sleep because we afi always a watch him. Sometimes all two, three o'clock we nuh sleep yet. One person cah care for him, yuh need two or three. Like mi use to hear 'bout how it hard, but yuh neva really know until you experience it," said Allen.

Ramel, who loves to eat and watch YouTube, is a loving child who requires 24/7 supervision. He still wears diapers and needs constant entertainment to remain calm.

Palmer told THE STAR that his son has never been in school because he does not have the money to take him daily. He also says that although he has been actively seeking employment, he has not worked in three years because it is difficult to find someone to care for Ramel.

"If you turn your back on him for a second, he will put something in his mouth or even disappear. So I always have to have an eye on him. Plus he's non-verbal so I have to know when to feed him and when to take him to bathroom," said Palmer.

Restart his therapy

The family, who lives in Ballynure, Manchester, is now seeking assistance to care for Ramel so that he can live a comfortable life and restart his therapy, which he has not received in three years because of lack of funds.

"Right now if somebody could help me to get some funds to buy a taxi or even a job I would really appreciate it. I want to work and help my family but I also have to think about who going to take care of Ramel," said Palmer. He also said that he is passionate about autism and would like to bring awareness to the condition. He says he wants to open a centre in which parents with special needs children can get financial and moral support.

"People don't understand how hard it is or what it takes to care for these children. Even when I look at my son, he is so loving and I just want him to be happy and I know if he had a place that knew how to take care of him he would be okay," said Palmer.

Persons wishing to assist may contact Gladstone Palmer at (876) 831-3394.