Saginaw, MI (October 30, 2018) — Over the past few days, the Duperon team was privileged to meet Priscilla Dseagu, Special Education Needs Educator and Researcher. Dseagu is an inspiring leader who is transforming education for children with disabilities in Ghana, Africa by creating an empowering context and an inclusive environment.
This is a cause near and dear to Duperon Co-Owner & Chairman of the Board, Terry Duperon who is dyslexic and found by embracing his perceived disability, he was able to solve problems differently which led to multiple patented products and the creation of Duperon Corporation, not to mention enriching water quality all over the world.
Of course, the path to becoming a successful inventor did not come easy, as these things rarely do. Terry struggled in the education system, with his own self-acceptance and with how to make his creations into a profitable business. Having overcome many of these challenges, Terry is a huge proponent for empowering all people, regardless of ability, to follow their dreams. Specifically by embracing their God-given talents and “running with what you got, not with what you are not.” He also teaches an entrepreneurship class to help people find the intersection of their passion and the path to making their dreams a reality. It is this class, which brought Terry to Ghana and the introduction to Priscilla Dseagu.
“Priscilla Dseagu shared her dream with me when I met her in Ghana. I was inspired. That is how a dream works. You share it with other people and soon the connections and the doors start to open. Achieving your dreams is a series of small steps in the direction of your goal. Her commitment to making a difference for children with disabilities resonates with me,” Duperon explained of their meeting and his desire to support her cause.
Duperon Corporation hosted a dinner at the Saginaw Club welcoming Dseagu to the United States. She was received with enthusiasm by several Mid-Michigan community organizations: Duperon Corporation, Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), the Children’s Dyslexia Center Great Lakes Bay Region, Midland County Educational Service Agency and The Arc of Midland were all represented. Prior to that, she also went on a tour of the Duperon Corporation Saginaw Headquarters.
Duperon team members also attended Dseagu’s presentation at SVSU, “Teaching Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in Ghana.” Dseagu explained that while Ghanaian policies have been introduced to grant children with IDD access to education, the reception has not been effective – stemming from negative social beliefs and lack of resources like modified learning materials, specialized teachers and funding. Despite these challenges, there has been progress and new teaching advances.
Dseagu will be traveling the next few weeks in Michigan visiting schools and specialists for exposure to state-of-the-art teaching methods to implement back in Ghana where she will continue to advocate for education and inclusion for children with IDD.
Duperon Corporation hosted a welcome reception for Dseagu on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018.
Dseagu on a Duperon Corporation factory tour.