Parents of handicapped children are being invited to share their experiences in an effort to give their youngsters a better start to life.

Around 20 families have already formed an group, Guidance and Rehabilitation for (Dis)abled Children's Enhancement (GRACE).

The group aims to involve all parents of children with special needs on the Island to aid Government in providing facilities for the children.

But GRACE members also aim to help families who are suddenly faced with the prospect of finding the extra care needed for their new-born baby.

Some of the leading lights behind GRACE are the parents of Shalimar Williams and the parents of Christopher Daniels.

Ten-year-old Shalimar suffers from a rare physical disorder, Morquio Syndrome, of which there are only 100 cases worldwide. Her parents Gary and Shalimar are striving to allow her to lead a normal life.

Three-year-old Christopher has cerebral palsy causing problems with shortage of oxygen to his brain.

His father Mr. Charles Daniels said: "It was especially challenging because my wife, Rhita, and I are both very healthy individuals. We never imagined we would have a child with special needs.

"One of the things we want to get across is that there is no guarantee for anybody that they are going to have a perfectly healthy child.'' Mr. Daniels and Mr. Williams both agree that it is those early years in a child's life when parents most need guidance.

Mr. Daniels said: "We need a situation where there is someone at the hospital who can advise parents right from birth, either a doctor or nurse.

"And a group like ours can be there to advise parents because our members are experienced in living with children with special needs. They need to know what their children will have to go through.'' Mr. Williams added: "For example parents with a kid with spina bifida can come along and share their experiences with others in the group. For parents with younger children they will find out exactly what to expect.'' But GRACE has not simply set itself up as a self-help group it aims to put pressure on Government to provide facilities which will help these youngsters live as a normal a life as possible.

Mr. Daniels said: "What we want is a pre-school and day centre facilities for children with special needs, but also for normal children as well with something like a ratio of three children to one with special needs.

"Children with special needs should not be separated, they need to emulate other children around them. It will also help the other children by removing this playground banter that someone is not as good as some other child.'' But Mr. Daniels stressed a programme which will help to integrate children with special needs should be established immediately.

He said: "Government will normally take three to four years to do something like this. That is three to four years out of a child's life. They cannot wait even a year.

"We want to try and get a programme set up by summer. The children are the ones who are losing out. Some of the these children have single parents who are in a position where there is nowhere to take their children while they are working.'' GRACE is also seeking volunteers who can accompany children to pre-school while parents are at work.

There are other problems that must be addressed including insurance payments, more occupational therapy and improving facilities in stores for wheelchairs.

GRACE is now a year old but they have not yet reached every family with a child with special need.

Mr. Daniels said: "We have 20 people in our group but we estimate there must be more than 50 children with special needs in Bermuda. We have to reach those families so we can help each other.'' To this end GRACE is running a series of advertisements in The Royal Gazette , with support from the Bank of Bermuda, to encourage families to come forward.

In the form of a questionnaire, it states: "This questionnaire will help us determine whether the needs of children from birth to five years, with mental and physical challenges, are being adequately served in our community.

"This is also an attempt to establish guidelines for a daycare facility that can incorporate children with special needs in a normal daycare setting.'' It will appear for the next three Wednesdays. GRACE meets on the second Tuesday of every month at the former Friendship Vale School, in Devonshire.

BERMUDA NEEDS GRACE -- Mr. Charles and Mrs. Rita Daniels with three-year-old son Christopher, who has cerebral palsy, and their 18-month-old daughter Margaret.