Education for a better life for children with intellectual disability

R425 will sponsor school fees for a child with severe or profound intellectual disability

All children have the right to education. Sadly, children with severe and profound intellectual disability may be denied this right because their parents and guardians are struggling to pay modest school fees for a quality education and skills development programme. You can sponsor a disabled child from a disadvantaged community for a month, ensuring that education and learning continue during the lockdown and beyond. There are 184 children at our centres who deserve to learn and develop to their full potential.

“We start our day with the morning ring and from there our child’s day is planned. With the daily activities we ensure that our child’s mind stays active as it is so easy for them to forget what their teachers teach them. The teacher and parents can work together to ensure they come up with the best possible routine for their child.” – WhatsApp message from parent

For many years, children with severe or profound intellectual disability were simply ignored as being ‘ineducable’ and denied their right to education!

Cape Mental Health runs 3 award-winning special education and daycare centres in impoverished communities for 184 children with severe to profound intellectual disability.

For these children, this represents a hard-won victory serving as recognition that each child has the undeniable right to education as safeguarded by our country’s Constitution, irrespective of their abilities.

During the lockdown, our children can’t attend our centres for face-to-face activities, so our remote interventions are vital. Our pre-planned programmatic activities are now being implemented at home with the help of parents and guardians through scheduled activities and lessons. These are communicated to parents and service users through WhatsApp messages, videos and images.

 The programme offers daily orientation that improves learners’ self-awareness and responsiveness to people and their surroundings. They develop motor skills for improved mobility, better body control, and self-care skills for greater independence. They also develop communication, cognitive, social and emotional skills to help build rewarding relationships and enjoy inclusion in family life.