Children with learning disabilities now catered for in Alberton
"Emmerentia Development Centre strives to accommodate the diversity and learning variances of children.”
IT has not been an easy road, but it certainly isn’t a road she has any regrets about being on. So says Lynn Steenkamp, mother of three daughters one of whom – namely the youngest, Shae-Lynn, now seven years old -has Down’s Syndrome.
“I’ll be lying if I tell you that it wasn’t a huge shock to both my husband Donovan and me, when the doctors told us minutes after she was born, that she was a baby with Down’s Syndrome. There was never any reason for us to have tests done while I was pregnant. Today though, I am extremely grateful that I was never in a situation where I would have had to choose to abort or to let my unborn baby live,” says 42-year-old Lynn.
Based on their experiences with Shae-Lynn, Donovan and Lynn opened a specialised development centre in Alberante, in 2016 for children and young adults facing learning challenges, giving them a platform to develop into functional adults.
“I am of the opinion that whilst these children may cope to a certain extent in mainstream education centres in their lower grades, the real challenge starts when they become teenagers and pressure – not just on an academic front, but also on a social front and emotional front – increases. When children cannot cope in the higher grades, they are often removed from school without having no platform to fall back on for on-going social support and skills,” adds Lynn.
The academic focus of Emmerentia Development Centre is on the implementation of the CAPS Curriculum, but adjustments are made to accommodate the abilities of the children.
“We strengthen this foundation by emphasising the development of life skills through various methods including arts, crafts, music, physical development and important therapies,” Lynn explains.
The centre was named after Lynn’s mother, Emmerentia, who was a teacher for children with disabilities. “Being her daughter made me realise the importance of ensuring that the right personnel with specific skills are employed to teach children with learning disabilities.”
Shae-Lynn’s siblings, Leandre (11) and Dione (10) are very protective of their little sister. “They will tell you how lovable and kind-hearted Shae-Lynn is. They always knew that she was a little different, but it was only last year that we explained to them the exact meaning of Down’s Syndrome and what it entails.”
Though Shae-Lynn faces many physical challenges such as hearing and sight losses, as well as having a pacemaker, Lynn describes her as highly functional. “However, not all Down syndrome children are at that level of functionality and that is why, at Emmerentia Development Centre, we strive to accommodate the diversity and learning variances of children.”
To learn more about Emmerentia Development Centre, please visit www.emmerentia.net. You are also more than welcome to contact Lynn on 082 412 4233 or email her on lynn@emmerentia.net.za.”
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