Alex parents urged not to hide their disabled children

The founder of Ithabeleng Organisation for Disability, Joseph Setlhake has bemoaned what he described as ‘an archaic practice’ by some parents in Alexandra who continue to lock up their disabled children inside their houses.

Speaking in an interview with Alex News during an annual Disability Awareness Day at East Bank Hall on 7 November, Setlhake said, “Disabled children are not items for concealment.” He added that disabled children were as good as their abled counterparts and also wanted to see and enjoy the world for themselves.

Asked why some parents still continued to do so, Setlhake said the excuse often offered was that the children were not confident enough to face the world outside and other children often teased them about their disability.

Some parents claimed their children were called all sorts of names and were said to be victims of witchcraft. “We want this practice of hiding the disabled children to come to a stop.

“If both the child and parents are not confident enough, it is the more reason why they should come and see us. We will talk to all of them and educate them to bring back and build that self-esteem.”

Setlhake wondered how these disabled children would in future be expected to participate fully in the social and economic life of this country if they did not have the confidence to face the world and its harsh challenges.

“Bring the children to Ithabeleng and we will take care of all the confidence issues that afflict them.”
Setlhake added that Disability Awareness Day was meant to educate the community at large not to ‘look at my disability but my abilities’. “There are many disabled people that have excelled in various spheres of economic life.”

Details: Ithabeleng Organisation for Disability 078 655 7326; 115 19th Avenue, Alex.