Escaleni LESN School partners with others to raise awareness of disabilities
The event was aimed at teaching the community about living with disability through acceptance and taking right measures.
Ecaleni LSEN School partnered with the City of Ekurhuleni and the Department of Basic Education Gauteng to raise awareness around disabilities on July 16.
The school, which deals with learners with special needs, plays a significant role in teaching the community about raising children with disabilities while offering support through awareness and counseling if needed.
Many parents struggle with acceptance when it comes to raising a child with a disability.
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It is for this reason that Ecaleni School was converted into a school for learners with special needs.
According to the school’s principal, Jabulile Mdletshe, the establishment of the school as one for learners with special needs was met with concern from the community.
Since its establishment, however, the community has embraced the school, realising the importance of the facility in the community.
The school aims to raise further awareness in the community and, as such, has hosted several events.
The school also works closely with parents to prepare them mentally, physically and emotionally to raise children with disabilities.
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Mdletshe said the awareness engagements have helped change the community perspectives.
“These awareness campaigns that stakeholders host in our school have helped parents and the community understand that these children are not mentally disturbed, they just need guidance and purpose.
“Residents have learned that this is not a school for mentally disturbed children but for children who need guidance on behavioral aspects such as reading, talking, playing and adapting to environmental changes.
“We started from scratch and ensured that every learner that comes from our hand is well developed to face the world.
“We currently have a choir that will represent the Ekurhuleni region outside of the province; this is proof that they can navigate life and live comfortably amongst people.”
Social worker Moholo Moagisi said his goal is to see the learners of Ecaleni get employment in the marketplace.
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“We have been working towards getting learnerships for the learners after completing their school careers.
“We have identified learning programmes and institutions that will help train them to survive and make a living for themselves.
“Our goal from here is to find an institution to help them enhance their skills so that when we market them, we know our story.
“Most of these children are from less privileged families, and what we wish to avoid is to see them go back to the same situation after completing their studies.
“We are training artisans of the next generation, and we have been lucky to see companies recruit some of our learners because they have the skills to be in the working sector.”
