Ability beyond disability!

As many of you will know, weekly educational sessions for those with disabilities has been going on since the beginning of the year in Badowita.  What has been great is that the support that has been provided through the sessions has become much more than education and training for those with disabilities.

Parents are getting involved with the sessions, often staying behind to talk to each other and share their worries and concerns as well as exchanging knowledge and information.  Our physiotherapist has done some great work educating parents about how to encourage their child’s physical development.  Families are being supported with the cost of ensuring their child has access to prompt medical treatment through our revised means-tested allowance system.  Medical treatment is free but even the cost of getting to the hospital was making families think twice before going to see specialists.  Above all, I think we have come a long way in showing families and others in the area that those with disabilities are valued and that they deserve to go to school and play a role in the life of the community.

One  Saturday in May, we did something completely different to the usual Saturday morning activities!  The aim was to ensure that those with disabilities continue to remain an integral part of the activities at the community centre.  As a centre that tries to set an example for the community, we need to ensure a policy of access for all regardless of ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status or disability.

The RCCI teachers who come every Saturday to provide support to those with disabilities organised an activity session with ALL the children at the centre. The idea for this morning was taken from a group of people who have worked in third world countries, often in very rural areas, supporting those with disabilities and enabling them to be a integral part of the communities that they live in.

Learning to express an emotion without talking

The teachers at the RCCI did a number of activities and games to encourage all the children to think about disability, to show that those with disabilities may struggle with some things but might be gifted at other things and vitally to encourage all to play a part in making those with disabilities welcome and accepted at the centre and in their daily lives.

'Engelflip!' Why does no-one understand what teacher Margot is saying?

Ah, she is showing us what it means and now we know that she is asking us to stand up!

Of course, all the children got involved straight away and there was much laughter and fun.  Some parents stayed to watch and it said it all when one of them came up to me and said ‘This has been great, all I want is for my child to be accepted and I can see that today he is.’

What has also been great is that the friendships developed at this session are continuing.  Those arriving early for the Saturday life education programme come and talk and play with their friends who are getting support from the RCCI teachers.  We want to continue with this integration whilst ensuring that those with disabilities also receive education and training in the areas that they need support with.  Watch this space!

Katherine

 

Children playing together at the centre last Saturday