Kwa-Thema – To commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Living Able hosted a dialogue highlighting the lack of infrastructure and integration at early childhood development centres (ECDs) on December 3.
Katlego Mkhonza, an activist and co-founder of Living Able, invited stakeholders, including the owners of ECDs and the Department of Education.
“Parents of children living with disabilities first need to accept the challenges their children face instead of being in denial. That is the first step.
“Only then can we figure out what kind of help the child needs to flourish. Integration can only happen if we change our mindsets,” she said.
Mkhonza said simple changes can make life easier for someone in a wheelchair.
Reboni Aphane with Kgopotso Mashabela.
“Simple ramps do not cost a fortune. Some people create them from materials they have like wood.”
Mkhonza also encouraged parents to allow their children to ask questions about people living with disabilities.
“Children are innately inquisitive. It is better they ask questions, and we answer them. This is better than them being afraid of us as if we are not human,” added Mkhonza.
Reboni Aphane, a social worker from the Gauteng Department of Education, admitted there is a way to go in catering for learners living with disabilities.
“The first challenge with the infrastructure is that the government does not own our ECDs. They are owned privately or by the community. As a result, the disability policy is not considered when the centres are created,” Aphane said.
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She said this was unfortunate because some children have mild disabilities, and mainstream ECDs should accommodate them.Kgopotso Mashabela, the chairperson of the Eyethu Sonke ECD, shared the sentiment.
“This issue needs to be addressed from our homes. Anytime we build, we have to take into consideration that, one day, we might have a person living with a disability in our home,” he added.
Mkhonza urged the participants to think about how they could make small changes to make a safer environment for people living with disabilities.
“I have been fortunate to live a full life and enjoy myself wherever I go. That is what I want every child to experience,” she concluded.
Reboni Aphane, a representative from the Department of Education, admits there are challenges where children with disabilities are concerned.
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