Services
Social services look at all areas of the person’s life, while drawing on related services for child care, education, employment, skills development, occupational therapy, assistive devices, awareness raising, accessibility and training.
Our services are free of charge and open to anyone who needs help.
Peer Support
People with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities hold the potential to be powerful role models and to provide true empathetic support to their peers. A peer support is someone who has been trained on how to support and educate their peers in various issues related to their daily lived experience.
Role of Peer Supporters
- To identify children, youth and adults with disabilities who need support services
- To provide information and practical & emotional support, either during home visits or group sessions
- To facilitate access to services
- To educate persons with disabilities on health promotion and independent living
- To educate parents of children with disabilities of the importance of stimulating / play activities in child development
- To promote participation in livelihood activities
- To participate in awareness raising and advocacy activities
- To speak out on disability rights in community forums
- To mobilise people with disabilities and their families to take action together to address barriers
Impact on communities
- Living conditions of persons with disabilities are improving;
- Linking persons with disabilities to opportunities, e.g. employment
- Peer Supporters are a resource to professionals
- Visiting persons with disabilities in their homes regularly
- Networking with local professionals
Impact on communities
- Living conditions of persons with disabilities are improving;
- Linking persons with disabilities to opportunities, e.g. employment
- Peer Supporters are a resource to professionals
- Visiting persons with disabilities in their homes regularly
- Networking with local professionals
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Case study : Dorothy’s story
Dorothy is a Peer Supporter in Beaufort West. She is the mother of a child with a disability and here she tells a story of her work with one of her clients.
When Dorothy first visited a young 10 year old girl with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability, her mother shared how she had never sent her daughter to school as she was afraid that the other children would tease her. The mother also shared how she has always carried her daughter around on her back when she goes out. Dorothy discovered that the mother had never actually applied for a care dependency grant for her daughter.
Dorothy offered to accompany the mom to the SASSA office to apply for a grant. The mom kept on putting this off despite Dorothy’s offer of help. The mom was afraid that the SASSA officials would ask her if her child was in a centre or a school. Dorothy kept visiting and eventually persuaded the mom to go with her to SASSA. Dorothy said she explained to the mom that it was not about her, but about her child and her child’s needs.
Dorothy and the mom went together to SASSA and within a month the mom had an appointment to see the doctor. This was surprising as most people have to wait a long time before they get an appointment. Dorothy thinks that the difference was that she accompanied the mother. Within a month, the grant application was approved. Dorothy shared how the mom so appreciated her support and practical help.
The young girl is waiting for a place in the local ELSEN unit and she will then start attending school for the first time in her life! In Dorothy’s own words: “Is this not something to be thankful for?!”
Dorothy is also assisting the mother with the process of getting a wheelchair for her daughter so that she doesn’t need to carry her around when they go out.
In Dorothy’s own words: “If I think of how life was for the child and her mother… now there is hope and an income! I am so glad that I could make a difference in someone’s life!”
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Impact on Peer Supporters
Peer Supporters themselves increase their knowledge on various disabilities and gain further understanding of their own disability. They are empowered and equipped with the appropriate skills to provide support services. Peer Supporters have testified of their personal growth and feel proud of the change they are making in communities.
Impact on our organisation
The Peer Support programme is gradually facilitating a shift in our organisation’s approach to service delivery. Staff are starting to see people with disabilities and parents not only as recipients, but as equal partners in planning and implementing services. The programme has also increased our organisation’s visibility in communities.
This programme has highlighted the role the peer support strategy in moving people with disabilities out of a culture of dependency promoting true empowerment and active citizenship!
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Many persons with disabilities, particularly in rural areas, do not have permanent employment and are therefore unable to provide for their families.
We encourage businesses to offer learnerships and job shadowing opportunities and will support clients during this process towards meaningful employment.
Our 12 protective workshops develop the individual’s skills in a non-threatening, sheltered employment environment and support individuals on their journey towards employment, including looking into the various employment options available, developing skills where necessary, discussing job opportunities with employers and providing support to persons with disabilities as they begin their new work.
There is a range of work available within the workshops which up-skill clients in leatherwork, woodwork, recycling, needlework and upholstery. Several workshops also undertake contract work for local businesses and corporates.
Life skills training is also offered to all clients while activity and craft groups provide the opportunity for creativity and socialisation.
Gainful employment is the means by which an individual can escape poverty, secure the necessities of life and support one’s family.
Special Care Centres
APD is a safety net for parents of children with disabilities, providing support and training to parents on how to best care for their child, ensuring that their child enrols in the neighbourhood early childhood development centre, and facilitating inclusion in the education system when the child reaches school-going age.
Children with severe disabilities are able to attend 1 of our 6 our special care centres where our trained and committed carers will ensure that they receive constant stimulation and development so that they can become the best they can be. Centres can be found in Beaufort West, George, Oudtshoorn, Paarl, Vredendal and Worcester.
Early stimulation and development activities are vital for ALL children in order for them to flourish and grow.
Corporate services
Sensitisation
We are passionate about creating a society that recognises persons with disabilities as equal citizens! Key to this ideal is correcting attitudinal barriers which are often more disabling than any other. We believe that only once a person understands and is sensitive to the impact of disability on the individual, will they be able to truly change their way of thinking and interaction with persons with disabilities.
Knowledge doesn’t lead to change - understanding does.- Dr Mehmet Oz
Reasonable Accommodation in the Workplace
We will assist companies in their journey towards, during and after the recruitment and employment of persons with disabilities, particularly in the selection process, legislation and sensitisation of current staff.
Accessibility scans
Accessibility includes access to information, transportation, communication technology and other services available to the public. We follow the principles of Universal Design which is the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design.
It includes access to -
- Environment
- Information
- Communication
- Education
- Employment
