Inclusivity for disabled children in South Africa

Banabotlhe Day Care Centre is situated in Olifantshoek, a rural town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The center is run by a now retired Primary School teacher, Gloria Andrias, who started the centre when she saw the need for an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in her community.

Gloria and two of her teachers attended the Ndinogona: “I Can” training in Olifantshoek in late 2019, along with a group of parents of children with disabilities and Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCW) from Olifantshoek. The training focused on capacitating them with the skills and techniques required to include children with disabilities in play and learning activities in their communities.

Over the next few months Gloria took what she learnt about play and learning for children with disabilities to her ECD and shared with the children the importance of inclusion of all children. In the Ndinogona programme the participants hear the story of Bubele, a young boy from the Eastern Cape Province, who learns to complete Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) more independently through the use of play and fun with his mother, Grace. His story was in part the inspiration for the development of the Ndinogona: “I Can” programme, as it highlights the potential when parents, caregivers and teachers are equipped with the skills to work with children with disabilities. Gloria used Bubele’s story to speak to the children at her ECD about disability, with her greatest hope being that when a child with a disability is enrolled the children will interact and play with them in the same way they do with any other child.

During the first Ndinogona follow-up at Banabothle the young children with disabilities, and their parents, were invited to the ECD for the day. At that time, none of the children were attending any form of educational facility. Something which is common amongst children with disabilities, as there are many social barriers which prevent them from doing so. Each child was received with a song and a huge welcome from the other children and the teachers. As Gloria had taken time to talk to her children about disability, they were accepted and included immediately. The children naturally assisted one another when there were activities or tasks which they could not do independently.

Following this the parents and CYCWs agreed to continue bringing the children to the ECD on a regular basis as they see the valuable role ECD plays in education for all children. Lastly, with teachers, like Gloria, who believe that all children can play and learn and who want to be a part of actualising this right for children with disabilities, inclusive education is possible.

We look forward to what will unfold at Banabotlhe and are excited by having the opportunity to go back on our next Ndinogona follow-up.