Programme Overview

 

FOREST TOWN SCHOOL

The school caters for approximately 350 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years of age.    Disabilities ra from cerebral palsy, syndromes, epilepsy, hard of hearing, non-verbal, accidental brain injury, ADD/ADDHD, to behavioural and cognitive disorders.     Disabilities can be mild and severe.     An adaptive mainstream syllabus is offered, and a modified skills based education is offered to those unable to follow the mainstream programme.   The educational programmes are supplemented with all of the programmes offered below.

The school is a registered non-governmental, charity, and public benefit organisation.     The Department of Education grant covers approximately 30% of the total annual budget.    The remaining R3.5 million per annum must be supported by donations and grants.     With the support of grants, we are able to provide the supplementary services shown below.    Only a handful of NGO’s in the field of disability offer such a comprehensive range of services.

IMIKHONTO (LITTLE SPEARS)

IMIKHONTO’S VISION FOR LEARNERS WITH MORE CHALLENGING DISABILITIES IS FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL, CONSTRUCTIVE AND FUN ACTIVITIES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BETTER INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AS HAPPY AND ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE CITIZENS.

THE PROGRAMME PRE-SKILLS LEARNERS WHILE IN SCHOOL FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT AND INVOLVES AND EMPOWERS PARENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR GOALS.   THERE ARE CURRENTLY 96 TEENAGERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 18 YEARS ON THIS UNIQUE PROGRAMME, CONCEIVED BY THE SCHOOL AND WHICH COMMENCED OPERATING IN 2011.

Some aspects of training

  • functional numeracy, literacy and life skills
  • gardening: growing and selling produce
  • food preparation and sale of food items
  • recycling (cleaning, sorting, packing)
  • beading, pottery, baking, soap making, fabric painting, arts and crafts
  • housekeeping, washing, ironing
  • work hardening – running their own enterprises
  • Occupational, Speech and Physiotherapies work in conjunction with this programme to ensure that each learners needs in regard to specialized equipment are met

WORK EXPERIENCE TRAINING PROGRAMME (WEP):    LEARNING TO EARN

THE AIM OF THIS PROGRAMME IS TO PROVIDE SKILLS TO LEARNERS WITH LESS CHALLENGING DISABILITIES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 18 YEARS.  TRAINING FOCUSSES ON ACCREDITED ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ACTIVITIES.    THE SETTING SIMULATES A REAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT TO REPRESENT TRUE WORK EXPERIENCE TRAINING.

Some aspects of training

  • Catering and watering in the Tsoga Coffee and Craft Shop
  • The Rise commercial bakery
  • Training in computer hardware and upgrades
  • ICDL training
  • The Beauty Therapy Training Centre
  • Car wash
  • Training on sale of produce, orders, accounting, stock taking, marketing, etc.
  • Numeracy, literacy, life skills, business etiquette, responsibility, morality
  • Job shadowing
  • Administrative work for the school i.e. laminating, photocopying

WEP@WORK LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMME   : TRAINING WHILE TRADING

  • CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMMES IN SOUTH AFRICA THAT WILL ADAPT TO THE SPECIFIC AND INDIVIDUAL NEEDS THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED MAINSTREAM EDUCATIONAL LEVEL BECAUSE THEIR TRAINING IS SKILLS BASED
  • THERE IS AN ALMOST 100% RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR 18 YEAR OLD SCHOOL LEAVERS DESPITE THEIR ACCREDITED TRAINING.
  • ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT THEY ARE MAINLY STILL OPERATING AT THE FIFTEEN YEAR OLD AGE LEVEL AND NEED MORE TIME TO MATURE AND TO SPECIALIZE IN ACTIVITIES WHICH REFLECT THEIR STRENGTHS.
  • IN RESPONSE TO THEIR PLIGHT, THE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME RECENTLY EXPANDED INTO WEP@WORK.
  • THIS IS THE FIRST IN-HOUSE LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMME IN ANY SCHOOL OR NGO IN SOUTH AFRICA.
  • STUDENTS STAY UNTIL THEY ARE 21 YEARS OF AGE.

    • An integrated training system of businesses run by learnership students open to the public has been devised.

The local community are able to have breakfast or lunch in the coffee shop, purchase arts and crafts, at the same time they are able to watch students in the commercial bakery and younger children being trained in the skills training centre.

The bakery has an outlet for their products.

The Imikhonto students are also able to sell their produce here.

Massage, pedicures, manicures, back and neck massage, indian head massage and hairdressing are offered.

Customers can have their cars washed, and purchase computers both new and upgraded,  printers and computer consumables in the it shop.    There are internet, photocopy and laminating facilities.

THE SUNBEAM CAREGIVER TRAINING PROGRAMME

THIS CENTRE WAS CONCEIVED IN 1998 IN RESPONSE TO THE HUGE NEED FOR TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO CARE FOR THE DISABLED, OFTEN IN VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

CAREGIVERS FORM THE BACKBONE OF THE CARE OF THE DISABLED IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH LITTLE OR NO FINANCIAL OR TRAINING SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT.

THE MAJORITY OF CAREGIVERS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TRAINING DUE TO THEIR LACK OF APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.

TRAINING IS OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE IN ORDER TO REACH THOSE WORKING IN UNDER-RESOURCED CIRCUMSTANCES.

EXAMINATIONS ARE HELD AND PARTICIPANTS ARE CERTIFIED

TWO FOUR MONTH MODULES ARE OFFERED PER ANNUM FOR CAREGIVERS FROM GAUTENG PROVINCE

NATIONAL  FIVE DAY WORKSHOPS ARE CONDUCTED MAINLY IN RURAL AREAS

AFTER MANY REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE WORKING WITH VULNERABLE CHILDREN, WORKSHOPS ARE NOW GIVEN TO THE POLICE, PSYCHOLOGISTS, COMMUNITY WORKERS, AND EDUCATORS FROM MAINSTREAM PRIMARY SCHOOL WHO HAVE AN ESTIMATE VOLUME OF FORTY PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN THEIR CLASSROOMS WITH BARRIERS TO LEARNING

THE FIRST TRAINING MANUAL FOR CAREGIVERS HAS BEEN COMPILED BY SPECIALISTS AT THE SCHOOL AIMED AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL.   THIS WILL BE THE FIRST MANUAL OF ITS KIND IN SOUTH AFRICA.    WITH POSSIBLE FUTURE FUNDING, IT IS HOPED THAT IT CAN BE DISTRIBUTED NATIONALLY.

Some aspects of training

Health, hygiene, nutrition, food security, disease management, children’s rights, dealing with families, counselling,  a child’s basic needs, caregivers dealing with burnout, making arts and crafts for sale Basic Occupational, Speech and Physiotherapy, feeding techniques, communication and physical aids, aspects of assessment, modifications to the environment, daily routine, life skills training Practical demonstrations, play using everyday objects, communication and leadership workshops, types of disabilities, management and budgeting, case studies and record keeping

BOTOX CLINICS

The use of Botox in children with Cerebral Palsy was pioneered by Professor Chait at Forest Town School’s Occupational Therapy department.     After successful trials, it is now utilized world-wide.    Professor Chait, a Plastic Surgeon, has volunteered his services to the school for over 42 years.     The use of Botulinum Toxin for children with cerebral palsy, who cannot easily swallow their saliva resulting in drooling, was also pioneered at the school in the Speech Therapy department, and has recently been published internationally.   The physiotherapy department is involved with the lower limb injections and the gait clinic.

This unique treatment allows the Botulinum toxin to paralyze the spastic muscles in the hand, upper limb and the  lower limb.    This allows, with intensive therapy and splinting, the strengthening of other muscles and ultimately a more normal movement to develop.      In the case of drooling, the sublingual salivary glands are injected which results in less saliva production.    This additionally aids better swallowing techniques and improves other oral issues.

There are no facilities for Botox treatments in government hospitals.   Until 2008, only children on medical aid schemes could benefit.    As the majority of children at the school are not on medical aid, an appeal to áAllergan in France resulted in the donation of Botox vials (approx R3000 per vial) through Genop South Africa.

Donor funds are required for splinting and other related materials, hospital admissions and there is an urgent need for an extra therapist in each of the three therapy departments.   The children who are injected for drooling require hospital admission as they need to have anaesthetic for the procedure.    Professor Joseph, an ENT who also has volunteered at the school for many  years,  provides his services free of charge, and the hospital has provided their services at a reduced rate.

TRANSPORT

Seven buses travel a 60km radius around greater Johannesburg twice daily.    Without the buses, it would be very difficult for children to get to and from any school.    Public transport is not accessible for children with disabilities.   The majority of children come from single parent families whose parents are unable to travel with them to school.

NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH AND PHYSIOTHERAPY

Each department has five qualified NDT therapists, each of whom deals with a very large case load of children.    Children receive individual therapy and therapists also work in class groups.    Cerebral palsy can affect the motor skills and muscle coordination throughout the entire body, meaning all muscles in the body are susceptible. Besides the extremities, such as arms and legs, muscles that control eating, speaking, and breathing can be affected as well.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy is a treatment that focuses on helping cerebral palsy patients achieve independence in all areas of their life. Occupational therapy for cerebral palsy patients can provide them with positive, fun activities to enhance their cognitive, physical, and fine motor skills and increase their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy is used to help cerebral palsy patients improve movement and motor skills. Since cerebral palsy is a physical and movement disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to properly control muscle movement, physiotherapy can do wonders in helping cerebral palsy patients gain mobility

SPEECH THERAPY

Speech therapy helps the patient correct speech disorders, restore speech, use communication aids, learn sign language, and improve listening skills.   Feeding techniques, hearing, langauge enrichment are included.   The use of IT equipment and software is very important.  A facility for testing hearing is available.

MEDICAL SERVICES

As most pupils are not on medical aid schemes, medical services are provided during school hours.   Long waiting lists at provincial hospitals, the lack of access to public transport and the effects of poverty prevent children from receiving essential medical services, however, with the medical support at the school, they are able to receive quality medical support in a variety of fields.

  • The school provides a full-time registered nurse who deals with primary health care, support for chronic illness, administration of scheduled medication.
  • A team of highly experienced professional specialists provide their services free of charge.    The following specialists come in on a monthly basis:   Paediatrician, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Neurosurgeon, and Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, all of whom are involved in arranging surgery and post operative care by therapists at the school is offered.

SOCIAL WELFARE

The Social Welfare department at the school is involved with children whose lives are disrupted by various factors, which impact on their well-being and ability to receive an education.    This could be due to family dysfunction, chronic illness, abuse, the effects of HIV/Aids, children who are orphaned and the impact of poverty on their lives.

A feeding scheme  and chronic medication support is offered.