I am a bit behind on updates about my project. Internet where I was staying went out and I haven not had the chance to put stuff up for a few days.

 On July 11 an 12, I visited Orien Center in Atlantis. Atlantis is a community created during apartheid for coloreds. Originally, many factories were located in the area; however, these companies moved to other areas. As a result, there is high unemployment and poverty in Atlantis. 

The Orien Center provides support through many programs, which I observed over my two day visit. There was a protective workshop (a place for people with disabilities to do work: Click Here for further description), a activity center for adults with disabilities, and a special care center for children. I spent most of my time in the special care center. 

During the first day, I helped a physiotherapist give a massage to a 7 year old boy whose legs have not properly developed. Before she started, he was crawling. By the time we (I say we because she showed and then allowed me to help) were finished stretching, he was able to stand up and wlk were finished he was walking. She showed me how to stretch his legs. These stretches allowed him walk with our assistance. I also observed and assisted with a hydro-bath and massage of a 14 year old boy who has very little control of his legs. 

On the second day, I observed a speech therapist work with a boy that probably has cerebral palsy (has yet to be diagnosed). She focused on trying to understand his vocabulary using picture books. I had spent a good deal of time with this particular boy. He had nog spoken a word. Following speech therapy, he was making all sorts of noises. I thought it was so fascinating how the therapist focused on how the child had developed his own vocabulary. 

I was shocked by  the progress in movement that resulted from the therapy sessions that I witnessed. One on one attention led to a child being able to walk and language development. The challenge is that there are not enough therapists to assist and spend time with the children. Parents could be trained to do many of the things that the therapists do at home;however, according to most people that i have spoken with, parental involvement is one of largest challenges to progress. 

The bottom line is that students with disabilities require a great deal of resources. I believe that if these resources are provided to students at an early age then the money needed to help students with disabilities will decrease. That's a long conversation for another day! 

I am off to bed. Stay tuned for pictures from my time at Orien in addition to a post about my experience doing home visits at a township in Atlantis. Lot's of pictures on the way. Not enough internet to post now!

- Feldman