Dukathole LSEN School enjoys fun day
Dukathole LSEN School hosted a fun day at the school premises in Katlehong on October 5.
The school offers a special curriculum to accommodate learners with special needs from the township and the surrounding communities.
With the entrance fee only R50 per person, learners with disabilities were treated to different activities, such as dance, music, drama, face-painting, jumping castles and a photo booth.
Elizabeth Mokholela, the school principal, said the purpose of the day was to make learners feel special.
She said they wanted to embrace disability as a school.
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“We want these learners to feel very special. They must know that we love them and that their community loves them,” said Mokhobela.
She ended by pleading with community members to love these children like their own and treat them like they are normal.
“As much as we know that these learners have different disabilities, it is not right to treat them any different. It destroys them because they are sensitive. All we have to do is treat them like normal,” Mokhobela told Kathorus MAIL.
Steven Mashigo, school governing body chairperson, said the day was exciting for him as well.
“Sitting here looking at them play and parents showing them support makes me happy. It is very exciting to see both children and parents enjoying the day.
“But I would like to plead with those people who are taking advantage of these children to stop doing so. People are doing this because they think these children are not thinking straight. They do not know that they think and can recall things like any normal person can,” said Mashigo.
He said if people are found guilty of sexually assaulting children, they should be given the maximum sentence and the keys should be thrown away.
Sbusiso Vilakazi, deputy principal of the school, said another purpose of the day was to bring the parents of children with disabilities together.
“We want them to come and observe so they know the conditions of other children. This will make them want to support one another,” Vilakazi said.
He said he is happy that there were artists to entertain the crowd.
“They made the day very exciting for children. Hopefully they will spread the word outside and possibly find help for us,” Vilakazi concluded.
One of the organisers, Thobisile Mzulwini, who is also a speech therapist and audiologist, said the event was supposed to happen on Casual Day.
“The reason why it didn’t is it would be difficult for people to know about us if we did it on the same day as everyone else and that xenophobic attack erupted around that time.
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“We wanted people to make time for our own day,” said Mzulwini.
She pleaded with people to treat these children with respect and said it doesn’t mean they can’t feel pain when mistreated if they can’t express their feelings.
“Others can get lost and not know what to do. If you find them wearing our school T-shirts bring them to us, we know how to handle the situation,” said Mzulwini.
