Ballito AAC workshop: Laughing, crying and learning – together
The interactive, two-day workshop focused on providing communication strategies for children who cannot rely on natural speech alone.
With a full house of over 70 therapists, psychologists, educators and parents, the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) workshop held at Simbithi Country Club last weekend was a raging success.
Hosted by Bloom Special Needs Centre in Foxhill, the interactive, two-day workshop focused on providing communication strategies for children who cannot rely on natural speech alone.
Simbithi resident and retired AAC specialist Dr Margaret Lilienfeld said specialists in the AAC field from KZN and Gauteng shared fascinating information on low and high tech options to assist children who, due to disability, cannot rely on speech to communicate.
“Two young adults, Nonhlahla Ndlovu and Unathi Mtolo, used their speech generating devices to address the workshop and many participants found this exceptionally inspiring,” said Dr Lilienfeld.
“The feedback on the workshop has been wonderfully positive and as one parent commented: ‘the training was awesome, very relevant and truly inspiring’.”
A special evening event, Life is Still Beautiful, featured author, assistive technology expert and motivational speaker Desirae Pillay. She shared her life story and the heartaches she faced as a teen mother to a daughter diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism.
Bloom Centre fundraiser Debbie Nicholson said the evening was a major eye opener.
“Desirae’s life story is nothing short of inspiring! There were many tears in the room ranging from tears of joy, gratitude, sadness and empathy for this amazing woman who has overcome what seemed like it all,” said Nicholson.
“As adults and parents, we should never stop learning and I know with full confidence that each and every person in the room took something positive away with them and had some food for the soul.”
She thanked Simbithi Country Club for the delicious snacks, Dr Lilienfeld for spearheading the event and the community who came to support.
All proceeds went to Bloom Centre.
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