Wheelchair donation opens a whole new world for learners
Parsot also explained that it was important for the children to get the wheelchairs at a young age as they can get deformities if they grow up without one.
There were plenty of excited faces and smiles as the Uniquely Me team arrived at the Actonville Training Centre, (a special needs school) on Wednesday morning for the handover of wheelchairs to two children who attend the school.
These custom-made wheelchairs have been a long time coming.
The funds for the wheelchairs came from the auction that took place at the Uniquely Me pageant in September.
Uniquely Me is a pageant for children with special needs.
Also read:
Uniquely Me, a pageant for children with special needs
The attendance at the event was great and guests opened their wallets to help Shyleene Muzira and Dineo Nanaswe.
For Muzira and Nanaswe, the wheelchairs will open up a whole new world.
Speech and hearing therapist at the school Sima Parsot explained why.
“If a child isn’t seated correctly in a wheelchair, their perception of the world will be warped.
“If the wheelchair is too big, they then lean to the side, their head to the side and then they look up at the ceiling the whole day.
“Whereas you and I, our heads are straight and we see the world at 90 degrees.
“So sitting in a wheelchair, being at 90 degrees in terms of their hips, knees and their ankles helps in terms of communication because that brings their head 90 degrees so then they have eye contact. It helps with their breathing and in terms of speech.
“It also helps with hand function; when they use an AAC device, in terms of pointing they then can use it,” says Parsot.
Also read:
Share a Box donates menstrual products and female condoms
Parsot also explained that it was important for the children to get the wheelchairs at a young age as they can get deformities if they grow up without one.
AAC is Augmentative and alternative communication, which people with severe speech or language problems use to help them communicate
There are two main types of AACs—unaided systems and aided systems.
Unaided systems make use of the body to communicate and this includes gestures, body language, facial expressions, and sign language.
An aided system uses some sort of tool or device and there are two types of aided systems—basic and high-tech. A pen and paper is a basic aided system.
Pointing to letters, words, or pictures on a board is a basic aided system.
Also read:
Selcourt Pre-Primary donate to The Hoppers Haven.
Touching letters or pictures on a computer screen that speaks for you is a high-tech aided system.
For the parents, the gift of the wheelchair was life changing and the mothers present could not say thank you enough.
Debbie Oberholster, founder of Uniquely Me, was thrilled to be able to do her part in helping others.
Oberholster says she couldn’t have done it alone and is grateful to the people who supported her in making the donation possible.
Follow us on our social media platforms:
