This week there was a wheelchair assessment completed by a charity at the disability home - this is something that our supervisor at the school told me about and I organised. A lot of the wheelchairs at the disability are wholly unsuited to the needs of their owners or simply in a state of disrepair.
There are some chairs which are fine - but their occupant needs a new cushion to be comfortable.
The assessment went really well; there was a large team of therapists and assistants who were pro-active and helpful. Unfortunately the follow-up from the visit has not been quite so forthcoming - but there's not much I can do about that.
There was one day of chaos at the drug rehab centre - we did do some paper mache work with them but overall it wasn't the best time for the clients.
Later on in the week however I filmed them doing some role plays they did as part of their weekly drama activities; lots of fun -- but video editing is a schlep - I'm very inexperienced...
We also sat in a 'self-management skills training' group which was interesting as we've not really had much opportunity to get a better understanding of it.
Had some much overdue supervision (its been awkward because we have two supervisors who are now in two different locations and working with different client groups.)
Gail helped the creche workers fill in some forms to get more training. I did a playdough activity with the children in the meantime...and then got clambered all over :P
At the end of the week Gail and I attended the 'Friday Masuvo (sp?) Disability Lecture' Friday Masuvo was a high profile disability rights campaigner; one of the very first in SA. He passed away a while ago - this lecture is held in his memory.
The lecture was delievered by the Minister of Housing and Rural Developement; very interesting insight into some of the projects that are being run and the attempts that are being made to integrate disabled people into society and get them involved in different initiatives. He was very open about his own perceptions of disability and how they have been changed through visits to different intiatives.
Different issues were brought up about the perceptions of educating disabled children and the level of education that is available to them, the accessibility of these different initiatives that the department wants people to join etc. It was interesting to hear the ministers' plans and some of his concerns and areas of need.
some of the discussions and issues that were raised were pertinent and gave me a better understanding of the issues that are facing disabled South Africans.
On the weekend we were going to go for a hike at a place called Silvermine which is part of Table Mt National Park but the weather was rubbish (misty and overcast) so we went down to Muizenberg - sandy beachy area. S, C, Gail and I walked and picnicked. Then drove to another beach area and ate ice-cream in the cold and wind (or at least I did)
On Sunday Gail and S did a hike up Elephants Eye...apparently I missed a really good one - but I had a very relaxing date with my pillow instead - which at the time was far preferable to me. In the afternoon we just chilled out and then the normal church times.
Very good to have a chilled out day.
More blog coming soon!
I love Table Mt
Peace out x
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