Over eighteen years’ experience working with children with varying disabilities and in so doing working alongside their families ensuring that all the aspects needed for supporting the family are met. Aspects such as education, individual educational plans, inclusive education integration, stimulation at home including play/communication as well as feeding, dressing, seating and positioning and awareness raising pertaining disability within families and communities. Where a physical disability is present assessing and prescribing appropriate wheelchairs and relevant therapeutic equipment for holistic development.
Extensive work with regard to all aspects of disability training – both practical hands on training as well as awareness raising for therapists, social workers, health practioners, care workers, Parents and Guardians.
Assessing children for wheelchairs, prescribing wheelchairs based on their specific needs and then fitting the wheelchair and making the necessary adaptations to ensure that their bodies are well aligned and correctly supported within the wheelchair in order to promote inclusion and function. Assessing children for disability equipment and alternative devices which would further assist their holistic development and inclusion into society.
Work at local government hospitals in an advisory capacity supporting physiotherapists and occupational therapists with prescription and fitting of various wheelchairs and therapeutic equipment for their patients. Training at local government hospitals with regard to seating and positioning principles as well as product choice in order to ensure that government therapists make the correct prescription and seat the children accordingly.
Work with various NGO’s advising with regard to appropriate distribution of funding with regard to specific individual cases or funding for schools or care centres.
Extensive work in more rural areas and in informal settlements assisting and advising Families, caregivers and health workers with regard to care of children with disabilities.
Experienced in; development issues and strategies within communities, care centres and schools. Human rights, especially pertaining the rights of children and adults with disabilities. Child protection, specifically children with disabilities.