People's Post
Share

Caring for those with intellectual disabilities

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Rezaana Abrahams, Sonia Peters and Thomas Bezuidenhout with some of the products made and assembled at the Athlone Training Workshops Unlimited. PHOTO: Samantha lee-Jacobs
Rezaana Abrahams, Sonia Peters and Thomas Bezuidenhout with some of the products made and assembled at the Athlone Training Workshops Unlimited. PHOTO: Samantha lee-Jacobs

For adults living with intellectual disabilities in Mitchell’s Plain, Athlone, Khayelitsha and Retreat, help and opportunities are being presented through a project by Cape Mental Health.

Training Workshops Unlimited (TWU), currently operating in these four areas services hundreds of adults with intellectual disabilities ranging from severe to mild.

Thomas Bezuidenhout, general manager of TWU, says the cause for these disabilities include genetic conditions such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrom and Downs Syndrom, but also accident related trauma such as car accidents.

There are six levels catered for.

Level one, known as the eagles have the most severe and profound intellectual disabilities.

Level two is life skills which is less severe and these workshops include gardening, arts and crafts, health and safety as well as sexuality.

Level three is Work skills.

These trainees have the ability to enter the workplace with assistance and have mild or borderline intellectual disabilities.

Level four is bringing and support.

These are for high functioning trainees able to enter the market.

Level five is supported employment which is placement into workplaces and level six is supported self employment.

“TWU is in the process to identify 10 trainees with workable small business ideas across out workshops, and provide them with controlled seed funding,” says Bezuidenhout.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the National Health Insurance Bill into law this week.
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
At last. The NHI will improve healthcare for all South Africans.
4% - 197 votes
Cheap politicking before the election. Challenge the Bill in court.
87% - 3977 votes
I don't have strong feelings about the NHI either way.
8% - 376 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.20
+0.4%
Rand - Pound
23.05
+0.5%
Rand - Euro
19.78
+0.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.15
+0.6%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.7%
Platinum
1,063.90
-0.4%
Palladium
993.89
-1.9%
Gold
2,379.49
-0.4%
Silver
29.62
-0.3%
Brent Crude
82.75
+0.5%
Top 40
73,214
+0.1%
All Share
79,509
+0.2%
Resource 10
62,134
-1.2%
Industrial 25
111,717
+0.3%
Financial 15
17,211
+0.8%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE