Miss M a 48-year-old single mother of four. She is visually impaired due to glaucoma. She never attended school due to her disability. She came to the KZN Blind & Deaf Society desperate to enrol her twins who are also visually impaired and autistic at a school. Miss M previously encountered many challenging in trying to find a school for her twins with multi disabilities. Her fear was that her children would end up uneducated just like her and with no hope for the future.
The Society social worker assessed Miss M and her twins, to get a better understanding of their lives, needs and goals. This was a detailed process that required relevant medical documents, and detailed background history. At times this proved to be challenging due to Miss M not keeping appointments, having no contact number and difficulty meeting the social worker at a site in the community. Home visits were dangerous, given the area Miss M lived in. Ongoing psychosocial support, information and education was provided to Miss M. The process to search for a school was started. While the mother was waiting for her twins to be placed, she was invited to attend parenting support groups. She was very active in the group and found the support group to be beneficial. She was also encouraged to enrol the twins at a local creche so that they adjust to a school routine. Food hampers were provided when available as the family’s circumstances were dire. The Social worker regularly followed up with the school until a year later the school had space available for the twins. Miss M was excited to attend the orientation with the twins. Finally, this year there were successfully enrolled and are attending school. The social work followed up with the school on how the twins adjusted to the school. Both have settled in but are coping at different paces. Miss M is relieved to have her twins in school and grateful for the assistance of the KZN Blind & Deaf social worker to ensure her children’s right to education.
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