Thuso E Tla Tsoa Kae Handicapped Centre in August 2013, benefitted from WASCO’s Social Responsibility program which saw the centre getting communication devices to improve communication skills of children with various communication disorders. Most children who will benefit from this generous offer have challenges of speech delay and language disorder, which means; they have trouble understanding the information given to them or have trouble giving information in a way that they will be understood by others.
WASCO has made this donation as a result of discovering that over half of 64 students resident at Thuso E Tla Tsoa Kae who have multiples disabilities, have a communication challenge. As a result, they are unable to connect with other people, forge relationships or let those around them know their wants and feelings, making it very hard for their teachers to interact with them. When handing over the devices to the principal of the centre, WASCO Chief Executive Mr. Mathealira Lerotholi said, it is our fervent hope that the Speech Pathologist and the teachers here, will be able to give the children a way to communicate; understand, process information and express their thoughts and give clearer messages.
The devices which include Go Talk 9+, Super Talker Progressive Communicators and Little Step by Step with Levels Communicator are the first ever to be used by children at a disability centre, in the country. This is because for the past year Thuso E Tla Tsoa Kae has been benefiting from the services of the first and only Speech Pathologist in the country, from the Australian Volunteers International, Kirby Shields who said, among others, these devices will be used to record voices, match them to pictures to help students with language disorders to express their needs.
When receiving the devices, the Principal of the Centre Mrs. ‘Mamonuku Mofilikoane said, they are extremely grateful to WASCO, as they will further improve on the efforts already made in improving the quality of lives of the disabled children. Some of these children have already shown some remarkable improvements, wherein there was no speech before, some can now say their names and articulate their needs, she said.
A representative from the Ministry of Education and Training in Botha-Bothe, Mrs. ‘Malerato Thotolo said the Ministry continuously searches for opportunities that assist in making it possible to impart knowledge to children with special needs and is therefore grateful to WASCO as the donation addresses the education needs of these children.
Thuso E Tla Tsoa Kae Handicapped Centre was established in 1985 to provide education in a form of functional academic skills, necessary life skills and a caring and supportive home for children with disabilities, to ensure that they are independent and have meaningful roles in their communities. Currently there are 64 students enrolled to study at the centre and they have a range of disabilities including: intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, vision impairment, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Over the years, WASCO has made strides in responding to the needs of society and it will continue to look for more avenues for its Corporate Social Responsibility Program, guided by values of; increasing knowledge in communities, assisting the elderly, improving the lives of vulnerable people and those living with disability.
