Background

Pathways Pretoria

Pathways-Pretoria, a non-profit organisation, is a centre catering for learners with special needs and was established in August of 2002 as a result of 2 teacher’s vision of creating an environment where the needs of special children could be addressed.

These teachers together with parents found themselves frustrated with the lack of provision of assistance, services as well as appropriate facilities to cater for these children’s special needs. It was almost impossible to find a facility providing intensive one-on-one stimulation catering for their current needs, as well as providing for their future needs by assisting them in becoming contributing members of society.

Pathways-Pretoria started out in a living room with 6 learners and over the last seven years has grown to 65 learners with various needs. Of the 65 learners, 47 are aged between 3 and 15, and 18 are young adults. A staff of 5 teachers, 23 facilitators and three therapists (occupational, speech, language and music) provide services to these learners. The centre recently employed two young adults with disabilities as an administrative assistant and a facilitator.

Our long term aim for individuals with disabilities is two fold:

• To integrate our learners into meaningful employment in the open labour market (moving away from sheltered employment) and:  
• to develop residential facilities where these individuals could live in the community, and be included into various community activities.

Pathways Studio

Two years ago, Pathways Studio and Life Skills Centre operating as a division of Pathways-Pretoria, was established to cater solely for the young adults.

These young adults are aged 16 to 30 and have various challenges. These challenges include but are not necessarily limited to Autism, Down Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Williams Syndrome as well as moderate to severe Learning and/or Physical Disabilities.

The staff, parents and caregivers works together towards empowering these individuals, regardless of race or background, to be integrated into the community knowing that they are valued and have important roles to fulfill.

Depending on the student’s abilities, Pathways Studio and Life Skills Centre offers two individualised programmes for young adults:

• Pathways Life Skills Centre: where they follow a life-skills and leisure programme.
• Pathways Studio Employment Programme: where they are prepared for integrated employment by either being employed in the open labour market or in small businesses within the studio.

All of which will enable them to become as self-sufficient and independent as possible in line with the Centre's aims