March 2007 is Intellectual Disability Awareness month


“Children that learn together, learn to live together” is the national theme for Intellectual Disability Awareness month in March 2007. The South African Federation for Mental Health, of which Cape Mental Health is an affiliate, will embark on an awareness campaign that promotes ‘inclusive education’ for children with intellectual disability in mainstream schools.

Intellectual Disability is caused by either poor brain development or brain damage. Approximately two percent (2%) of people are either born with an intellectual disability or will develop one during their lifetime. People with an intellectual disability may be slower in learning, but have the potential to become proficient in tasks not requiring major intellectual skills.

Inclusive education refers to a commitment to educate children with special educational needs in mainstream schools wherever possible. The Department of Education released the Education White Paper 6 in July 2001, with the theme “Building an inclusive education and training system” to accommodate all learners with special educational needs. This was done as a result of statistics that indicated that only 20% of children with disabilities in South Africa were accommodated in the educational system. It was projected that out of about 293 000 – 346 000 disabled learners only about 64,200 learners with disabilities were accommodated in the educational system and that potentially 280,000 learners with disabilities were unaccounted for. Although the Department of Education committed themselves to this new education model to eradicate inequities in special needs education, little progress has been made in the implementation of inclusive education in mainstream schools.

Inclusion is a human rights issue. The Bill of Rights, Chapter 2 states that all children have the right to learn together and should not be discriminated against or excluded as a result of their disability. All children need education that will help them to develop relationships and equip them with skills to become self-reliant. Children with an intellectual disability are no different. If children are separated or excluded as a result of their disability, it teaches them to be fearful, ignorant and may lead to prejudice. Inclusion has the potential to reduce fear and build acceptance, tolerance, friendships, respect and understanding.

Cape Mental Health Society forms part of the Western Cape Network on Disability, a forum that not only represents the disability sector, but also monitors and lobby against discriminatory practices that excludes people with disabilities from society in the Western Cape. During March 2007 Cape Mental Health Society’s awareness raising campaign will highlight the plight of people with intellectual disability who, because of misperceptions and ignorance, are being discriminated against and excluded from accessing opportunities.

Cape Mental Health Society provides a host of services assisting people with intellectual disabilities to secure their human rights, which are entrenched in their South African Constitution. For more information about our services for people with intellectual disability please contact (021) 447 9040 or email info@cmhs.co.za.