Lakeview Special Day Care Centre is to provide a safe haven for low function Intellectually impaired adolescents and young adults, while their parents are at work. The Centre will strive to protect the rights of these young people and improve their quality of lives through ongoing training.

 

Provide day to day training that will continue with the development, stimulation and care of these young people, after they have completed their training at ELSEN schools (for children with special educational needs) Provide support structures such as workshops and counselling for the parents/guardians of these young people

There are presently no day care facilities for low function mentally challenged adolescents and young adults in the Western Cape. Each year six to eight of these young people leave schools for children with special needs and have no available day care beyond their immediate families. The Problem: There is little oversight of many of these young people during the day while their parents and guardians are at work and they are therefore exposed to all sorts of abuse, as they are unable to care or even speak up for themselves. They frequently remain at home, often with mothers, grandparents, guardians, or neighbours, without the ongoing training and stimulation they need to lead meaningful lives.

 

 

They are unable to work at protective workshops (for adults with disabilities) as they have limitations with co ordination, concentration, memory, communication and the basic skills to live meaningful independent lives. They need ongoing training in the most basic day to day skills. This is a highly marginalised group of young people within the South African society, without the rights and state subsidization for their handicap. Currently there is no government legislation in place to protect their rights or even provide for the most basic needs of these individuals with intellectual disabilities. Day Care Centres only receive subsidization for children up to the age of eighteen years of age.