For adults living with intellectual disabilities in Mitchell’s Plain, Athlone, Khayelitsha and Retreat, help and opportunities are being presented through a project by Cape Mental Health.
Training Workshops Unlimited (TWU), currently operating in these four areas services hundreds of adults with intellectual disabilities ranging from severe to mild.
Thomas Bezuidenhout, general manager of TWU, says the cause for these disabilities include genetic conditions such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrom and Downs Syndrom, but also accident related trauma such as car accidents.
There are six levels catered for.
Level one, known as the eagles have the most severe and profound intellectual disabilities.
Level two is life skills which is less severe and these workshops include gardening, arts and crafts, health and safety as well as sexuality.
Level three is Work skills.
These trainees have the ability to enter the workplace with assistance and have mild or borderline intellectual disabilities.
Level four is bringing and support.
These are for high functioning trainees able to enter the market.
Level five is supported employment which is placement into workplaces and level six is supported self employment.
“TWU is in the process to identify 10 trainees with workable small business ideas across out workshops, and provide them with controlled seed funding,” says Bezuidenhout.
