Sport benefits disabled learners

PARENTS in rural Limpopo, who refuse to allow their disabled and intellectually impaired children to participate in sports, are derailing their progress.

They also rob them of a chance to learn life skills, as well as career possibilities.

This is the view of Eric Ravhura, a floor-hockey assistant coach at Tshilwavhusiku Razwimisani Special School in Ha-Ravele village, outside Makhado.

Spending more than seven years working with disabled and intellectually impaired learners has taught him that participating in the various sporting codes gives disabled children a chance to learn life skills, make friends and socialise.

“Having a disability is not the end of the world… And parents who have disabled and intellectually impaired children must not feel ashamed to allow them to play with others.

“Allowing them to participate in sport might give them an opportunity to be independent. It pains me to know that there are still parents who hide their disabled children away and never send them to school.

“We have so many special schools in the province which can accommodate them,” Ravhura said.

Tshilwavhusiku Razwimisani Special School is a school for children with intellectual disabilities. It accommodates learners from various multicultural, multilingual backgrounds who often have more than one disability.

“Having patience is crucial when working with disabled learners, because if you are patient with them you will see that they are the same as able people. All they need is patience from us.

“Through sport there are many careers which disabled learners can follow and achieve, so we need to encourage them to participate in sport, which also gives them a chance to exercise to stay fit and healthy,” he said.

Over the years, the school has represented South Africa at international level in floor hockey. “Playing hockey relaxes my mind and gives me a chance to socialise, travel and make new friends. It is also a healthy form of exercise.

“I am very fit and healthy, because we train regularly at school. Through playing floor hockey I have already visited many places, which is why I love playing the sport. My goal is to represent my country at floor hockey tournaments,” said Ernest Muvhulawa 18, a learner at the school.

More than 100 disabled learners from various special schools in the Vhembe district recently participated in various sports at the Thohoyandou Indoor Sports Centre for a chance to represent the district in the upcoming provincial Paralympic Games. – Health-e News