Let’s help people with epilepsy
PEOPLE with epilepsy may become lawyers, sale assistants, trainers, consultants, pub cashiers, successful businesspersons the list is endless. Professions such as teaching and nursing are open to people with epilepsy although there may be a few restrictions, the relevant colleges supply the required information. Only a small number of professions are barred to people with a history of epilepsy by statutory provision and these include working in the armed forces, police, fire brigade and working as an aircraft pilot.
School setting making the right choice for most young people with epilepsy their needs may be met by the special needs education department under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education or an SEN co-ordinator or through the support of outside specialists available to the school or college. For a small number of young people their needs require additional support and the schools psychology services may need to make a statutory assessment or educational needs or the student following their assessment attend special schools where their needs may be met more fully.
Young people with epilepsy may achieve as much as any other young person without the condition. Encouraging and believing is one of the key ways in which parents and leaders may support the young person to fulfil the learning potential and many young people with epilepsy to do. Some young people with epilepsy may experience poor attention and confusion, memory problems, fatigue and behaviour problems.
After leaving these special schools at the age of 18 and having done a number of courses and gaining working experience can be trade tested by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary education to become a skilled worker. A waiver is given by the schools Psychological services department if this child is not fit to write an exam. Once the child passes the trade test the Min of Higher and Tertiary Education will issue a skilled worker certificate and would work in industry and commerce. The schools’ psychological services department shall assist the student and network with the ministry on the test of the child.
The schools’ psychological services department under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education can supply information to parents on request. A fee is charged by the registered consultancy and an assessment is to be forwarded to the parent on services done.
The special schools have results to show the nation in technical and commercial education since 1980. The Min of Pry and Secondary Education failure to talk on the results saw infighting in the homes.
The writer is a graduate from special schools and a registered technical consultant service provider having seen production education and can be contacted on 0714731059 email proconzim@gmail.com
Prospect Consultancy Zimbabwe trains persons living with disabilities in technical skills training. Winston PG Mawere, Bulawayo.