External difficulties facing mentally disabled children in Grace and Love Special School in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The focus of the research is to investigate the external difficulties facing mentally disabled children. The objectives of the study are to investigate the external difficulties, to assess the rights of mentally disabled children and to explore the coping mechanisms of mentally disabled children. The researcher used non-probability and its sub-type purposive sampling method to select the respondents of the study. For this study two data collection instruments were used, namely questionnaire and interview. Data collected through questionnaires was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences. Information was presented in a tabular form, frequencies and percentages. Data collected through interview was analyzed using thematic analysis and information was presented in a narrative form. Ethical considerations were followed throughout the study. The Major Findings of the Study are: The researcher found that there are external difficulties facing mentally disabled children in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The findings show that mentally disabled children are not accepted by the community and are not treated like normal children. Disabled children are not protected from abuse. The researcher also found out that children with disability are not accepted even by their siblings. The study showed that children with mental disability cannot interact well with peers. It was found that the government is failing to support children with disability financially. The recommendations of the study·are: The researcher recommends that a mutual understanding is needed between the community and the government. The government has to enforce all necessary regulations for an improved service delivery. The must be a collaboration between organizations and all stakeholders dealing with children with mental disability.