Feroza Dockrat Ameer has eighteen years of experience in the field of Education. She is currently the Director of the Westville Remedial Therapy and Assessment Centre.
Professional Academic Qualification
Education
Higher Education Diploma (Distinction) – Transvaal College of education (TCE)
Remedial Education – College of Education of South Africa (CESA)
Honours in Bachelor of Education (Specialisation in Special Needs Education) – University of South Africa (UNISA)
Certified Irlen Screener (Irlen Institute International)
Postgraduate Achievements /Workshops Attended
Workshop on Autism Spectrum Disorders at UKZN – 16 – 17 November 2010
Workshop on Education; Setting realistic goals – 18 September 2010
Workshop on Living with disabilities and tax benefits – At Action in Autism – 24 August 2010
Workshop on “Dyslexia” – At Hillcrest Primary School – 21 July 2010
Workshop on Creative Writing at Livingstone Remedial School – October 2009
Workshop at Pinetown Remedial School on Parental Empowerment and Psychologist Effects of Children with Learning Disabilities – September 2008
First BEd Honours and First Indian Student at UNISA to be part of the SAVF Committee.
Articles selected for publication in the periodical “EK EN MY KIND – FROM INFANT TO YOUNG ADULT”.
Personal research on parental guidance was used for exhibition and display purposes at UNISA, and is accessible to fellow UNISA students and Lecturers.
SUPPORT GROUP ADVISOR FOR PARENTAL GUIDANCE (2003)
GUEST SPEAKER AT THE SAVF (SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN’S FEDERATION) IN ARCADIA, IN OCTOBER 2003, REGARDING THE “EMPOWERMENT OF SINGLE PARENTS”.
WESTVILLE REMEDIAL THERAPY AND ASSESSMENT CENTRE
INCORPORATING
SPECIAL NEEDS REMEDIAL SCHOOL
lifting barriers to ensure optimal learning
Every learner with barriers to learning will receive the education and care necessary to improve and reach optimal potential to lead a meaningful, fulfilling and successful life.
Special Needs Remedial School intends to provide learners an environment to develop the skill to remove any barriers that inhibit learning and provide him/her with an education and assistance in life skills development. This mission forms an integral part of the holistic development of our learners.
Learners will be equipped with skills and knowledge to cope as confident and intellectual individuals in society.
Inclusive education is a reality in South Africa, with the result that educators who are not equipped with the knowledge to teach learners with special needs have to face a new challenge.
Educators are not only challenged by greater numbers in their classes but also with learners with barriers to learning.
There are numerous barriers to learning, such as:
Learners With Learning Barriers (Impairments):
The term ‘children with specific learning disabilities’ means those children who have a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorders may manifest itself in imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write or do mathematical calculations. Such term does not include children who have learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing or motor handicaps, of mental retardation of emotional disturbance, or of environmental cultural or economic disadvantage.
Physical disabilities or impairments which include:
Spina Bifida
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
Epilepsy
Cerebral Palsy
Polio
Autism
Learners with intellectual barriers include:
Chromosomal abnormalities
Single – Gene abnormalities
Prenatal, Perinatal and Postnatal factors
Endocrinal factors
Abnormalities of the brain, skull and spinal cord
Down Syndrome
Learners with barriers to learning or impairments seldomly flourish at mainstream school or curriculum. Most of them have difficulty in coping and need a special curriculum to ensure positive and consistent progress.
Special Needs Remedial School offers an effective alternative, a beneficial remedial programme, and an environment where not only education needs are met, but also speech impairments, psychological needs, physiological needs and occupational therapy is incorporated to the learning process. We have an in – house Remedial Therapist, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist and a Physiotherapist.
The Remedial Therapist assesses all learners prior to admission and learners are assessed by the other therapist if required. Treatments by these therapists are on an individual basis depending on the learner’s diagnosis and recommendations.
The school caters for a few learners with a maximum of 6 in a group. The learners are placed into groups that coincide or best suit their learning abilities, thus ensuring individual attention and independence to develop optimal progress at a comfortable rate.
Many learners attend mainstream school but have certain Literacy and Numeric problems. Their delays are not severe but it does hamper their performance in school. These learners could attend the Westville Remedial Therapy and Assessment Centre after normal mainstream schooling hours. The following assessments, therapies and screenings are available:
Literacy and Numeracy assessments
School readiness assessments
IRLEN Screening and assessments (for learners with reading difficulties)
ADD/ADHD assessments
CAPD Screenings
Dyslexic screening
Remedial therapy
Therapies and assessments by Occupational therapist, Speech therapist, Physiotherapist and Psychologist are also available at the centre on an adhock basis.
Special Needs Remedial School caters for long term remedial learners and accommodates learners that have /are:
ADD/ADHD
Dyslexia
Delayed literacy and numeric skills
Chronically ill
Depression
Mild emotional and behavior deviations
Controlled Epilepsy
Mild educable Cerebral Palsy
Partially/Mild hard of hearing
Depending of severity of the learner’s condition medication would be a prerequisite upon admission
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