Dinah Shisia Were

Challenges Adults with Mental Retardation Face on Homebased Programs: After School Dinah Shisia Were

Young adults with mental retardation are identified by specially trained teachers in the community at an early age of 7years or at a later stage of their life by teachers in regular schools. While in special schools they are trained in basic skills for daily living then later in vocational skills for future occupation. In some cases a small percentage are employed in special institutions but majority are placed on home based programs or projects after school. The projects are livestock, agriculture, tailoring, dressmaking, cookery, poultry keeping, goat keeping, tree nursery,weaving, bead work, carpentry,metal works, pig keeping, rabbitry and daily living skills. over the years schools have been preparing young adults and requesting sponsors through proposals to assist with funding of different projects. Parents are prepared by training them in the skills their young adults are involved in and also by visiting their homes to advice on what other things need to be put in place before the project can set off. This has been going on for over 20 years and was interested to find out the success of these projects in helping young adults settle and make a living in the community.