ChildSafe South Africa leads a groundbreaking road safety initiative at Oasis, specifically tailored for children with special needs. The holistic programme ensures that no child is left behind, combining classroom education with practical experiential learning at the Junior Traffic Training Centre (JTTC).
Teaching Aids for In-Classroom Use
ChildSafe Resources: We provide schools with comprehensive teaching materials covering essential road safety topics. These aids focus on safe road crossing, visibility, and alertness.
Educator Integration: Teachers seamlessly incorporate these resources into their lessons, ensuring that children with special needs receive crucial road safety knowledge.
Experiential Learning at the JTTC
Practical Skills: Children actively practice road safety skills, learn traffic rules, and gain confidence in navigating real-world scenarios.
JTTC Bridge: The JTTC bridges theory and practice, empowering children with special needs to make informed decisions when faced with traffic situations.
ChildSafe’s Unique Approach
ChildSafe spokesperson and Executive Director, Zaitoon Rabaney, emphasises that children with special needs are “differently abled”. We recognise the unique challenges of people with special needs, especially children. By equipping differently abled children with knowledge, practical skills, together with community support, we can create safer roads for everyone” says Rabaney.
The learning outcomes of the blended intervention include:
Proper Restraints:
Children must use appropriate child safety seats while traveling in vehicles.
Proper restraint significantly reduces the risk of injury during accidents.
Buckling up is essential—seat belts save lives.
Promoting Visibility:
Encourage children to wear bright, visible clothing when near roads.
Reflective accessories enhance visibility, especially during low-light conditions.
Being seen by drivers is crucial for preventing accidents.
Safe Road Crossing Techniques:
Teach children the proper road-crossing techniques.
Always look left, right, and left again before crossing.
Utilize pedestrian crossings whenever possible for enhanced safety.
Emphasising Alertness and Caution:
Children should remain attentive and avoid distractions (e.g., electronic devices).
Discuss potential hazards with them, reinforcing the importance of staying alert.
Collaborative Responsibility
ChildSafe South Africa recognises that road safety is a collective effort. Parents, educators, and the community play vital roles in protecting children with special needs. Together, we can create safer roads and a brighter future.
