Next month, College Street School in Nahoon will open its new adult skills centre designed to help autistic school leavers break free from the cycle of unemployment that many disabled youth are forced to face.
Previously, the school retained pupils until the age of 21 to give them a longer time to learn work ethic, work etiquette, social behaviour and discipline. However with waiting lists for placement at special schools growing longer, the school said the Eastern Cape department of education has put pressure on College Street to release their pupils at 18.
The College Street Adult Centre and NPC on 20 Schultz Road in Nahoon near the school intends to step in and provide a base for autistic young adults, aged 18-21. This is to ensure they are given an opportunity to learn skills to lead independent adult lives.
College Street principal Craig Graham said: “Children on the autism spectrum benefit from being in the school longer because they need more time to build internal capacity to integrate into society.
“Releasing them from school at 18 means they go into society without the requisite life experience. In their physicality they may be fully developed but mentally they need more time to mature.
“We have created the adult centre to prevent massive deterioration in their social development that could result from exiting the school system before they are ready. This will lead to situations where they are forced to sit at home unemployed, earning only a grant and becoming a financial liability to their families.
“The centre is there to give the children support because as special needs individuals, they have complex needs. We see the centre as part of our commitment to do our best for these young people.”
The College Street school governing body (SGB) is in support of the centre as it believes the department has erred in forcing the school to release pupils at 18.
In a statement to the GO!&Express, the SGB said: “We disagree with the department’s decision but we do not have the authority to challenge it. No consultative process took place between the department, schools and the governing bodies.
“The SGB is not directly involved with the adult centre which will operate as a separate entity but it is a venture that we fully support.”
Graham concurs saying that releasing pupils at age 18 does not directly address the burgeoning waiting lists for access to special schools locally. Children can spend up to three years waiting to be enrolled at a special school.
Graham believes employing more teachers and hastening the construction of Khayalethu Special School’s new premises in Haven Hills, are faster and more effective routes towards addressing long waiting lists for special schools.
He said: “Parents are putting pressure on the department to find solutions to the lack of special schools but the present directive from the department to release the pupils at 18 doesn’t address the real problem. We need to extend more classes and fill more teaching posts for the six- to seven-year-old age group which we have applied for but are yet to hear feedback on.”
The department of education did not respond to repeated request for comment by print deadline.
College Street psychologist Julie Cromhout said that long waiting lists for special schools in Buffalo City reflect a broader need for more accessible specialised education. Cromhout said the new adult centre is a crucial initiative which will provide occupation and social interaction in a protected environment for autistic youth.
Autism Sinethemba co-founder and Autism SA regional development officer Antoinette Bruce-Alexander said: “Entry into education and exit out of education is not always the easiest for children with special needs.
“The new College Street adult centre is a marvelous idea because we need more spaces that are a continuation of the school structure they have already been part of.
“A child with autism doesn’t follow the path that mainstream children are on, so the more years they can spend in school, the better for them.
“They are unique individuals that have specific preferences for a work environment and they need an opportunity to have the job they are in needs to be pre-taught to them, which is enabled in a place like the adult centre.”
Linda van Staden, mother of a son with autism, says the new centre is a vital safety net for autistic school leavers who struggle with communication, social cues, and adapting to change and is also a relief for parents who work full time and can’t supervise their children during the day. Without support, Van Staden said many autistic young adults risk mental health issues, lack of income, and declining social skills.
FEDSAS deputy CEO Dr Juane van der Merwe said: “When pupils leave school — particularly those from special schools — they often find themselves without meaningful opportunities. This centre ensures that the skills and progress achieved during their school years are not lost.
“Mainstream schools are often not equipped to accommodate pupils with higher support needs, and special schools have limited capacity. Transitioning out of school poses yet another challenge, as there is little formal support for further education or employment pathways for them.
“Beyond this adult skills centre, the education system should develop clear pathways that extend beyond the classroom.
“This includes establishing bridging or transition programmes within schools to prepare pupils for life after school, integrating more workplace-readiness modules into the senior phase, and creating partnerships with technical and vocational education colleges that offer adapted courses for pupils with disabilities.”
The College Street Adult Centre is possible due to generous donation from Port Rex Lions and other local businesses. To contribute towards their mission to provide autistic school leavers with work experience please contact the school: admin@collegestreet.co.za.
