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Independence. One Special Beneficiary At A Time.

Zimele means 'independent' in isiZulu and at our Foundation, we aim to provide much-needed technology to improve Access to Schooling and improved Quality of Life for young people with disabilities. 

Our Beneficiaries

Since the inception of The Zimele Inclusive Foundation, we have assisted several children to acquire the important technology they needed...

2023

Zimele 2023
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Mivuyo

Mivuyo has arthrogryposis and can't easily use his hands to control a computer. He had developed an impressive skill of using his tongue and lips to control his laptop with great speed, however was using a harmful posture to reach his laptop trackpad. The Zimele Inclusive Foundation provided a mounting arm and an additional trackpad, connected to his laptop, to allow him to adopt a more comfortable upright position. These are mounted at a comfortable height to prevent secondary postural pain and deformities, while still  allowing him to control his laptop with his mouth. He attends a mainstream primary school and participates fully in his busy classroom and school life!

Rehadapt Magic Arm
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Lesedi

Lesedi has a complex visual impairment and struggles to see the board, or her teacher’s face. She has an assistant in class who copies everything from the board for Lesedi to see more clearly. She usually bends down close to the table to see her schoolbooks and her own handwriting, or holds words up directly in front of her face in order to see. The Zimele Inclusive Foundation provided a handheld, portable digital magnifier which will allow her to more comfortably read books, and see the work she does at school. It changes the colour contrast and magnification of any text, to provide the best visual support for her.

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Siyolise

Siyolise has cerebral palsy and can’t use a pen to write. He has struggled to keep up with writing his letters like his peers can, due to this disability. The Zimele Inclusive Foundation provided a laptop, with lowercase letter stickers, to help him recognise the letters he is learning and find them more easily on the keyboard. He also received a child-sized mouse which is easier to hold, and child-friendly software to help him learn important computer skills, as this will be the way that he now writes and produces all his work at school!

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Onamandla

Onamandla is autistic and can’t say many words or communicate easily with those around him. He is eager to engage but is not able to say what he wants to. The Zimele Inclusive Foundation provided a communication device, consisting of a tablet with Grid 3 software, to help him type whatever he wants to say using picture symbols. He also received a rugged case which he can carry everywhere he goes. Having this portable system will allow him to select his message on the screen, and chat with those around him more easily.

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Zimele 2024

2024

R.S. Using Claro

W.S.

Since childhood, W has not been able to read with comprehension. He has never been able to study without help and his mother having to read the work for him. 

 

Was given a laptop and Claro Read software which helps him to use his computer independently for his schoolwork.​ Since receiving these supportive resources, he has been able to work independently a lot more.

 

This is a big deal at the age of 15, and it has also helped him to feel a lot more confident and on top of his studies. "He uses Claro Read with no effort. Thank you!"

ClaroRead in South African Languages
R.S. Using Claro

Mivuyo

One of the important aspects of choosing the right technology for a person, is having their involvement in that decision if at all possible. Mivuyo decided after several months of using his current technology, that he prefers to have access to a physical rather than an on-screen keyboard. It was decided that a keyboard with an integrated trackpad would suit his preferences better, which led to an adaptation of his setup. A new keyboard, with a special mounting arm (Magic Arm), enabling the keyboard to be positioned at an optimal height for him to reach with his mouth, was provided. Mivuyo continues to advance well in his schooling, producing his written work independently by writing with his mouth.

A keyboard, mounting arm and mounting plate.
Merlin HD Mini Magnifier being used by a child for schoolwork

Lesedi

When Lesedi was offered the opportunity to receive a donation of the Merlin Desktop Magnifier she and her therapy team had always hoped for, they were so excited.

This powerful magnifier allows her to increase the size of books and worksheets dramatically, and even change the colour contrast of the images to suit her own specific visual needs. 

 

Although she was a previous recipient of a handheld magnifier, she is now able to use the larger device at school where she is doing well at high school, and the smaller device at home. 

Merlin HD Mini Desktop Magnifier
Using ClaroRead to help with word prediction and spelling

Sphumeze

Siphumeze is a 17 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy, spastic quadriplegia which affects his mobility, upper limb co-ordination, fine motor skills and speech.

He attends a mainstream high school, loves going to school to learn and never misses a day despite having to negotiate rocky uphill terrain to get to his taxi every day. Due to his physical and speech difficulties, he needs a scribe and uses a laptop to take notes and complete schoolwork. Although he is able to type, his speed is very slow and he is unable to keep up with the pace of the classroom. ClaroRead software was provided to help improve his spelling and writing speed through its functions such word prediction, screen reading, and converting printed documents and image files into PDF.

ClaroRead in South African Languages
Zimele 2025

2025

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Philani

Philane attends a special school that caters for learners with severe intellectual disabilities. She was referred for speech assessment when her class teacher struggled to hear her speech. She has articulation difficulty and Apraxia which affects her speech intelligibility. Although she has a severe intellectual disability, she manages well with technology. She was given an iPad with the 'Grid for iPad' AAC app which provides symbol-supported communication, while she works on literacy skills, and a Rehadapter Protective Case so it can be used anywhere, all day long. It will help her and her communication partners. Her therapists believe it will improve the overall quality of her life.

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Casey

Casey is autistic and attends a special needs school for learners with physical and intellectual disabilities. He has a severe intellectual disability and is not able to speak at all, but understands well and responds positively when asked to follow instructions. He has good problem solving skills, but would like to be able to communicate more easily and rely less on others to express his wants, needs and thoughts. He received a Talk Pad with Grid for iPad software. It is portable, with loud speakers for chatting anywhere. Having a communication device will reduce his frustration and improve his confidence when interacting with peers, leading to greater independence, participation and overall well-being.

Talk Pad Grid AAC Device
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