Oasis’ purpose is to improve the lives of people living with intellectual disability by managing several programmes and projects specifically designed to help them develop to their full potential.
Originally named Oasis Special School, Oasis was established by a group of parents in 1952. The original aim was to provide education for learners with intellectual disabilities who were excluded from mainstream schooling. However, as the children grew older, the founders/parents were faced with the challenge of what comes next…
They needed to find a way to provide work opportunities and gainful occupation for the children in their care, who were now becoming young adults. This led to the opening of the Oasis Protective Workshop, where a supportive environment was offered for the beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities, to enable them to seamlessly transition from school into work opportunities and further development.
Over the years, Oasis has grown as an organisation with more projects and services for people with intellectual disabilities being added. Today, we are proud to be one of the largest and most impactful organisations of this kind in the Western Cape.
Bridging the Gap
Intellectual disability originates pre-natal, natal and post-natal. It is characterised by significant limitations in intellectual and cognitive functioning (IQ below 70) as a consequence, in adaptive behaviour. This includes many everyday social and practical skills. The degree to which someone is intellectually disabled usually ranges from mild or moderate to severe, or profound, and is measured in relation to their support needs.
Approximately 4 in 1 000 of the general population are living with profound to moderate intellectual disability, and yet there is still limited support available to them, especially in poorer communities. Oasis helps to bridge this gap in Cape Town.
Our Beneficiaries
Oasis offers opportunities for more than 500 beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities. These opportunities include:
- Group living in safe, affordable housing
- Work opportunities and training in protected and supported environments
- Day Centres with specialised care for severely and profoundly disabled children
- Activity groups for adults who require high levels of supervision
Our holistic spectrum of opportunities for our beneficiaries includes social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sport and recreation, social events, and social assistance.
We are located in Claremont, Delft, Elsies River, Kenwyn, Ravensmead and Ruyterwacht.