World-renowned musician Jonathan Butler visited Beacon School for learners with special educational needs (LSEN) on Wednesday March 12. He is seen you with a few pupils who greeted him with song and dance on his arrival.
Image: Alicia English
What was meant to be a quick 30-minute pop in at Beacon School for learners with special educational needs (LSEN) in Westridge turned into a three-hour visit by world-renowned musician Jonathan Butler on Wednesday March 12.
Mr Butler, who hails from Belgravia, Athlone, quickly fell in love with Beacon School pupils as they serenaded him on his arrival. The school is one of four government special needs institutions in Mitchell's Plain and caters for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and severe intellectual disabilities (SID).
Moving from class to class, the 63-year-old singer interacted with teachers, pupils and support staff while learning about the different ASDs and SIDs, and the various teaching methods and programmes employed by the school.
Mr Butler said his visit to the school especially touched his heart because his six-year-old granddaughter is autistic and preverbal, and cannot speak yet.
Principal Cheryl Muller and deputy-principal Elana le Roux gave Mr Butler valuable insights into working with children with special needs.
"You and your teachers deserve all the praise for the work you do," Mr Butler commended them.
Beacon School pupil Ethan Scott talks to musician Jonathan Butler about his experiences doing robotics at school. Looking on from left are Zelia van Rooyen (teacher) and Elana le Roux (deputy principal).
Image: Alicia English
Encouraging grandparents of special needs children, he said their journey with a grandchild who has autism is a new world of discovery.
"You have what we call a normal child, and then you have a child that has autism. So we're in that exploring and discovering place where we're learning. We have to learn sign language and all of these development stages of the child's life.
“God gives us perfect gifts. It's not like He's going to give you one gift that's perfect and the other one that is not perfect. My granddaughter is a perfect child. It's our learning disability. I would say to grandparents, stay with it. Count every little thing that the child learns a blessing.
“Grandparents, you are so needed in this process. As much as the parents are there, grandparents are there for a reason also. We have a role to play. Stay with it, you'll see amazing changes in your grandchild," Mr Butler said.