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About Us

How We Started

One day three moms got together to discuss the difficulty they had been facing getting appropriate education for their daughters. The girls were all non-verbal with limited hand function, but their moms believed them to be intelligent and capable. Unfortunately, the schools they had applied to had either rejected them due to their physical limitations and/or communication difficulties; and schools they had been accepted by, had not followed a structured curriculum or used AAC. Each mom believed in her daughter’s ability to learn to communicate and get an education, and they desperately wanted to create a place where this could happen. And so, the idea of Nova was born…

And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.

CAN BE SEEN WHEN OUR CHILDREN SHOW:

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SELF-DETERMINATION
WHAT IS IT?

To be motivated to engage with the world around you.
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02
AGENCY
WHAT IS IT?

To intentionally perform actions to achieve goals
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03
CREATIVITY
WHAT IS IT?

To invent new things.
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COMMUNICATIVE INTENT
WHAT IS IT?

To deliver an intended message
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CONFIDENCE
WHAT IS IT?

To explore the world boldly
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Our Team

our principal

Dionne Snyders

"How will we know what is possible if we never try?"

Dionne Snyders qualified as a physiotherapist in 2007 at WITS University. She then did her Masters degree in Neuro Rehabilitation while working at an inpatient neuro rehabilitation unit. She worked there for 3 years and then opened her own adult neuro rehab practice at Balance Therapy Centre in Die Wilgers, Pretoria and in Wilgers Hospital. She currently still manages her practice with another neuro physiotherapist working for her. In 2016 her first child, Hannah, was born. After a long diagnostic journey, Hannah was diagnosed with Rett syndrome. This severe, genetic neuro-developmental disorder took away Hannah’s ability to control her body, communicate and use her hands. In 2017, Dionne, along with another Rett mom, took over the management Rett SA: an NGO providing support to families affected by Rett syndrome in South Africa. In 2019, Hannah’s family put funds together to get Hannah an eye gaze device, in the hope that she would be able to use this device to communicate. Due to lack of support and very limited knowledge of healthcare providers and schools on how to use the device, the device was barely used. Dionne became passionately interested in learning more about AAC and the eye gaze device so that she could teach Hannah how to use it. She watched many webinars and online courses and read countless articles. She went on to complete her honours degree in AAC in 2021.

Their AAC journey began but not without difficulty. In her mission to help Hannah, it became clear to Dionne that there is so much potential in children with Rett syndrome, and even other conditions where children are non-verbal, to learn!!! She then tried to get Hannah into a school where she would be given a mainstream education, and where her physical limitations and communication needs would be accommodated. This proved very difficult. Dionne dreamed of a place where Hannah would be given the opportunity she deserves to get an education and learn to communicate. A place where no pressure would be put on her to perform and prove herself, where she would feel safe and confident to express herself. In a conversation with 2 other special needs moms, the idea of Nova was born.

‘Hannah, this is for you.’ (D Snyders 2021)

Our Staff

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Carla De Kock

CLASS LEAD (TEACHER)

Carla is in charge of overseeing and delivering all classroom activities throughout the day. From mathematics, to literacy to art projects and paint covered hands, the educational development of learners is her top priority She teaches all class lessons using AAC with the support of the school Classroom assistant and the learners' Communication Partners. Carla is passionate about inclusive teaching and believes that everyone has the right to learn in a manner that suites their needs and capabilities in order to gain as much from their education as possible. She has an honors degree in Psychology and has experience in teaching and working with students with special educational needs. She aims at completing her Masters degree in Educational Psychology. 🪐 “Our jobs are not to prepare learners for something, but rather to help learners prepare themselves for anything.” (A.J. Juliani, 2015).

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Veio Mahlangu

CLASS ASSISTANT

Veio is the classroom assistant at Nova. She is always there to make sure all the learner’s physical needs are met, whether it’s an arm brace that needs to be put on, glasses that need adjusting or making sure everyone is drinking enough water and eating well. Her main priority is maintaining a safe environment for our learners. This allows our learners to direct all their focus towards their school work, knowing that there’s always someone keeping a close eye on anything they might need. 🪐 She assists our classroom lead by modeling AAC, assisting the learners and compees with their devices and facilitating play on the playground! Veio’s love, passion and patience for our learners shines through every minute of the day.

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Leanie De Klerk

CLASS LEAD (TEACHER)

When Nova started to expand, they needed another teacher, because Nova’s classes are limited to six learners. As a result, Leanie has joined the Nova team. Although she has a Masters degree in Environmental Science and worked as a researcher at the CSIR, she always knew that one day she wants to become a teacher and so she completed her Post-Graduate Certificate in Education and is registered at the South African Council for Educators. She has a passion for teaching children and loves being in an environment with them. Her patience and passion for Nova’s learners was evident right from the start. As a Nova teacher she is responsible for designing Nova’s learning programmes and delivering classroom activities, teaching the learners literacy and mathematics in a structured way and also giving learners the opportunity to freely express themselves through art and sensory play.

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Khutso Mahlangu

CLASS ASSISTANT

Khutso has extensive experience in working with children with a variety of special needs in a school environment. She has a passion for the special needs community. Her roles in the classroom include assisting all learners and compees with their AAC, positioning, equipment and assisting with feeding where needed.

Compees

COMMUNICATION PARTNER

We invented the word “compee” to describe the person who assists the child when accessing learning. They are one part of the two-part learning dyad that we believe is essential to our children’s learning success. The word has its origins in the technical term “communication partner” but it includes additional functions of care and activity execution. For example, our children build blocks by directing their compee where to place the next block. A compee is there to ensure that the child’s positioning is correct, that they have the assistive devices that they need in place, and to facilitate bathroom and sensory breaks as necessary. For children in the satellite program, parents will fulfil the role of compee and lead.

Every learner at Nova is encouraged to attend the class with their own compee. In cases where a learner does not have their own compee, we envite volunteers to sit in as compee for that learner.

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Volunteer to become a compee

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