Who we are

Interface KZN exists to support and assist children and adults who have little or no functional speech due to disability or disease. Many children, due to varied disabilities such as cerebral palsy or autism, never develop functional communication, and many adults can also lose their ability to speak due to cerebrovascular accidents, head injuries, or degenerative conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease.

Communication is at the core of human interaction and learning. It is also a basic human right and essential to our quality of life. Without access to communication, other human rights such as access to education, health, and safety cannot be guaranteed. We use communication to relate to others, express ourselves, share information and build relationships.

Through AAC, Interface KZN assists our beneficiaries in finding a communication method that best suits their needs. This may be a low-tech device, such as a communication board, or something more high-tech, like a speech-generating device. Importantly, their means of communication may change over time as their capabilities, needs, and communication skills change. Being able to communicate in a way that is readily understood has personal and educational benefits. AAC gives people a voice and helps them to participate more actively in society, pursue their interests, and reach their full potential.

What we do

Assess children and adults and put communication systems in place that are best suited to their needs.
Provide AAC intervention to AAC users focusing on communication effectiveness and autonomy
Establish therapist-facilitated small communication groups and support classroom-based sessions.
Provide AAC training to teachers, teacher assistants, therapists, families and centre support staff.
Create awareness about AAC
Provide classroom-based intervention specifically for schools
Support AAC users’ families to be effective communication partners
Provide AAC resource library that is open to professionals and families that allows discussion with Interface practitioners.

History

Interface KZN began in 1997 when a group of passionate parents, educators and therapists realised that there was very little awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with no support group and no implementation of AAC techniques in the KZN area. At a public meeting the formation of a NGO was discussed, and volunteers formed a committee to plan for the launch of the organisation. The willingness of parents and the passion of therapists and educators led to the founding of the organisation. At the time, Interface was a national organisation, and it was decided that this group would open a branch in KZN. The other branches of Interface disbanded over the years, resulting in Interface KZN becoming a stand-alone organisation in May 2001.

Fundraising began at once and the launch of the organisation took place at Browns school. The organisation operated from Browns school in the beginning before moving to a small room at Whizz Kids Special Needs Centre. For many years, the funding for basic administration and other costs came from a gardener who sold ground covers from a committee member’s garden to landscapers. Parents, therapists and educators who served on the committee, participated in workshops and raised funds did so on a volunteer basis. In order for the organisation to remain sustainable this needed to change. The primary goal (in addition to always providing the core services of evaluation, intervention, training and the raising of awareness) of the years 2003 and 2004 was to secure funding for premises. The first independent premises were at a house rented in Westville in 2008. After receiving substantial funding, the move was made to the current premises in Underwood Road, Sarnia in 2009. This funding also led to the employment of a part time receptionist and the beginnings of a resource library.

Since 2009, Interface KZN has grown from strength to strength. Initially a full-time office manager was employed. More recently the capacity has increased to promote the office manager to Project Manager. Interface KZN has grown from two-part time, sessional AAC practitioners to two full time AAC practitioners in addition to part time staff. In 2018 a vehicle was donated to the organisation enabling the reach of the organisation to expand.

Interface KZN has always been a small but passionate NGO, made up of a diverse group of AAC users, clients, parents, therapists and teachers. At the forefront of all activities is our passion to strive towards the Interface KZN mission statement and objectives, which contributes hugely towards our success

Vision

Using AAC to provide a voice to children and adults who have limited or no functional speech.

Mission

Our mission is to support children and adults who have little or no functional speech by providing training and opportunities for them to use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)