When Solomon received her Master’s degree in Human Rehabilitation Studies at Stellenbosch University on Tuesday, 28 March, it was the culmination of a remarkable journey – a testament to her determination and passion for helping others.Solomon was nine months old when her parents suspected something might be wrong with their baby who did not respond to sounds and voices. Initial tests did not show hearing loss but as Solomon grew older, she continued to miss developmental milestones.
Doctors referred her to the Carel du Toit Centre, situated on the grounds of Tygerberg Hospital where deaf children learn to speak. It was here that the seeds were planted that would later inspire Solomon to study occupational therapy. ‘At the time, the cochlear implant was nearly the price of a car!’ Solomon remembers. But it was worth it. Before, Solomon had to sit right next to her teacher at her desk to be able to follow what was said. ‘Post implant I was able to sit at my desk and follow her without assistance. It was life-changing.
“I’ve come full circle. It is such a privilege to be able to work alongside the school’s principal who was my Grade 2 teacher. It’s wonderful to be able to give back, be a role model and to inspire the learners with hearing impairment and deafness to believe that they can achieve success at school, higher education and employment.”
rehabilitation and disability-related programmes. My hope is to improve the rehabilitation programmes within the South African education system so that learners with disabilities, teachers and the schools as a whole can feel supported.”