A mother's lockdown struggle with special needs son

A South African mother whose child has special needs has told the BBC of the difficulties of living under lockdown.

Unathi lives in Gugulethu, a township in the South African city of Cape Town, with her 12-year-old son, Owothando, who has a sensory processing disorder, meaning he has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses.

“We are living in a one-room house,” Unathi told BBC OS on World Service radio. “The kitchen is here, the bedroom is here, everything in this small space.”

Owothando’s school is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and because of lockdown, he can’t leave the house.

“He likes outdoor activities, so his emotions are mixed up. He jumps on top of the chairs and wants to play outside.”

But because she’s struggling financially, Unathi has been unable to find a routine or access the internet to help her son.

“Kids are used to a routine, and all of a sudden there is no routine - just boredom now. It’s a challenging time and it’s made things so overwhelming for me.”

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Unathi