When Elisabeth (Liz) Johannsmeier joined the pediatric unit of the Pretoria Academic Hospital as occupational therapist in 1971, the need for a facility that could provide for the medical and therapeutic requirements for handicapped and special needs babies and toddlers outside the hospital scenario soon became apparent to her. With such a facility these very young children would not have to be hospitalized for longer than necessary, and working parents could be spared the burden of finding daycare and therapy services for them during the day. By 1986 this had became so important to Liz that she decided to do something about it.
Liz's attempts to generate funding for an idea proved extremely difficult. She needed a prototype but there was nothing in the country to go by. She virtually would have had to start from scratch. But with 13% of all babies born with mild to severe disabilities, the need to establish a facility was overwhelming. She said she felt that God had put this burden on her and that through Him she could do it. So with the input gathered from overseas institutions Liz forged ahead.
In 1995 her prayers were answered. With the help of Johanniter Hilfswerk (the German equivalent of the Order of St John) Baby Therapy Centre opened to the infants for who it had been established and also to those with development delay.
Today Baby Therapy Centre has an array of therapies of which you could say AQUATOTS Swim Program is one. Participating in a “normal” activity with “normal” children is both therapeutic and encouraging for special-needs children.
