The Don Mattera School for learners with special educational needs was established as a Public Lsen school by the Gauteng Department of Education in 1996. The “visionary and driving force behind the establishment of the school was Mrs. Dorothy Cornelius, the former Director of the Society for the care of the physically and Mentally Handicapped. Mrs. Cornelius devoted her entire life to community service and especially the intellectually impaired in disadvantaged communities. Mrs. Cornelius (Speech Therapist) together with Nales Wessels (Social worker) and Mrs. Bertha Smith (Community worker) established a Day care and training Centre. On 15th January 1973 the Coronationville Training Centre opened it’s doors to learners with intellectual impairments . The school provided support not only to learners but the families and broader communities. Inclusive education would be advocated long before it became fashionable in the year 2000. Another training institution was established in Eldorado Park in 1980. This facility was the Harvey Cohen Centre which was established with the financial assistance of various Donors such as the Northclff Rotarians, Haggard Fund and S.A.Breweries. In 1996 the Harvey Cohen School was established at the Harvey Cohen Centre with the support of the Gauteng department of Education. The staff appointed by the Gauteng Department of Education included the Principal, a head of Department, Occupational Therapist, Professional Nurse, 4 Educators and 5 class assistants.

The school was re-named the Don Mattera School when it re-located to its current premises in Extension 7 Eldorado Park. The school was officially opened on 8th November 2002 by the Honorable Dr.Don Mattera. Dr.Don Mattera is an internationally acclaimed poet, journalist, community activist and human rights campaigner. Dr Mattera was recently awarded the ……………. Medal by President Thabo Mbeki as acknowledgement of his contributions to his community, South Africa and the world at large. As a school we paid tribute to a man who contributed immensely to the richness of community life, wherever He found himself. Don Mattera was a resident of Eldorado Park for many years. He played a prominent role in the establishment of various sports clubs such as Brotherhood soccer club and Brotherhood boxing club. We also have the Brotherhood athletics club who remains prominent in Eldorado Park. However, it is the life story of Dr Don Mattera that shines as a beacon to the youth. Circumstances and an impoverished environment were not allowed to dictate his Destiny. Today we not only remember his former life as a gangster but we celebrate his poetry contributions to humanity. He is able to truly serve as a role model for youngsters in our community. Dr Mattera remains an active member of the schools Board of Management.

 

Our Vision

Our vision is simple:

To develop an inclusive community , where all people are treated with Respect, Dignity and afforded the opportunity for independent living

To build a school which would address the curriculum needs of learners who experience barriers to learning due to an intellectual impairment.

• To create an enabling environment for our learners .
• Create an understanding in Society that the intellectual impairment is but a feature of an individual and that the disability is created by his/her interaction ( or lack therof ) with the surrounding environment
• Have Specialized classrooms and Workshops .
• A curriculum that focuses on school - to - work programmes .
• Improve the Quality of Life of people with disabilities in our functioning as a resource centre .
• To address immediate issues of unemployment of young people in the community by extending our vocational skills / computer literacy /language and business skills programme
• To have sustainable development through skills enhancement and capacity building .
• Income generating Workshops
• Community based family support groups