The ROeR is a collaboration between schools for special education and Rijndam rehabilitation. The brand new building in Schiebroek has been in use since March, but was officially opened on Friday, May 23 by Mayor Schouten and Alderman Kasmi. 

Daily 120 buses 

About 385 children from the entire region receive lessons and assistance with their rehabilitation here. The schools for special education that the children attended are now part of the ROeR, as is the special toddler group from Rijndam. Daily, 120 buses bring the children to the new location, which is 13,000 m2 in size. The building is specially designed, with spacious corridors and classrooms, therapy rooms, treatment rooms, gyms, and a swimming pool. 

‘These are children with a physical disability, or a physical and intellectual disability. Often from birth or from a very young age,’ says Arjan van den Boom from Rijndam. ‘To participate in daily life at school and at home, they need to learn to cope with their disabilities as best as possible. We call that rehabilitation.’

Adjusted protractor

‘At the ROeR, a lot of expertise and technology come together,’ explains Van den Boom. ‘For example, we have an ‘assistive technology lab’. There, specialists and students from universities work on adapting the tools that the children need. 

Such as an adjusted protractor, because it keeps slipping away due to spasms. Or an adapted musical instrument, or a drinking cup. Or if you cannot use your hands at all and still want to put on and take off your own sweater: a special hook on the wall.’

Example bathroom

Another facility in the school is a sample apartment with a bedroom and bathroom. ‘Children can learn to take care of themselves as independently as possible there. And the rooms can be adjusted so that they become exactly as big or small as at home. Officials can then see if, for example, a lifting device fits.’ 

Van den Boom is also very happy with the swimming pool. ‘You can imagine how complicated it is to take a group of these children to a public swimming pool. And for children with a severe muscle disease, it is almost the only way to move: in the water. But we also want to seek connection with the neighborhood. There are quite a few sports clubs in the area, and we hope that some of ‘our’ children can also go there to play sports.’

Learning levels up to havo

With all these facilities, you might almost forget that the ROeR is also ‘just’ a school. ‘We offer learning paths for all levels,’ says Albert Buitenhuis from the BOOR education foundation. ‘So for children with an IQ below 20 to an IQ above 130, which is gifted. In small groups, because all children need a lot of care and attention. We currently have 39 groups with between 8 and 12 students. All with a group teacher and an assistant.’ 

The lesson content per group varies greatly, Buitenhuis explains. ‘It can be about making the children as self-sufficient as possible, such as learning to eat and wash themselves. But there are also students with a physical disability who receive the regular curriculum. If possible, they then go on to a regular havo or vwo outside the ROeR. Otherwise, they move on to our own vmbo/havo department, which will soon be housed at Wolfert Dalton.’ 
About half of the students stay at the ROeR after primary school. They receive lessons in practical skills that will help them work later, for example in a warehouse or kitchen. Or they move on to day activities. 

Protective and grand

The ROeR has been functioning for over 2 months now. Van den Boom is pleased with how things are going so far. ‘The nice thing is that on the schoolyard, the groups mix well. So children with different disabilities and levels: that works well together. And while the building is large, the design makes it feel small-scale, each school has its own section. So we are small and protective where needed, but grand and overwhelming where possible.’

For more information, visit the website of the ROeR. Link opens an external page.