The Institute was founded on 13 March 1947. The aim was to start a school for deaf children in the North. The first school that was established, was Transoranje School for the Deaf, on 16 August 1954. It became clear, however, that the Institute would also have to establish schools for children with other disabilities.

The present Institute schools are:

• Transoranje School for the Deaf
• Prinshof School for the Visually Impaired
• Sonitus School for the Hearing Impaired
• Transvalia School for Epilepsy and Learning Disabilities
• Martie du Plessis High School for the Cerebral Palsied