The Institute has been mandated to carry out the following core functions;
- Conduct teacher training courses for teachers of children with special needs and disabilities
- Conduct in-service courses for personnel working in all fields of special needs education
- Prepare and conduct correspondence courses for personnel in the field of special needs education
- Run an educational and psychological assessment centre for the training of teachers of children with special needs and disabilities
- Run an orientation and mobility centre for training and demonstration purposes
- Run a model training unit for integration and inclusion of children with special needs and disabilities into the regular school schools
run a pre-school department where training and the stimulation of young children with special needs and disabilities can be carried out for the purpose of teacher training - Function as a resource centre for production and dissemination of information to the general public on special needs and disabilities
run a documentation and resource centre on special needs and disabilities - Conduct research in special needs education
- Maintain, repair, design, produce and assemble special materials and equipment for persons with special needs and disabilities