An empowered disability sector can contribute to a better South Africa

An empowered disability sector can contribute to a better South Africa

Nothing for us, without us

AIf it’s not disability inclusive, it’s not inclusion.” This is one of the key messages of this year’s Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) celebrated between November 3 and December 3, annually with December 3 being the International Day of Persons with Disabilities - also celebrated as National Disability Rights Awareness Day.

According to the stats, people with disabilities continue to face various challenges including but not limited to, serious unemployment; poverty and inequality in South Africa.

Speaking at the launch of the Disability Rights Awareness Month, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Honourable Maite Nkoana Mashabane, said the department’s approach to DRAM is informed by a series of wide consultations with the disability rights sector and government departments.

“This is grounded in the principle of ‘Nothing for us, without us.’ Our commitment to the unique needs, experiences, and expertise of persons with disabilities is premised on international, regional and national frameworks”.

She added that the country has the necessary policy frameworks and legislation and needs to move into implementation and introduce specific priorities and “achievable targets to ensure the progressive realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities in South Africa.”

If it’s not disability inclusive, it’s not inclusion.

Honourable Nkoana Mashabane shared that the department, in partnership with the National School of Government, has concluded a Memorandum of Agreement to roll out the Disability Inclusion Training.

“The training will serve to improve government departments capacity to implement the policy directives and deliverables of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

PROGRESS

Touching on the progress her department has made thus far, Minister Nkoana Mashabane said they have worked on the priorities of the Presidential Working Group on Disabilities and there has been reasonable progress on these priorities including amongst others: - Capacitating the disability coordination function at the epicentre of all spheres of government

- Accelerating the pace of providing access to quality inclusive education for children with disabilities out of school.

- Finding sustainable solutions to the huge backlogs in the provisioning of assistive devices.

- Accelerating the recognition of South African Sign Language as an official language.

- The creation of a sustainable funding mechanism for the sector to increase footprint and impact of programmes led by national, provincial and local organisations.

She added that while the progress on priorities over the past year displays a great deal of leadership in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, more can be done by everyone.

“Let us advance the mandate of building an inclusive and transformative society where the needs of all are handled with equal priority and equitable resourcing,” said Minister Nkoana Mashabane.

Week 1 (07 - 11 Nov) National Priority 6: Social cohesion and safe communities Sub-Theme 1: Resourcing the advancement of accessible communication, information and technology methodologies for persons with disabilities.

Week 2 (14 - 18 Nov) National Priority 3: Education, Skills and Health Sub-Theme 2: Adequate resourcing and supply of all economic and health related services for persons with disabilities.

Week 3 (21 - 25 Nov) National Priority 6: Social Cohesion and Safer Communities Sub-Theme 3: Capacity building on entrepreneurship and business skilling for persons with disabilities.

Week 4 (28 Nov – 03 Dec) National Priority 5: Social cohesion and safe communities This week coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children Campaign Sub-Theme: Resourcing the state to ensure provision for access to justice for persons with disabilities.