SABC 360 Disabitilty: Recent Episodes
Ligwalagwala FM
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Topic: Mandates, roles and responsibilities of the office on the status of disabled persons
Topic: Appropriate support to children with Disabilities informed by individual support
TOPIC: Empowering of disabled women through combating gender-Based violence and femicide directed to them.
Guest: Patric Mahlakoane, National Chairperson (Disabled People of South Africa).
Topic: Transport barriers for persons with disabilities
Topic: What to know about casual day and its anticipated response to the disabled community.
Guest: Thulakahle Khumalo (APD)
Guest: Ms Gale Nkosi South African Blind Women in Action (SABWIA)
Topic: Barriers, which hinder the full participation of women and girls with disabilities.
Ms Potso Mtjali Disability Coordinator: Rand West Local Municipality
Topic: Challenges Experienced by Silindokuhle Disabled Centre Blind and Technology
Mr. Prince Ngema -Chairperson: South African Blind Youth Organisation (SABYO) Topic: Treatment and empowerment of youth with vision impairments AWARENESS DAY
Ms Dieketseng Motloung Chairperson: Albinism Task Force(ATF)
2024 Marks a decade since the launch of international albinism Awareness Day. To mark this occasion, this year’s theme is: ten years of International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD), a decade of collective progress. This theme invites us to
Mr. Thabo Madupela Mpumalanga Mental Health Society Social Worker
Topic: Disability and elections
Guest: Mr Mandla Khoza - Nkangala disability forum
Topic: retention of employees with disabilities in the workplace
Mr. Dolfred Sihlangu From Ehlanzeni District Municipality
Topic: Disability Inclusion in the Workplace
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Admission of persons with epilepsy at the Dulstroom Epilepsy Centre after the lock-down
South African Sign Language From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search South African Sign Language
Native to South Africa Native speakers 235,000 (2011 census)[1] Language family BANZSL South African Sign Language Language codes ISO 639-3 sfs Glottolog sout1404[2] South African Sign Language (SASL, Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal) is the primary sign language used by Deaf people in South Africa. The South African government added a National Language Unit for South African Sign Language in 2001.[3] SASL is not the only manual language used in South Africa,[4][5] but it is the language that is being promoted as the language to be used by the Deaf in South Africa,[6] although Deaf peoples in South Africa historically do not form a single group.
In 1995, the previous South African National Council for the Deaf (SANCD) was transformed into the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA),[7] which resulted in a radical policy change in matters for Deaf people in South Africa, such as the development and adoption of a single sign language and the promotion of sign language over oralism. Schools for the deaf have remained largely untransformed, however, and different schools for Deaf children in South African still use different sign language systems, and at a number of schools for the Deaf the use of any sign language is either discouraged or simply not taught.[8] There are as many as twelve different systems of signed oral language in South Africa.[9]
In addition to South African sign languages, American Sign Language (ASL) is also used by some Deaf people in South Africa. Most local sign languages in South Africa show the influence of American Sign Language.
SASL is the sign language that is used during television news casts in South Africa. Sign language is also used in the South African parliament, but different sign language interpreters are known to use different signs for the same concepts.[10] There are around 40 schools for the
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Access to RDP Housing by persons with disabilities Living in an RDP house and being disabled is “hell”, complains Zingisani Mhlahlela. He is 30 years old and uses a wheelchair. He lives with his mother in an RDP area of Chris Hani in KwaNobuhle township, Uitenhage.
His RDP house is not adapted for his wheelchair and he struggles to get in and out of his home and also to use the toilet. “When nature calls, the wheelchair itself gets damaged,” he says.
Mthubanzi Mniki, spokesperson for Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, said, “The priority of housing delivery is to give houses first to disabled and elderly [people]. The houses must be suitable for their needs, accessible and closer to amenities … Due to the pressure of the backlog, people end up occupying houses that are not that suitable to their needs.”
“Every door inside the house I must access by being lifted first.” Temba Mzantsi, the secretary of Persons with Disabilities Forum in Nelson Mandela Bay, said the municipality should implement the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (approved by cabinet on 9 December 2015), the Disability Framework for Local Government, the Integrated National Disability Strategy, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Those are the policies they should refer their heads of department to look at when they are to deliver any services,” said Mzantsi.
Provincial Human Settlements spokesperson Phiwokuhle Soga said, “The Housing Code has provision for variation of the subsidy to allow for the enhancement to the house in order to accommodate specific disabilities, eg a ramp, rails etc.”
But Mhlahlela, who is now in his third year as a marketing student at Eastcape Midlands College, says, “The policies regarding persons in the disability sector are stated in papers, but practically, we are completely excluded.”
He says he has yet to see an RDP house adapted for disability in his area. He knows of only one house, for a blind woman in Chetty, P
Issuing of assistive devices.
WHEELCHAIR / BUGGY AND WHEELCHAIR CUSHION POLICY
- PREAMBLE
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes a wheelchair as “one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing personal mobility”. Provision of wheelchairs to disabled persons is a precondition for enjoying human rights and living in dignity and also assists users to become more productive members of their communities.
Providing wheelchairs that are fit for the purpose not only enhances mobility but also begins a process of opening up a world of education, work and social life. A wheelchair opens doors to learning, employment and social participation to the user.
According to standardization of provision of assistive devices in South Africa, the government has a commitment to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
The national policy on the Free Health Care for disabled people has prescribed that any indigent disabled person is entitled to free assistive device including maintenance /repair of such a device as long as one meets the set criteria
In recent years the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has been inundated with increased demand for wheelchairs in all districts. This unprecedented demand has been attributed to factors such as high levels of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), HIV-AIDS, cross border clients /patients and others. This increased demand for wheelchairs in the province has been compounded by limited resources and poor distribution /issuing of wheelchairs by unqualified persons /organizations
The development of policies and increased training opportunities in the supply, issuing and maintenance of wheelchairs are essential in enhancing service delivery.
The Introduction of this policy as well as effective use /implementation of the policy will assist to improve and strengthen the system of wheelchair distribution and issuing in KwaZulu-Natal
Aim This policy aims to: - Provide a framework for the equitable, acces
4 Things You Can Do to Spread Deaf Awareness I’d like to encourage you to do something this month to spread awareness of hearing loss. Inform your colleagues: Let your colleagues know about the things we struggle with. By informing them on how you best work, you can enhance your communication within your team. Maybe you can even create a better work environment. If there are tools or resources that help you work better, let your HR department know. Advocating for yourself is one of the best ways to create an even playing field and collaborative environment at work. Teach Sign Language: If you use sign language to communicate, consider teaching sign language to kids in schools, your friends, colleagues, or other people in your life. Even just a few signs can go a long way, and it’s fun to learn! Make a Poster: Raise awareness in your community. Make signs or posters to put up at your local library, community centers or schools. Awareness is the only way we can give others some understanding of our disability. You can share information about how common hearing loss is, how to protect your hearing from loud noises, or the different levels of hearing loss. Support a Deaf Business: Find local or online business that are run or supported by deaf business owners. Finding a job with hearing loss can be tough, but supporting these deaf-owned businesses can help people make their own living. I personally will be presenting an assembly at the school I work at. I’ll also be keeping my eyes open for other opportunities. Remember, our biggest enemy is ignorance. People often don’t help because they don’t know how to help – make sense? “…if it helps to raise awareness and give others some understanding of our disability, share it!”
"Barriers experienced by women with visual disabilities".
The most commonly reported barriers to work were: negative employer attitudes; the provision of adjustments in the workplace; restricted mobility; and having an additional disability/health condition
sharing information about Casual Day to be implemented by the organisation in September
sharing information about the Mandela Day Project (EYECARE PREVENTION) which will take place on the 20 July 2019 at Nelspruit Plaza.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Miss & Mister Deaf World (MMDW) is an international beauty pageant which crowns young Deaf women to "Miss Deaf World" and young Deaf men to "Mister Deaf World" every year, usually in Prague, in the Czech Republic. MMDW is a Nonprofit organization which was created in 2001. The pageant is organised by the companies MISS DEAF s.r.o. and MISS – MISTER DEAF s.r.o., and their president is Josef Uhlíř.[1] The official language in the contest is International Sign Language,[2] and the crystal crowns for all the finalists are made by Astera s.r.o.[3]
By the rules of the contest, a winner is disallowed to participate in another beauty contest.[4] In July 9, 2010 there was a MDW contest in Tbilisi, Georgia,[5] and Miss Julie Abbou from France contested.[6] She won three titles of the first Vicemiss Deaf World 2010, the second Vicemiss Deaf World 2010 and of the Miss Sympathy Deaf World 2010.[7][8] Afterwards, Abbou contested Miss Deaf International[9] in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 31, 2010, and was crowned as Miss Deaf International.[10] As a result, Uhlíř published an announcement at MDW website about disqualifying Abbou from the titles of 1st Vicemiss Deaf World 2010 and of Miss Sympathy Deaf World 2010, which Abbou won during the final ceremony of Miss Deaf World 2010 and Miss Deaf Europe 2010 competitions in Tbilisi. Uhlíř stated that during the MDW competitions, Abbou was personally informed, as well as the other competing girls, that in the case of receiving one of the official titles of the MDW competitions, the winner would be prohibited from participation in any other Miss competition. Uhlíř explained the reason for keeping the high status of the both competitions, keeping the high reputation of the gained titles and preventing any hurt of Miss Deaf World and Miss Deaf Europe competitions prestige. Uhlíř added that every girl could participate these competitions, even two times, if she was not awarded any of the titles during her first participation.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Mr Patrick Mahlakoane from Disabled People South Africa.
He will be sharing information about the Participation of Persons with Disabilities into political organisations.
We hosted Ms Alice Mlauzi from the South African National Council for the Blind, a Social Inclusion Officer who spoke about Voter Education for Visually Impaired Persons.
Mr Dutiot From the department of social development talking about different disability organisations in the province.
Rights of the Visually Impaired. Disability Independence Group has been involved in several matters involving the rights of the visually impaired. ... People with vision impairments use screen reading software to have access to computer information.
M r DP Nkambule Department of Social Development Manager: Office on the Rights of persons with disabilities HE spoke about Disability Month Programme of Action
Ms Hluphi Mpangane Department of Health Coordinator: Communicable diseases She discussed polio affecting people with disabilities
Patric Mahlakoane from Disabled People South Africa. Sharing information about the strengthening representative voice of persons with disabilities.
Ms Thembi Sibiya Department of Health Child Psychiatric Specialist she talked about Down Syndrome
What good or better ways that you can use to assist or help a disable person without making him or her feel inferior.
Raising a blind baby may seem hopelessly difficult at first. For most parents, this isn’t something they expected or were prepared for.
At this point, you’re most likely searching for answers and preparing for what feels like an endless journey. Questions and emotions are running through your mind and you may feel like you’re in a rush to figure things out…
What do I do?
How can I cope?
How can I help my child?
Does it ever get easier?
What you need is support, understanding, and resources. I began this website as a means to provide all three to other parents of blind and disabled children, but as the site has grown I worry that the information may have become overwhelming. Where do you start?
I decided that it was time to put together a step-by-step resource guide, picking out the most pertinent articles and resources for parents with babies and young children searching for help.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Find Support
The most important thing to do at this stage is find someone who understands what you are going through and can offer relevant advice. Whether you find a support group in your area through Early Intervention or join an online group (Yahoo Groups is a good place to start looking), the important thing is to connect with other parents.
Here is some advice from real parents of kids with special needs: •Enjoy every minute, no matter what! •Relax; Never forget you know your child best; Ask yourself if your concern now is going to matter when your child is an adult. •It’s going to be ok… •Don’t try to “fix” every problem. Take life one day at a time and enjoy every minute. Give yourself a break now and then. •A sense of humor is a must! •It’s amazing how this experience allows you to grow. I think I like myself better now, than I did years ago. •What seemed to break our hearts at the beginning, was truly a blessing. Enjoy every precious moment. •Don’t fret so much about what your baby can or can’t see; In the long run, Raising child with blindness
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Human rights of persons with disabilities
All people with disabilities have the right to vote on an equal basis with others. EPA/J.DigesPersons with disabilities face discrimination and barriers that restrict them from participating in society on an equal basis with others every day. They are denied their rights to be included in the general school system, to be employed, to live independently in the community, to move freely, to vote, to participate in sport and cultural activities, to enjoy social protection, to access justice, to choose medical treatment and to enter freely into legal commitments such as buying and selling property. A disproportionate number of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, often marginalized and in extreme poverty. The protection guaranteed in other human rights treaties, and grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, should apply to all. Persons with disabilities have, however, remained largely ‘invisible’, often side-lined in the rights debate and unable to enjoy the full range of human rights. In recent years, there has been a revolutionary change in approach, globally, to close the protection gap and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the same standards of equality, rights and dignity as everyone else.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted in 2006 and entered into force in 2008, signalled a ‘paradigm shift’ from traditional charity-oriented, medical-based approaches to disability to one based on human rights. Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said, “The celebration of diversity and the empowerment of the individual are essential human rights messages. The Convention embodies and clearly conveys these messages by envisaging a fully active role in society for person with disabilities.” Human Right
OUR SERVICES The National Office of Epilepsy South Africa provides strategic leadership to the organisation to create a society in which people with epilepsy and other disabilities have equal opportunities to function optimally to achieve their fullest potential in all spheres of life. The National Office also strives to develop and maintain service excellence, sound management and financial stability within the organisation. read more.. ACHIEVERS WITH EPILEPSY People with epilepsy can achieve! South African and international history is rich with examples of well-known achievers living positively with epilepsy. 1.Epilepsy South Africa National Office Based in Cape Town Services the whole of South Africa in respect of national obligations Also responsible for direct service development and delivery within the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape Provinces
2.Epilepsy South Africa Western Cape Branch Located in Lansdowne, Cape Town 3.Epilepsy South Africa Free State & North West Branch Located in Parys and they have a satellite office in Vryburg in the North West Province 4.Epilepsy South Africa Gauteng Branch Located in Springs 5.Epilepsy South Africa South Cape & Karoo Branch Located in Knysna
6.Epilepsy South Africa Mpumalanga & Limpopo Branch Located in Dullstroom They also render direct services in the Limpopo Province Epilepsy
What is Down Syndrome? In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm – although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all. How Common is Down Syndrome? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making Down syndrome the most common chromosomal condition. About 6,000 babies with Down syndrome are born in the United States each year. When Was Down Syndrome Discovered? For centuries, people with Down syndrome have been alluded to in art, literature and science. It wasn’t until the late nineteenth century, however, that John Langdon Down, an English physician, published an accurate description of a person with Down syndrome. It was this scholarly work, published in 1866, that earned Down the recognition as the “father” of the syndrome. Although other people had previously recognized the characteristics of the syndrome, it was Down who described the condition as a distinct and separate entity. In recent history, advances in medicine and science have enabled researchers to investigate the characteristics of people with Down syndrome. In 1959, the French physician Jérôme Lejeune identified Down syndrome as a chrom www.ndss.org
What Is Mental Health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: •Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry •Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse •Family history of mental health problems Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. Early Warning Signs Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem: •Eating or sleeping too much or too little •Pulling away from people and usual activities •Having low or no energy •Feeling numb or like nothing matters •Having unexplained aches and pains •Feeling helpless or hopeless •Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual •Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared •Yelling or fighting with family and friends •Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships •Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head •Hearing voices or believing things that are not true •Thinking of harming yourself or others •Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school Learn more about specific mental health problems and where to find help. Mental Health and Wellness Positive mental health allows people to: •Realize their full potential •Cope with the stresses of life •Work productively •Make meaningful contributions to their communities www.mentalhealth.gov
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Clothing and Footwear for Independent & Assisted Dressing
Adaptive Clothing for People with Disabilities & Seniors
Is Dressing a Challenge? •Comfortable, Affordable Adaptive Clothing for Seniors •Easy Access Clothing, Elderly Clothing & Wheelchair Clothing •Men's & Women's Specialty Diabetic Shoes, Socks & Slippers www.silverts.com
Introduction The Albinism Society of South Africa was established in 1992 and is the brainchild of the Executive Director, Mrs. Nomasonto Mazibuko. The whole idea of establishing the organization was to enhance the self- esteem of people with albinism, enable and support parents to care properly for children with albinism and create socially acceptable conditions for people with albinism. This is achieved by running a number of projects and programmes as well as running workshops and seminars. The other aim of the society is collecting and disseminating information on albinism to the community.
Background: Operations and Governance
The Albinism Society functions with the help and support of the National Office located in Gauteng in the center of Johannesburg as well as support groups and non-permanent co-ordinators in nine provinces who service the organization purely on a voluntary basis.
There is a board of seven members governing the operations of the organization. The board meets once every quarter and in addition the executive committee made up of the Chairperson, the Treasurer, the Minutes Secretary and Projects Co-ordinator meets regularly for urgent matters.
Programme Implementation The Society engages in lobbying and advocating for needs, recognition and social acceptability of people with albinism and their families. It also provides education and awareness by engaging the community through conducting workshops that seek to dispel myths and misconceptions on albinism. Some of the activities of the Society include:
◾In conjunction with the Department of Education facilitate conducive learning conditions for learners with albinism at schools.
◾In conjunction with the Department of Social Development , facilitate the dissemination of information about social issues
◾Make available relevant and factual information on albinism to various print media organisations as well as broadcasters in TV and Radio via interviews, pamph www.albinism.org.za
Nappy Run reminds the nation and its leaders that the human rights of children with disabilities must be honoured and secured
Nappy Run is a project of the NCPD (The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities) to raise awareness about children with disabilities and to collect much-needed nappies for them. The campaign runs from October to the end of November with the highlight being the main Nappy Run fun run taking place every year on the first Saturday of November at the Johannesburg Zoo.
Hundreds of people converged on the Johannesburg Zoo on Saturday 4 November 2017 to take part in the seventh annual Nappy Run Fun Run of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). They came, too, to show their solidarity with and support for thousands of South African children with disabilities.
The Nappy Run Fun Run was the highlight of a two-month NCPD campaign for the rights of South Africa’s marginalised and forgotten children with disabilities. It also marked the start of South Africa’s Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM 2017) that ends with the marking of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2017.
Says Therina Wentzel, the NCPD’s national director: “Children with disabilities across South Africa say a huge ‘Thank you’ to every person who either donated a pack of nappies or contributed money for buying nappies.
“Nappy donors have made a huge difference to the lives of these youngsters, and have helped them gain the dignity they need to go to school and be included in everyday community life.
“Inclusion with dignity is a vitally important component of the development of all children. It’s all too often denied to children with disabilities, and especially to children with disabilities from poor communities and families. These youngsters are also denied the education that will enable them eventually to take their places as contributing members of the economy and of society.”
While the focus of the Nappy Run Fun www.nappyrun.org.za
The SABC Disability 360 Campaign aims to empower People with Disabilities by providing on-going disability related content on-air, online and on the ground (events) through SABC various platforms which will be providing the sector with information about job opportunities, training opportunities and pertinent disability content, in all 11 official languages.
This Campaign will allow maximum access to information by the Disability Sector in South Africa, thus ensuring that the SABC broadcasts not only compelling content but also content that empowers its audiences. The Disability 360 Campaign further aims at creating an online “community” where people with disabilities can go and engage and access any disability related Information.
Empowering People with Disabilities for Rural Development Living in rural areas poses particular challenges for people with disabilities in accessing education, training, and employment opportunities. Dismantling the barriers that rural disabled people face enables them to improve their livelihoods, those of their families, and take an active role in rural economic development.
Manage mental Illness in the Workplace
Proactive management is the best medicine for mental illness in the workplace.
By Dr Ali Hamdulay
Mental illness in the workplace leads to decreased productivity, increased sick-related absenteeism, poor work quality, wasted materials and even compromised workplace safety. Despite the significant financial loss to employers and broad economy, many mental disorders fly below the radar in the workplace. A more proactive approach for managing mental illness in the workplace is a strategic imperative for South African employers. Most employers tend to completely underestimate the financial impact of mental illness on their bottom-line. Increasing levels of mental illness drive up disability costs and demand more medical scheme spend. There is also a strong correlation between mental health disorders and substance abuse. The South African Association of Social Workers in Private Practice estimates that 50% of workplace accidents is related to substance abuse. An undetected substance abuser can cost the employer 25% of that person’s wages. However, in many workplaces, employees choose to suffer their mental illness in silence, fearing stigma should they speak out, while employers avoid asking too many questions, hoping mental health disorders will just disappear on their own. Nevertheless, the latest Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Report 2013-14 confirms that the prevalence of mental illness amongst medical schemes beneficiaries is rising. Total benefits per average beneficiary per month (pabpm) paid to psychiatrists increased by nearly 35% from 2011 to 2013. The total benefits paid to psychologists pabpm increased by 26% from 2011 to 2013, while the total benefits paid pabpm to mental health institutions from 2011 to 2013 increased by 58%. www.sadag.org.za
Eye Care Awareness Month is commemorated from 21 September to 18 October to raise awareness about the importance of eye health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness.
Seventy-five percent of all cases of blindness is avoidable either through prevention or through treatment – which is why is important to get your eyes tested at least once per year.
Symptoms of eye conditions can include: •vision loss •altered eye movements •eye pain •visual field loss •bulging eye.
Transport Difficulties disabled passengers face with public transport Be it trains, planes or automobiles disabled people still face massive challenges in getting around. 1.Disabled people travel a third less often than other people 2. Over a third of disabled people who do travel experience difficulties, the most common being getting on or off trains or buses 3.The national average for accessibility of buses is only around 30% 4.Of disabled people who use public transport, over half (56%) have to resort to using costly taxis for easier access 5.Nearly two-thirds (60%) of households containing a disabled person do not have access to a private car, compared to 27% of the general population 6.More than one in five spaces reserved for disabled drivers are abused by non-disabled motorists 7.In terms of convenience and ease of use, taxis and minicabs are rated the most highly, with rail services the worst 8.Eight in ten disabled people never use light rail, tram or Underground services. Three-quarters never use ferry services and two-thirds do not fly 9.Bus drivers are rated as the most unhelpful public transport employees by disabled people, with 20% of respondents saying that they are unhelpful, compared with 13% for train station staff, 6% for both on train staff and taxi drivers, and just 2% for airline stewards 10.Nearly half (41%) of disabled people in England and Wales say they experience difficulty with traveling. A quarter (25%) experience difficulty travelling to and from the doctor or hospital, 23% have experienced problems visiting friends or relatives and 18% visiting leisure facilities. Some 23% of disabled workers say they find travelling to and from their place of work difficult www.johngilltech.com
Mrs Eunice Kennedy Shriver started this organisation 49 years ago to provide opportunities for people with an intellectual disability in her back yard. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day is an annual celebration of her life and a global call to action for people to live in a more unified society in sport, in the community and in the work place. What an incredible legacy!
The Special Olympics South Africa team was out in Mpumalanga in 4 districts running a Unified "Skillz for Life" camp for over 500 athletes and partners. A fitting way to pay tribute to our founder, Mrs Shriver. The Special Olympics movement has come a long way, the journey of having an inclusive South Africa still continues. We are indeed honoured to have had Mrs Shriver and are grateful that her vision has helped bring change into the lives of individuals living with and without an Intellectual Disability across the globe. www.specialolympics.org
The Office of the Status of Disabled Persons has been very useful to DICAG's campaign for the equal rights of disabled children. Our peer group organisation, Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), is a valuable asset. Together, DICAG and DPSA have a powerful, united voice in joint lobbying and advocacy ventures.
Tests and diagnosis
A complete diagnostic work-up for albinism includes a:
•Physical exam •Description of changes in pigmentation •Thorough exam of the eyes •Comparison of your child's pigmentation to that of other family members A medical doctor specializing in vision and eye disorders (ophthalmologist) should conduct your child's eye exam. The exam will include an assessment of potential nystagmus, strabismus and photophobia. The doctor will also use a device to visually inspect the retina and determine if there are signs of abnormal development. A simple test can measure the brain waves produced when light or a reversing pattern is flashed into each eye. This can indicate the presence of misrouted optical nerves. www.mayoclinic.org
White Paper: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities The country’s first ever White Paper on the rights of persons with disabilities acknowledges deficits in access to education, reproductive health and rights services as well as health care among people living with disabilities. Persons with Disabilities Approved by Cabinet in December and released in March, the 194-page White Paper is built upon nine pillars, namely: •Removing barriers to access and participation; •Protecting the rights of person at risk of compounded marginalisation; •Supporting sustainable integrated community life; •Promoting and supporting the empowerment of children, women, youth and person with disabilities; •Reducing economic vulnerability and releasing human capital; •Strengthening the representative voice of persons with disabilities; •Building a disability equitable state machinery; •Promoting international co-operation; and •Monitoring and evaluation. The document advocates for transforming the health system to improve the lives of disabled people by for instance removing communication and information barriers, reducing costs associated with care and skilling health personnel to provide equitable services to persons with disabilities. Among the paper’s specific recommendations are the establishment of a centralised database of children living with disabilities to improve access to social support and education as well as the provision of accessible transport to health care facilities.
Albinism in humans is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, such as photophobia, nystagmus, and amblyopia. Lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers. In rare cases such as Chédiak–Higashi syndrome, albinism may be associated with deficiencies in the transportation of melanin granules. This also affects essential granules present in immune cells leading to increased susceptibility to infection.
The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to. Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and job stress are common, affecting individuals, their families and co-workers, and the broader community. In addition, they have a direct impact on workplaces through increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased costs. Very few South Africans seek treatment for their mental disorders. Mental illness can be treated at your nearest clinic, hospital or healthcare provider.
Depending on how disability is defined, global figures estimate that 200 million children experience some form of disability. (UNESCO - Education for all global monitoring report 2010: Reaching the marginalized). However, statistics on incidence and prevalence of childhood disabilities are slim and assumptions often lie within large ranges of uncertainty and are outdated (UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre - Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities (2007). Children with single or multiple forms of physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impariments can become disabled if attitudinal and environmental barriers deny their human rights, hinder access to basic services and foreclose equal participation.
An estimated 10 per cent of the world’s population live with a disability. These people have the same sexual and reproductive health needs as other people. Yet they often face barriers to information and services. This guidance note addresses issues of programming in the area of sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities. It is intended for experts and advocates within UNFPA and WHO as well as those in other development organizations and partners. Those who address issues of family planning, maternal health, HIV and AIDS, adolescence, and gender-based violence may find this information particularly helpful.
A white cane is used by many people who are blind or visually impaired. Its primary uses are as a mobility tool and as a courtesy to others, but there are at least five varieties, each serving a slightly different need. Long Cane: This "traditional" white cane, also known as a "Hoover" cane, after Dr. Richard Hoover, is designed primarily as a mobility tool used to detect objects in the path of a user. Cane length depends upon the height of a user, and traditionally extends from the floor to the user's sternum. Some organisations favor the use of much longer canes.