Merely defining the term “disabled” or “disability” has proven to be a contentious issue. This is because of the differing views of what categories fall under the umbrella of disability. People with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. This definition places a greater focus on disability because of the lack of an enabling environment than on individual capability.
People with disabilities continue to experience exclusion from the economy and education system. A major obstacle to the social inclusion of persons with disabilities is the stigma that still attaches to disability. As an association we facilitate awareness-raising and education regarding disability and try to address the rights of persons with disabilities, which provides that the disabled have the right to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs.
With this objective in mind, one needs to maintain the levels set by Government when they do give funding for projects like ours as well as those of our generous benefactors to the overall reach of BVAPD. Just the daily activity of service delivery takes up most of one’s available time and leaves a chasm for the fight for the rights of this group. The easiest way to overcome this is with the assistance of our community and local business.
While funding remains a huge aspect, few people realize that their involvement can directly affect people with disabilities. These include awareness in the workplace, employment of people with disabilities, volunteering at facilities, arranging corporate days in aid of the association and training staff in the management of persons with disabilities as clients. The task of making one’s business accessible to persons with disabilities is a small investment in the recurring business of the almost thirty thousand persons with disabilities in the Breede Valley.
Closely related to affirmative action, and especially significant in relation to disability, is the concept of reasonable accommodation. At its core is the notion that sometimes the community, whether it is the government, an employer, or a school, must take positive measures and possibly incur additional hardship or expense to allow all people to participate and enjoy all their rights equally. It ensures that we do not relegate people to the margins of society because they do not or cannot conform to certain social norms.
Discrimination against people with disabilities persists in various social and economic spheres, including in the economy and education. Without sincere social inclusion and reasonable accommodation of people with disabilities, substantive equality cannot be achieved. Where does one start? Make the change in your attitude towards persons with disabilities, see them as more abled than disabled. Allow them the freedom to access society, business and education as it is their right to do so.
Globally, people with disabilities are marginalised and excluded from full participation in society. In our valley, people with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination in various social spheres, including in respect of access to health care services, employment and education.. Human Rights Commission Report
