You may be aware that 3 December is annually celebrated across the globe as the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of disability issues, specifically the rights of persons with disabilities to enjoy equal opportunities, and to promote the benefits of including this marginalised sector into our society. Governments, civil society organisations, academic institutions and the private sector are encouraged to collaborate with non-profit organisations of persons with disabilities in arranging events supporting the aims and aligned with the theme for the year.
The day has its origins back in 1976 when the United Nations declared 1981 “The International Year of Disabled Persons” followed by the General Assembly proclaiming 1983 – 1992 the “United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons”
Not another special day, you say. Do we really need a separate day to think about disability? Well, yes.
The truth is that, while well over 2 million South Africans live with a disability(ies), a vast amount of South Africans have no contact with them due to their own personal circumstances. One generally feels strongly about issues to which you are exposed and we oftentimes don’t have thoughts or an opinion on topics which do not affect us personally. First-hand experience may result in an alternative way of thinking or a change of opinion, in some cases a complete turn-around, and possibly a sense of understanding of the issue at hand.
Dr Mehmet Oz once said “Knowledge doesn’t lead to change, understanding does.” It is not sufficient to know that there is such a thing as disability; attitudes, perceptions and stigma will only change once an understanding of the impact of disability on the individual’s life and that of his/her family is created.
This is the core of the celebrations this year, following the theme of
Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities
- So, where do you get this information and understanding? What can you do, as an individual who may want to get involved? There are many ways, depending on your interests and availability. You may want to volunteer at a local event planned by an NPO in your area, or join in the Cape Town event (details below). Visit your local retirement village or old age home and spend time with someone with Alzheimer’s. Ask granny how it feels to wear a hearing aid and ways in which you can help her to join in family conversation. And if you really don’t know or have any contact with someone with a disability, volunteer at an NPO supporting persons with disabilities. Spend time with someone with a disability; get to know them, and you will find that there isn’t really much difference between us.
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The Cape Town event
is hosted by the Western Cape Network on Disability in collaboration with the City of Cape Town, and will take place on 3 December at the Cape Town Track in Greenpoint between 10am and 2pm. A jam-packed programme is planned which includes entertainment by persons with disabilities, displays of communication devices and mobility technologies, an employment dialect focussed on including persons with disabilities into the workplace, wheelchair racing and hand-cycling, and many more.
If you’ve ever had a burning question about disability that you would love to be answered, this is the place to be! Come along and join in the celebrations!
So, what will you be doing on 3 December to include people with disabilities into your life?
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