The ninth annual Airports Company South Africa Trade and Lifestyle Expo & Conference will be taking place from 7 to 9 November 2013 at NASREC Expo Centre in Johannesburg.
The Aiports Company South Africa sponsored event will be addressed by the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana; Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters (MP); and Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane.
This year’s event is aligned with the national Disability Rights Awareness Month programme run by the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, under the theme ‘The Right to Universal Access and Design: Break Barriers, Open Doors to realise an Inclusive Society for All - Action through Partnership’.
This year’s event is endorsed by the South African Disability Alliance and Gauteng Provincial Government. According to Zain Bulbulia from the Office of the Premier in Gauteng, this year’s event will be focusing on the advances that have been made regarding the rights of people with disabilities since the advent of democracy in South Africa.
The Vice Chairperson of the South African Disability Alliance, Ari Seirlis, explains that the event theme reflects a determined move towards a more action-oriented and solutions-driven programme. “The conference will be a comprehensive knowledge resource that addresses all issues affecting the disability fraternity, and offers numerous benefits to anyone involved in the disability arena,” says Seirlis.
The Lifestyle exhibition will showcase lifestyle solutions and talents of people with disabilities including wheelchair tennis, scuba diving, floor hockey and technical games. The conference will provide a platform for people with disabilities, business and government leaders to find innovative solutions and opportunities in the areas of education, skills development and employment while the exhibition will showcase an array of products and services that range from mobility aids, home-based care products, therapeutic services and a variety of other aids designed to assist and empower people with disabilities.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be one of this year’s unique participants. The commission will be at the event with the objective of attracting 18 year olds and first time voters to register to participate in the 2014 general elections.
Another first for the 2013 Airports Company South Africa Trade and Lifestyle Expo & Conference will be the ‘Services on Wheels’. These are mobile services that provide access to government grant registration, sexual education, and HIV testing and counselling. “We have enlisted the services of professionals to offer comprehensive HIV and sexual health advice for people who often find it challenging to access these essential services directly,” explains Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, Airports Company South Africa Spokesperson.
This year’s event is expected to attract some 2 000 attendees. “We view our involvement with the event as part of Airports Company South Africa’s commitment towards improving the lives of people with disabilities,” explains Batyashe-Fillis.
Airports Company South Africa has been the event sponsor for the past nine year.
“Through the sponsorship of the Disability Trade and Lifestyle Expo & Conference, the company is able to create awareness of the solutions that need to be put in place in order to improve the environments of people with disabilities inside and outside their living and working spaces. Some of the topics that will be addressed at the two-day conference include employment equity and entrepreneurship for people with disabilities,” concludes Batyashe-Fillis.
For more information on how to be part of this exciting event, please visit www.airports.co.za or www.mcnaughtonevents.co.za
Enquiries:
Tonie Jere, The Communications Firm
E-mail: tonie@tcf.co.za
Tel: 011 463 7550
Philly Khubeka, The Communications Firm
E-mail: philly@tcf.co.za
Tel: 011 463 7550
Catherine Larkin
Tel: 011 789 7327
E-mail: catherine@cvlc.co.za
