More than 300 delegates from various provincial disability organisations gathered at the two-day Disability Indaba organised by the Department of Social Department and Special Programmes.
The Indaba, which took place at the Regent Hotel on 30 and 31 January saw the disability groups sharing ideas with government officials on how to better meet their special needs.
Speaking at the Indaba, MEC Dr Pemmy Majodina said the Indaba was about listening to the groups and organisation so that the government can come up with possible planning which will see their needs being met in every possible way. She said one thing was to better understand their (disability groups) key priorities. "As your slogan says: 'Nothing about us, without us', we are here to involve you in every step of the way and I acknowledge all of you", said Majodina.
MEC Dr Majodina said one of the things that they want to assist with was to get the public to stop criticising people with disabilities. She added that the public must know that disability is a matter of a minute and there was no application form approved while some were born with it.
"We want to change attitudes of the public, we want to speak in one voice and stand up for your right but if you do not assist us, we will not be able to champion that," she said, adding that she wanted to make it a point that the disability groups are well taken care of and protected.
Majodina summed her speech by sharing the department's aim, "Our priority is to give access to education and health to disabled young children," adding that there was also a need for disability awareness within the disabled community.
On the second day, the Indaba was graced by the presence of the Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.
Bogopane-Zulu highlighted priorities for this year (2012) and the priorities included:
- Minimisation of confusion within the disabled people – she said most disabled people were a bit confused about their rights. Making an example, she said most disabled people do not realise that the disabled parking bays is meant for them, not only for wheel-chair bound or those with physical disabilities.
- Monitoring, consolidation and coordination of government programmes within the three sectors, namely: women, children and persons with disabilities – she said the public and private sectors should consider employing people with disabilities; consider gender in all job specifications. She stated that by March 2013 the government wants to make sure that at least 4% of disabled youth is employed in various business sectors.
- Facilitate government meeting with international organisations. She said the government wants international buy-in the government decision-making platforms.
- Mainstreaming of disability programmes and making sure disability organisation did not die.
- Lastly, education was one of the priorities so that they make sure there is easy access to education for the disabled child, adding that the programme had already kicked off in some areas with the help of the Department of Education.
She said her department has already identified physically challenged children who will go to ordinary school, who do not need special schools at all. "Most of the time we tend to be ignorant about these disabilities, let our children be at special schools whereas there is no need for that".
