December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Deputy Minister of Social Development Mrs. Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will host virtual conversations with South Africans to speak on issues of independent living and respite care.
The 3rd of December is designated by the UN to raise awareness on issues relating to disability. This day is the closing of South Africa’s Disability Rights Awareness Month, which started on November 3.
The virtual conversations on independent living under the theme “Independent living a myth or reality?” will bring together different stakeholders with the hope of assessing progress on the implementation of the housing process for diverse disabilities.
The ability for disabled people, irrespective of their disability, to benefit from the different Government policies is an important area for Social Development. The conversations will serve as feedback to South Africans in general on how far South Africa is in the implementation of the habitat 2000 outcomes.
The platform is to consult and finalise the Department’s Disability policy on issues of independent living/supported services.
In the afternoon Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu will host a virtual dialogue on Respite care, under the theme “Respite care during Covid 19 and beyond”.
Families of people with disabilities are likely to experience high poverty levels, community exclusion and experience challenges in relation to services, economic opportunities, and access.
Families find themselves struggling alone as there are limited services to support them. The Department of Social Development is responsible for services to disabled persons and their families are introducing respite care services to enable support to families with disabled members focusing in particular on profound disabilities, autistic children, and children with severe disabilities. These services will go a long way in relieving the burden of care, give families a break, and parents an opportunity to attend themselves with an understanding that children are cared for by highly trained people.
Members of the media are invited to cover the virtual conversations scheduled as follows:
“Independent living a myth or reality?”
Date: Friday, 03 December 2021
Time: 10:00
MsTeams Link: https://bit.ly/3pggNR6
“Respite care during Covid 19 and beyond”
Date: Friday, 03 December 2021
Time: 14:00
MsTeams Link: https://bit.ly/3oitknJ
Media can RSVP by contacting Ms. Makhosazana Mavuso on 072 732 9381 or on makhosazanama@dsd.gov.za
Media enquiries may be directed to Ms. Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
