NCPD adds its voice to DRAM
“Judging by the publicity it received and that it involved all government departments, I would say the campaign was a success.”
The end of November marked the end of South Africa’s Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM).
The national campaign, launched by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, ran from November 3 to December 3.
It was held to raise awareness of the harmful effects stigmatisation, prejudice and stereotyping have on disabled people.
In the hopes of learning more about society’s perception of disabled people, the NEWS spoke to André Kalis, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities’s (NCPD) specialist in policies and children’s matters.
The Edenvale-based council is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which promotes equality for persons with disabilities through training, information, research and consultative services.
Kalis said although it is difficult to determine how society’s perception towards disabled people has changed, he believes it has changed positively.
Last year Kalis told the NEWS the council would take a stronger stance in the advocacy for the rights of disabled people.
“Since embarking on extensive awareness-raising activities over the past year, the council believes people’s attitudes towards persons with disabilities would have become more positive.”
He believes the change was brought on by providing abled-bodied community members with knowledge, insight and greater understanding.
Kalis described DRAM as a positive government initiative which creates awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities.
“Judging by the publicity it received and that it involved all government departments, I would say the campaign was a success.”
Another recent awareness event held by NCPD was the 2019 Nappy Run, which saw close to 500 participants take part.
Through the initiative community members contribute to the purchasing of nappies for children with disabilities.
Kalis said the run was a great success.
“By participating in the event, people also made a public stand for the rights of children with disabilities.
“The Nappy Run is very popular with persons with disabilities themselves and the event must be the most inclusive event of its kind in the country.”
Despite the change in perception, disabled people still face several challenges.
Some challenges identified by Kalis include:
1. Overall exclusion from mainstream society’s structures, resources, services and opportunities.
2. Unemployment.
3. Lack of access to educational opportunities and low levels of education.
4. Inaccessibility of the built and natural environment.
5. The widespread denial of the right to basic education of children with disabilities.
He said almost 600 000 children of schoolgoing age with disabilities do not attend school.
“It is not the impairments that disable persons with disabilities, they are disabled by society’s structural and attitudinal barriers to inclusion.”
Kalis highlighted that in order for South Africa to be entirely inclusive, society needs to celebrate diversity.
“Community members must respect the equality and rights of persons with disabilities so they are not perceived and treated as inferior human beings.”
He said the government should make ample provision for an inclusive budget in all departments.
