This year the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) celebrates 25 years of Casual Day, its flagship project and the single most prominent and successful social advocacy campaign in South Africa.
The theme of Casual Day 2019 is ‘Time to Shine with Persons with Disabilities’.
Casual Day is about standing up for human rights as much as it’s about raising money. It’s about getting people to talk about inclusive policies across the public and private divide, and to demand an equitable, accessible world for persons with disabilities.
Therina Wentzel-Du Toit, national director at NCPD said, “South Africa must create public spaces and products that are completely accessible to both persons with, and without, disabilities. We need equity and accessibility at our schools, tertiary campuses and workplaces. We need public transport that works for everybody. Barriers must go. This is the only way to ensure that the human rights of persons with disabilities get the attention they deserve.
Therina returned recently to Johannesburg after a series of site-visits in Northern Cape, Limpopo and Free State.
“I am completely in awe of what Casual Day money has achieved in these provinces … in fact, all over South Africa. We have skills development centres where there were none before. These centres are giving persons with disabilities a means to earn a living, support their families and contribute to the economy.
“We have persons with disabilities who now have the assistive devices needed to engage in broader society. We are seeing more and more buildings that are accessible and workplaces that are inclusive, all thanks to money raised on Casual Day. It’s the 25th anniversary of Casual Day. We’re excited and we’re celebrating!”
Casual Day has achieved much, but there is still work to do, Therina said. To get this work done, Casual Day needs the support of all South Africans.
“We are especially grateful for the South African media and its fantastic support of Casual Day. Their work spreads awareness not only about Casual Day, but also about all disability matters in South Africa. We look forward to the continued support of the media going forward. 2019 is the year to shine brighter than ever and to inspire the world to shine with us. The last 25 years of Casual Day have shown that there is no limit to the brilliance that’s created when South Africans unite behind a cause like this.”
Show your support for maximum inclusion and go to https://www.casualday.co.za for more info.
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