SOUTH Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually between November 3 and December 3.
Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity for the removal of societal barriers and to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through concrete action.
The Merewent Cheshire Home, a residential facility that caters for adults with physical disabilities, believes that this should be done through a realistic and proactive approach.
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“Everyone has equal rights but this won’t look the same to everyone. For example, some people living with disabilities don’t get to go to school because special needs schools are far. Sometimes they can do Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) but you’ll find that the facilities where it is offered are not wheelchair friendly.
“For those who are able to do ABET and would like to attempt the National Senior Certificate (NSC), may struggle to write and therefore can’t attempt their exams. So therefore they are denied their right to basic education and fair access to work opportunities because the system does not accommodate their physical impairments. There is a gap that is not being addressed,” said Merewent Cheshire Home social worker, Samara Hughes who believes that more schools and public facilities should be disability-friendly.
Sharing similar sentiments was the organisation’s manager, Winnie Mkhize who shared that the government still needs to ensure that there is the implementation of equal rights for all in reality.
“Government needs to look into its strategies that they have put down on paper and analyse whether their goals are being achieved. The government also needs to work away from secluding the disabled but instead integrate them into society,” said Mkhize.
Access to public transport, housing, education and job requirements and opportunities were noted as the main existing restrictions and challenges that affected persons living with disabilities.
“The government needs to look at proposals from people with disabilities because they are the ones who understand exactly what they are going through. When it comes from them, it will be with so much passion, understanding and love for their peers,” added Mkhize.
Asked what the hardest part of their jobs was, Hughes said, “When we have all these big ideas but we do not have enough resources to see them through. This frustrates our residents and is disheartening for me as their social worker.”
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“To see the look of disappointment on our resident’s faces when they have been told ‘No, you can’t’. They put in so much effort to go after an opportunity only to be looked down upon and rejected because of their disability. It is heartbreaking for me to see that,” said Mkhize.
Friday, December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and is also celebrated as National Disability Rights Awareness Day.
The Merewent Cheshire Home plans to host an awareness walk to commemorate the day.
“We’d like to invite people with disabilities and the greater public to spread awareness in the community. We’ll be giving out pamphlets and information about disabilities and where people can seek support services. Our theme this year is ‘invisible disabilities’. There are many people around who have disabilities that we can’t see, so we’ll have various speakers who will educate and inform attendees on the topic,” said Mkhize.
There will also be a Bollywood grand musical show at the Liberty Hall in aid of the home’s funds and as part of the disability celebration on Saturday, 27 November. Tickets are still available for sale upon request at the home.
As the year draws to a close, the organisation will treat its residents to a fun outing at Blue Lagoon on Friday, December 10 as well as host a Christmas party on Wednesday, December, 15.
The home appeals to the greater public for support and sponsorships towards their upcoming events as well as any interested groups to do Christmas decor at the home.
The Merewent Cheshire Home is situated at 15 Eksteen Road, (the corner of Eksteen and Tiflin Roads in Merewent). For more information contact Winnie Mkhize on 079 341 6435 or the Merewent Cheshire Home on 031 468 1667.
