By Alicia Mmashakana
The Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Department has launched the 2024 Disability Rights Awareness Month (Dram), committing to creating an inclusive society for people with disabilities.
Dram is celebrated globally as International Day of Persons with Disabilities from November 3 to December 3, emphasising the need for a better quality of life and the protection of the rights of people with disabilities.
“[We] encourage every sector of our society to make disability inclusion a permanent priority,” said Minster Sindisiwe Chikunga.
“Together, we are paving the way for a truly inclusive and accessible South Africa, where every person with a disability can thrive.”
The World Health Organisation estimates that people with disabilities account for 16% of the global population.
South Africa has approximately 3.3 million people with disabilities, however, this figure excludes those under the age of four and those who are institutionalised.
The department has identified the key priorities and interventions that will be implemented for persons with disabilities.
They include applying to Unesco for a Research Chair in Disability and Inclusion. This will allow the department to establish transformative regional and transnational knowledge networks, which will serve as critical hubs for developing disability-inclusive climate coalitions, alliances and solutions.
It will leverage the potential of AI and emerging digital technologies to improve the wellbeing and prospects of persons with disabilities.
A project with the Basic Education Department aims to profile the state of special schools in South Africa and the educational journeys of youth living with disabilities. Each special school will be paired with a state-owned company that will allocate social investment funds to support teaching and learning, assistive devices and infrastructure.
The department has also joined others in advocating a G20 Disability Inclusion Forum at ministerial level.
“This collective dedication, from national to local levels, underscores the theme of this year’s Dram, ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy: Creating a Disability-Inclusive Society for a Better Quality of Life’.”
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