Disability Connect

Deaf community hails new children’s book

The story of friendship brings inclusion and diversity into children’s literature, while highlighting the fight to officially recognise sign language in South Africa. Mpumi and Jabu’s Magical Day is a recently released children’s book by Lebohang Masango, a social anthropologist and the author of Mpumi’s Magic Beads,and Claudine Storbeck, the director and associate professor of the Centre […]

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Education still a pipe dream for many disabled South Africans

South Africa comes from a devastating past that was utterly defined by the enormity of the institutionalised racial system called apartheid. The provision of education under the apartheid government was premised along racial lines. To put it bluntly, during the apartheid era, education was racialised. There were separate education departments that existed for each of

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Why are mental disabilities still the elephant in the room?

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports that 23 South Africans commit suicide every day. However, despite the disturbing global statistics, mental illness remains the most stigmatised of all health conditions and those affected continue to be shamed and face

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National Down Syndrome Day is on 20 October: Employing persons with intellectual disabilities

About Down Syndrome Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder arising at the time of conception. This is caused by an excess in genetic material when an individual has an extra copy of chromosome 21, commonly refered to as Trisomy 21, which causes delays in physical and intellectual development. The exact cause of Down syndrome is

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Lego launches new bricks to help blind children learn braille

The LEGO Foundation and the LEGO Group roll out the first wave of the program in partnership with local sight loss organizations to help children with vision impairment learn critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration through play. LEGO® Braille Bricks will be launched in twenty countries over the next six months following successful pilot program

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What others see as a disability is in fact an enabler

In a recent article on Disability Connect, we ran the story about Karabo Nguyuza, whose guesthouse had been declared the best in Tembisa by Gauteng Women in Tourism (WiT). We caught up with Karabo, who is writing a book about her experiences, to ask her more about herself, her motivation and her business. When diagnosed with polio at the age of 10, Karabo

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Don’t pursue a career. Pursue moments.

Rory Preddy, Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft South Africa, shares some insights into the challenges facing employees with disabilities in SA, the potential for AI and advances in technology to be a great transformer, and his experience working for multinational technology company Microsoft. 1. What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges for persons

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‘Art of Blindness’ online auction aims to raise R1-million for World leading cyber security programme

“We are blinded…by possibilities” – Hein Wagner The Hein Wagner Academy, a place of learning, development and progression, for those with sight and without based in Worcester, South Africa, aims to raise one-million Rand with an exclusive art auction. The funds raised will go towards expanding the world’s first training and certification program enabling blind

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