In the News

Nerves that sense touch may play a role in autism

“More than 70% of people with autism have differences in their sensory perception,” said study author Sung-Tsang Hsieh, M.D., Ph.D., of National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “For some people, even a light touch can feel unbearable while others may not even notice a cut on their foot. If larger studies can confirm these results, it is possible that further insight into the peripheral nervous system could help us understand how this disorder develops and potentially light the way for treating these distressing sensory symptoms that most people with autism experience.”

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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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Nathaniel Julies’ murder shows need for mental health training for police officers

The senseless murder of Eldorado Park teenager Nathaniel Julies calls for a wider conversation around managing people with intellectual disabilities or mental health disorders. According to the South African Federation for Mental Health, the shooting highlights the need for police officers to be trained on mental health conditions. Irresponsible policing Julies, who was born with

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Netflix’s ‘Rising Phoenix’, a story where disability is not an inability

Changing the way the world thinks about disability: In a story of hope and triumph, Paralympians from around the world show that disability is not an inability. “Rising Phoenix” a Netflix documentary tells the extraordinary story of the Paralympic Games. From the rubble of World War II to the third biggest sporting event on the

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Deaf people lose houses to land occupation

Khayelitsha occupation divides community leadership About 30 plots in Kuyasa reserved for deaf residents have been occupied. The plots had stood vacant because of long delays in getting housing subsidies. Community leaders promoting the occupation are accused of greed and selfishness. The illegal occupation of nearly 90 plots belonging to people waiting for housing subsidy

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Civil society sheds light on issues that visually impaired women face

Blind and visually impaired women face many issues on a daily basis. To commemorate Women’s Month, Blind SA held an urgent discussion with civil society groups to shed light on issues that visually impaired women face. This was part of a larger discussion held on 5 August which also addressed the education crisis for blind

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Ninth Wheelchair Wednesday Campaign launched in Port Elizabeth

The ninth Wheelchair Wednesday campaign was launched by SPAR Eastern Cape and the Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities (APD) with a special tribute to late president Nelson Mandela in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 18 July 2020. Local personalities from all walks of life were tasked to spend 67 minutes in a wheelchair to promote

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Don’t lose sight of the needs of the blind amid Covid-19 pandemic

At a time of increased physical distancing and retreat, those at the League of Friends of the Blind (Lofob) say kindness and communication is what is needed when interacting with the blind during the pandemic. The blind and those with visual impairments often rely on touch from the sighted. “We have our training programmes that

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