People with disabilities continue to lack access to adequate health and basic education and are at risk of economic isolation with no prospect of securing employment. Five years on and with the unprecedented effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, this situation demands urgent attention.
The need to mainstream disabled workers in the formal economy Read More »
Flu symptoms, body aches, fatigue and an inability to smell were the first signs of Thandi’s Covid infection in May last year. Even without the positive test result, she knew she’d been hit hard by the virus. She describes the fatigue as “next level”, turning simple daily activities like showering, dressing and walking around her
The impact of Long Covid in the workplace Read More »
Durban-based barista, Kgune Dlamini, is fluent in sign language, and for the second year in a row, has taken home the Barista of the Year award. “”The two go hand-in-hand, as his passion for communication skills sees him focusing not only on making a great cup of coffee, but also making his customer’s day that
Meet Kagune Dlamini – A master of coffee and sign language Read More »
Low expectations, stigmas and discriminatory preconceived notions about capabilities have long limited opportunities for persons with disabilities. In recent years, however, there has been much dialogue and activism focused on changing this culture of fear and misrepresentation. Here’s why hiring people with disabilities is a win-win. An untapped gold mine of talent According to Statista,
Why everyone wins when companies become more inclusive Read More »
While the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities may be widely acknowledged, demystifying and highlighting the largely marginalised disability sector as well as the sourcing and accessing of relevant skills within this sector often continue to pose a challenge. On Friday 23 October, a Workplace Readiness Programme brought together hundreds of skilled learners, associations, and
Hundreds of students with disabilities benefit from Work Readiness Programme Read More »
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
Why are mental disabilities still the elephant in the room? Read More »
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
What others see as a disability is in fact an enabler Read More »
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
Don’t pursue a career. Pursue moments. Read More »
“Accessibility” in the digital space means that digital platforms, like websites, mobile apps, social channels and PDFs, should be readable, operable and functional to all users – especially people with disabilities. It is an issue that is rapidly gaining attention in many spheres, including social, economic and legal domains. Accessibility is part of diversity and
Digital accessibility and why it matters Read More »
The benefits for people with disabilities While there are few silver linings amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, remote work is definitely one. The nationwide lockdown forced many businesses to suddenly enable its workforce to work from home or remotely. Although it has been around for some time, the concept wasn’t widely adopted in South Africa.
Home offices – The Future of Work? Read More »
