Disability Connect

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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Hollywood urged to cast more actors with disabilities

Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer is telling Hollywood to step up in regard to casting persons with disabilities, likening their lack of representation to the experiences of women and other minorities. In a public service announcement released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this past weekend, Spencer said the time is

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The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)

July is Mental Illness Awareness Month. Mental illness, and the stigma surrounding it, is a critical issue in South Africa. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is at the forefront of patient advocacy, education and destigmatisation of mental illness in the country. Its expertise lies in assisting patients and callers throughout South Africa

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Eliminating both physical and attitudinal barriers for students with disabilities

Duncan Yates is the Mental Health and Neurodiversity Co-ordinator at the Wits Disability Rights Unit (DRU) where he has been working in the field of disability support over the past 10 years. He has a Masters in Psychology from the University of Johannesburg and is also a Practicing Counselling Psychologist. As a person with a

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If you are depressed, does it mean you have a disability?

July is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity for Disability Connect to profile depression, one of the most prominent mental illnesses globally, and to confirm that in some cases, depression can and should be declared a disability. If you suffer from a mental illness like depression, does it mean you have a disability? According to an

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New research reveals strategies for global disability inclusion

90 per cent of businesses are recognising the importance of disabled employees and customers A new study of 120 global brands shows how over 90 per cent of businesses are recognising the importance of disabled employees and customers. The study is the first to consider how businesses are serving the needs of disabled people at

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Investing in the Mental Health of your Employees

July is Mental Health Awareness Month. Employers should be aware that mental illness in the workplace can lead to decreased productivity, poor work quality, and even compromised workplace safety. Employers should take proactive steps to identify and manage mental illness in the workplace. As South Africa was placed in lockdown since 26 March 2020, to

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Supporting Business Owners with Disabilities

While no business went unscathed by the national lockdown, small businesses felt the brunt of it. Fortunately, one organisation stepped up to help some businesses owned by quadriplegics and paraplegics. As South Africans were asked to stay home, many businesses were forced to close. For a small business or new businesses, a month or more

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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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