November is celebrated globally as Disability Awareness Month. The international theme proclaimed by the United Nations for this year is:

“Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development”.

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

A large number of people with disabilities remain excluded from social economic and political activities because of prejudice and false perceptions about what they can and cannot do.  The Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity for every single person and institution to remove these barriers and to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through concrete action.

In South Africa the period 03 November – 03 December has been declared Disability Rights Awareness Month.  A major focus of this month is awareness raising through practical action in order to sensitize citizens about norms and standards that guide processes that aim to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.  Such standards should assist all stakeholders in facilitating the participation of persons with disabilities in the social, economic and political life.

The South African Constitution recognizes the right of persons with disabilities as equal citizens of the country, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.

Yet, persons with disabilities, “the world’s largest minority”, continue to experience barriers to participation in all aspects of society. Barriers can take a variety of forms, including those relating to the physical environment or to information and communications technology (ICT), or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination. The result is that persons with disabilities do not have equal access to society or services, including education, employment, health care, transportation, political participation or justice.

Evidence and experience shows that when barriers to their inclusion are removed and persons with disabilities are empowered to participate fully in societal life, their entire community benefits. Barriers faced by persons with disabilities are, therefore, a detriment to society as a whole, and accessibility is necessary to achieve progress and development for all.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by South Africa in 2007, recognizes that the existence of barriers constitutes a central component of disability. Under the Convention, disability is an evolving concept that “results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

Let us support  Disability Month in raising awareness of  the challenges and difficulties that face our fellow South Africans daily.