The City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department today, Tuesday 3 December 2019, celebrated International Day for Persons with Disabilities(IDPD) with a successful event held at the Belhar Indoor Sports Centre. The event gave residents who are differently abled the opportunity to participate in the programme.

The United Nations IDPD theme for 2019 is Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda. The event was a reflection of this year’s theme and increased the awareness that differently abled persons are an integral part of the community and contributes towards community cohesion.

Participants took part in the fun-filled programme that included activities such as interactive drumming and wheel chair dancing as well as various guest speakers who are differently abled.

‘Residents in our communities should all have equal opportunities to participate in society and be proud members of their neighbourhood without having to be referred to as a person with a disability. The City of Cape Town has the responsibility to improve accessability and create opportunities for people who are differently abled to contribute towards quality of life. This is what the event was all about to increase awareness that we are all abled and if we give residents the opportunity to participate and to contribute we will build a sense of pride in communities,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

The City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department planned the commemorative day closely with the Western Cape Network on Disability (the Network) a body that is representative of many organisations in the disability sector. The event demonstrated a close partnership between the City and the Network and aimed to promote:

an understanding of disability issues

the rights of persons with disabilities

gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of social, economic, political and cultural life

In addition, the day marks the beginning of the Disability Awareness Month.

The day also provided an opportunity to mobilise action to achieve the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society, established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982.

The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many barriers to inclusion in key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment, and education as well as social and political participation.

‘Persons with disabilities should be able to participate on an equal basis with others. There should not be a difference based on a disability and we should rather focus on the ability of an individual . The ability of individuals who are differently abled is often impacted by attitudes based on stigma and discrimination and a lack of understanding.

‘We should all assist by promoting empowerment, a better understanding of the challenges and create opportunities for people who are differently abled. We all have the ability to contribute big or small to a quality community life. I would like to thank all who participated in the event and made it such a great day. Let us all be ambassadors in making a difference for the better in our communities,’ said Councillor Badroodien.

Source: City Of Cape Town