LATEST NEWS
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is held on 03 December.
This day is about raising awareness about the challenges that persons with disabilities face in their lives. It is a special call to rally around advancing rights, promoting equality and inclusion for persons with disability at all levels of society. It is also a time to reflect on the collective efforts of so many that have gone before, efforts that take place on a daily basis - a day to contemplate the challenges ahead and to hold steadfast in the belief in the possibility for positive change!
Click on the link below to add your voice to the Social Media Campaign.
UPDATE ON PROGRESS
WCFID made a submission to the Committee on Basic Education that draws the attention of the Committee to several concerns that the DBE presentation elicits about the education rights of children with severe to profound intellectual disability.
1. DBE does not provide ‘remedial measures’ for problems it identifies in the ‘problem statement’ despite civil society organizations repeatedly
raising these concerns with them, parliamentary committees, and the President, e.g.:
2. DBE’s inadequate and inequitable implementation of the court order WCFID obtained (2010) (Case No 18678/2007) on the education rights of out-of-school children with SPID who attend special care centres because public schools refuse to admit them based on their disability.
3. The misalignment of DBE’s description and definition of intellectual disability (ID) with DSM-5 and WHO descriptions and definitions, in particular, the definition of severe and profound intellectual disability (SPID) with resulting inappropriate programmes and curricula and resourcing and questionable reporting.
COMMEMORATING 16 JUNE 1976
THE SOWETO STUDENT UPRISING
On 16 June, we commemorate the 47-year anniversary of the Soweto Uprising. As we reflect on the battles fought by those before us, we remain mindful of the ongoing battles faced by our young people today.
Children with intellectual disability (high support needs) are still awaiting placement at schools. Their peers who have lower support needs are still awaiting employment opportunities. They are vulnerable to crime, exploitation, abuse and GBV. They are hit hardest by food insecurity, conflict, energy and political instability, inadequate housing, and unsafe and unreliable transport. ALL our youth deserve better!
IMPACT OF LOADSHEDDING
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
DISASTROUS IMPACT OF LOADSHEDDING ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR MEMBERS
We call on the President to address this matter urgently and share with the disability community and the general public:
- An implementation plan to safely resolve the energy crisis in plain English (and translations) with clear timeframes and performance indicators
and responsible entities.
- A turnaround plan to address budget cuts in real terms for socio-economic rights in the health, education and social development sectors.
- A turnaround plan to address the delay in progress to reach the objectives of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its
Implementation Matrix, and the National Development Plan. This delay exacerbates the suffering of persons in the disability community and
limits their enjoyment of equitable access to all their human rights.
Should you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Japtha, Advocay Manager: advocacy@wcfid.co.za
THE NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A HUMAN RIGHT TO FOOD:
ACCESS TO THE BASIC EDUCATION NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME (NSNP) FOR LEARNERS WITH SEVERE TO PROFOUND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY (SPID) AT SPECIAL CARE CENTRES
Since 2017, we have been advocating for access to the NSNP for children with intellectual disability (high support) who are excluded from public schools. In 2021 we sent a letter of motivation to the Western Cape Right to Education Task Team established in response our court order (Case 18678/2007).
• Our letter was submitted to the WCED HOD, who submitted it to the DBE DG.
• DBE responded with a visit to, and survey of, centres in August 2022.
• Currently, children with SPID at centres are still excluded from the NSNP.
At a time when poverty levels and the cost of living are soaring, children with SPID are left even more vulnerable. The Care Dependency Grant (CDG) cannot address their poverty and nutrition adequately.
Hungry children with disabilities demand DBE’s implementation plan with time frames to ensure that children with SPID at special care centres have urgent and accelerated access to the NSNP.
MEDIA STATEMENT: LEARNER TRANSPORT
DELIVERY OF A BUS FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE TO PROFOUND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ATTENDING A SPECIAL CARE CENTRE
Cape Town, 26 September 2022
The Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability shares the relief felt by one of our member centres, as they take delivery of a bus for the children at the centre in Khayelitsha. This is the fourth centre to receive a bus for children with severe to profound intellectual disability. The children have high support needs and require buses that are safe, accessible, and appropriate. For more information please contact Vanessa Japtha, Advocacy Manager: advocacy@wcfid.co.za
HEAR OUR VOICES - HEAR OUR MESSAGE
During 2021 the WCFID chatted to some young people with intellectual disability about their lives, their hopes and dreams. Young people with intellectual disability have the same interests, hobbies, hopes and dreams as their peers but feel they are not given the same opportunities to explore this and that they are unfairly judged. The International Disability Awareness Day, 03 December 2021, had the theme of ‘The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke – Create and Realise an Inclusive Society Upholding Rights of Persons with Disabilities’. Let’s listen to the voices of young people with disabilities and aim to build an inclusive society for their future.
SUBMISSIONS TO PARLIAMENT
WCFID SUBMISSION TO PARLIAMENT (portfolio Committee on Basic Education) BASIC EDUCATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. A missed opportunity to legislate and fund inclusive education and education for children with disabilities.
WCFID made a written submission and requested an opportunity to make an oral submission on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA Bill) `{`B2-2022`}` in June 2022. The written submission notes the Bill’s silence on inclusive education and education for children with disabilities, and specifically its silence on the right to education of learners with severe to profound intellectual disability.
It is silent on the systemic exclusion of learners who attend special care centres (NGOs). This silence undermines the rights of these learners to care, protection, dignity, equality, non-discrimination and education.
For more information, please contact Vanessa Japtha, Advocacy Manager at: advocacy@wcfid.co.za
