Invitation to a Special Concert in a Special Place

Press Release


Cape Town Stadium is proud to host Filia School’s Laduma concert in celebration of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup®.
Filia School is a special needs educational facility from Goodwood. This is the third, and final, annual concert that they have been staging in the build up to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup®, due to start on 11th June.

The concert performed by the children at the school celebrates the cultural diversity of our world. It is fitting that this final event should be held in the newly completed, accessible, Cape Town Stadium. It will be the last event before the stadium will be handed over to FIFA for the event in June. We hope to join with the children in welcoming the overseas visitors to South Africa, and to celebrate the new, world class facility we have here in Cape Town.
We would like to invite you, your colleagues, and your children to this special event.

    Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2010


    Time: 10h00 – 12h00


    Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Please note this is a free event, although we will be asking for donations for future events for the school.

We are hoping that we shall be joined by the local & international media, local dignitaries, family & friends. Please join us for the very special event. Should you require any further information, please contact the school directly on 021 592 1361/2/3, fax 021 592 1369.
Filia School is a training centre for learners between the ages of 4 and 18 years who are physically and intellectually challenged. Learners attending the school have severe physically disabilities such as those caused by cerebral palsy or genetic abnormalities. In this environment every effort is made to provide the learners with quality education specially designed to meet their particular needs and technology has to be specially adapted to cater for their requirements.

Some comments sent to the school from the last concert:

• Filia You’ve done it again!!

• What a wonderful morning!!!

• You tugged at my heart strings.

• How talented your children are

• Thanks to such a dedicated staff.

• I take my hat off to you

• Thanks to your dedication your patience, your love.

• I salute you

• This calls for a repeat. Please!

• Others need to see this!

• It was such a joy to see your learners on stage yesterday.

• Keep doing the lovely uplifting work that you do.

• My compliments to you & your staff for having such an appropriate and spectacular event just before world cup soccer.

• The whole production touched my heart.

• My wife and I were privileged to attend your concert; it was great

• Just to inform you what a soul refreshing time we had.

Polished Apartheid

Discrimination with style.


Maybe I should wait a while to calm down before posting this. The following may get deleted, as my blood pressure drops.

I thought that every (volcanic) cloud has a silver lining… Well I was wrong. What I should have realised is that I always get the shitty end of the stick again.

A good friend is in the international tourism business. He had arranged for a whole trip (for a BMW promotion) to fly a group out from Germany, and show them around South Africa, prior to the World Cup. One of the "highlights" of the trip was to have been a trip on the famous Blue Train, from Cape Town to Pretoria. But the flight restrictions meant that they could not fly out… So this friend had to cancel what he could, but he could not cancel the train, as he had booked out the whole train. So he contacted all his friends, offering us a trip on the Blue Train at a really good price (normally the trip from Cape Town to Pretoria is over R10,000 per person).

So, as it is my birthday coming up, and my wife felt that we deserved a break after a really hectic few months, we joined the trip. Now, our friend obviously knows that I am a wheelchair user, and double checked with the Blue Train management that the train was accessible. We were informed that the whole train is fully accessible, and that there is a specific cabin for wheelchair users. So we booked…and paid several thousand Rand over. We also booked return flights, and then last night, took my car to the airport, so we would be able to get home again when we flew back on Sunday night. We were really excited about the trip; the Blue Train is famous all around the world, and having the whole train full of our friends promised to be a once in a lifetime experience…

So this early this morning, we were collected by the minibus we organised, and drove through to Cape Town Station. We were greeted in the Blue Train lounge with champagne and bucks fizz, and checked in. Our wheelchair accessible cabin was booked… So we caught up with all our friends, and excitedly discussed the trip ahead. Then we were called to the train…

I began to get a sinking feeling with the way that the staff were treating me. Each of them trying to push me, even though I each time told them that I prefer to roll myself…and have no handles on my wheelchair for that reason. So we get taken to the train, and the feeling sank a bit further when the doorway into the train was a typical narrow door.

    "Can you walk a few steps?" Hmmm…sink a bit more…

    "No, I am sorry, I cannot walk or even stand at all"

    "oh…." Sinking fast now.

They then 'find' the train's wheelchair, which is a bit narrower than my own wheelchair, and inform me that I will have to use that. OK…even though I am much more comfortable in my own wheelchair, and the wheelchair they offer is certainly not in keeping with the 5 star plushness of the rest of the train; it looks a really tatty old thing. The baggage trolleys look much smarter!

But even that narrow wheelchair cannot fit through the door... They all scratch their heads for a while…delaying the train. Friends begin to come out of their cabins to see what the problem is. Some of them offer well meaning, but useless advice… I am really sinking fast now… No ramp, no way in… And the departure time has now been passed. So…against my wife's advice, I bum shuffle onto the train, and lift myself into their narrow wheelchair. OK, at least I am on now…and hopefully the crowd will dissipate.

So I roll down the narrow corridor (there is no way my wheelchair would fit), thinking that it is pretty stupid to have the wheelchair accessible cabin so far from the dining car & bar… The smoking lounge is also at the opposite end of the train…never mind… So I decided to check the "accessible cabin".

Now remember that this costs over R10,000 per person, and I could have been a traveller from Europe for this experience. Surely the cabin will be fantastic, to make up for this… But that sinking feeling is still with me, and going down, as I graze my knuckles down the corridor… I get to the cabin, but I cannot manoeuvre the tiny wheelchair through the door… It is impossible…

Oh, no, this is getting worse!

So my 'butler' lifts the wheelchair across and into the cabin…but I still can't get in. I am stuck in the doorway, as the furniture inside (the specific wheelchair cabin) means that a wheelchair cannot get in. So I am lifted out of the room again. Still the train has not moved, and I warn the manager not to let it leave until we have this sorted… The furniture is then lifted out of the room…and I am lifted back in… But then I try to get into the one suite bathroom, and no way. The door from the "wheelchair accessible" cabin into its "wheelchair accessible" bathroom is too narrow to fit a wheelchair through.

At this stage there are tears rolling down my wife's face… I am feeling shit, for again being the reason for spoiling another nice weekend… This is not going to work… So I decide to get off… If I cannot go to the toilet, get into bed, and have to be assisted in and out of my room, I am not going to be good company for this weekend. My wife wants to get off with me, but, through her tears, I convince her to stay on, and to enjoy the weekend with our friends. The staff look on hopeless… The manager is getting increasingly irate calls asking why the train is delayed… They all look suitably embarrassed. I am keeping my increasing anger under control. Several friends come along, and try to remonstrate with the staff, but I point out it is not their fault, and I do not want to spoil all their weekends… So I reverse down the corridor, and bum shuffle off the train, back into my wheelchair… The crowd has reformed, and while keeping my anger under control, I squirm in their collective sympathetic looks and comments. They all mean well, but I just need to get out of here.
The train manager assures me that someone will come to collect me, and they will arrange for a taxi to take me to the airport to collect my car. I kiss my wife, and tell her to enjoy the trip…while she wishes me a happy birthday… Our other friends look on helpless…

The doors close, and the train pulls out of the station…

But no one comes, as expected… So I make my own way back to the lounge. There is only the receptionist there…everyone else has gone. She then phones to ask for a taxi to the airport, and I decide to leave before I say or do something that I may later regret. Having to pay (R200) for my own taxi did not help my mood… I think the taxi driver could sense there was something wrong…as I was not able to enter a conversation with him… Angry that we were all given false information… Angry that a world recognised icon of South African tourism is not accessible… Angry that I have left a bad taste of the weekend with my friends… Angry that I cannot enjoy this special adventure… Angry that it has upset my wife… Angry that I can't enjoy my birthday surprise… Angry that the management compounded their mistakes by not following through, and leaving me to pay for the taxi… Angry that the situation has embarrassed my friend who organised the trip…. Angry that I was put in the situation where all my friends could see my predicament, and angry that they are all feeling sorry for me now… Angry that I have hurt my shoulders & skinned my knuckles more getting into and out of, and around an inaccessible train… Angry that a 5 star luxurious facility has absolutely no idea of how to deal with people with disabilities… Angry that I have been discriminated against directly because of my disability… Angry that I am missing out on a once in a lifetime experience… Angry that something as well known as the Blue Train all around the world is blatantly breaking South African laws, and ignorant of the responsibilities it has under our constitution…. Angry not only that they are inaccessible, but that they claim to be accessible, which makes it worse...

Really angry…

I shall calm down slowly over the weekend at home alone… Next week I shall write them a long letter, explaining where they went wrong, and how they need my company's services to ensure that they comply with their responsibilities as a South African company. But not just yet. I am too angry. I have been excluded from joining my friends for a wonderful weekend, because of my disability. This is the same (in the eyes of the law) as kicking me off, because I have the wrong colour skin. Let no one tell you that we have got rid of Apartheid in South Africa. I got a dose of it today. I know how it feels to be excluded, discriminated against. Sod "Previously" disadvantaged individuals, how about trying to fix things for "Currently" disadvantaged individuals??

Just had a phone call from a tearful wife… She tells me that the friend who has organised the trip is feeling really awful, as are a number of our friends… There was talk apparently of them all getting off the train in support of me, but my wife pleaded with them not to do that, as it would only make me feel worse…

I need to go and kill something now...

Challenge to the Premier of Gauteng Province

OK, maybe it is not hard to offend me these days. But the recent speech by the Premier of Gauteng really rattled me:

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has called on people living with disabilities to “stop relying on social grants and become active participants in the country’s economy”.

Nice...if only if it were that easy!!! This is so offensive on many levels. It makes the assumption that all people with disabilities are just sitting back, happy to sponge of the state...expecting everything to be handed to us.

Thankfully, I do not live in your province, but I do visit it, regularly. I do know many people with disabilities who do live in your province, and have to face dreadful conditions, and discriminations every day, due to YOUR inabilities to apply the existing legislation that we have.

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we are barred from using public transport?
• We have laws, which should mean that all forms of public transport are fully accessible to all, and yet YOU preside over a province which has transport facilities which are inaccessible to many PWD.

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we are not able to access state schools?
• We have a Department of Education White paper which calls for an inclusive educational system, and yet YOU are premier of a province, where most of the schools & tertiary educational establishments are inaccessible to PWD. We have been working with a particular university in YOUR province, which accepts that it is grossly inaccessible, and wants to address these issues, but has no funding (from YOU) to do so.

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we cannot move safely about your cities?
• I challenge YOU to spend a day in a wheelchair with me, touring around YOUR cities, and you will find several occasions where we will be risking our lives, as we have to roll down streets amongst the (inaccessible) minibuses, because YOU have not done anything about providing accessible pavements (curb cut outs, blister paving, etc., etc.)

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we cannot find employment?
• The country has the Employment Equity act requiring YOU to ensure that a minimum of 2% of your workforce are people with disabilities, and YOU are nowhere close to even that pathetically low figure! Once YOU start getting close to the real figure (10 - 20% of any society can be viewed as PWD, then you can start issuing such challenges.

Your speech is sickening, and patronising! I write as a person living with a disability, who has never received a hand out in my life (merely because I was fortunate in my circumstances). But your words speak of a massive lack of understanding of the needs of people with disabilities within your province. The vast majority of people with disabilities do want to work...they don't want to try to live on the pittance of a Disability allowance that is paid to them. But they cannot because YOU have not done your job properly. You preside over a province which allows active discrimination against all people with disabilities every day. How dare you insult us, by suggesting that PWD want to be reliant, and not financially independent. There are so many PWD, living in your province who have no education, no way of leaving their homes, and even if they do leave they face such challenges that you seem completely ignorant of. To release this crass statement on the International Day of People living with Disabilities is sickening.

I have a mind to try to arrange a meeting with you...in any building belonging of your choice, belonging to the Gauteng Province. If I can find any access issues with the building then I shall bring a case against you, and your province in terms of the Equality Act. By barring me from any part of the building due to my disability, would be the same as barring me due to my skin colour. If I cannot find any problem...then I am willing to put a full page apology in the national papers, along with a naked picture of myself… Are YOU up for the challenge???

Please remember, People with Disabilities do not want special treatment. We do not want to live off the state. All we want is the same chances as everyone else. We will know when we have true equality when people with disabilities get the same lousy damn service as everyone else. We don't want your money, your sympathy, or your words. We DEMAND our rights. The same rights as everyone else, which your province ignores on a daily basis.

We will know when we have true equality when people with disabilities get the same lousy damn service as everyone else. We don't want your money, your sympathy, or your words. We DEMAND our rights. The same rights as everyone else, which your province ignores on a daily basis.

So Premier, stop relying on words, and inaction, and start making active steps to ensure that PWD can become active in your province. We expect, and have a right to: accessible homes, accessible public transport, accessible public buildings, accessible cities, and streets, accessible schools, colleges, universities. We demand that YOU obey the laws of the land, and meet the targets set by the Employment Equity Act. We demand that every single part of every single public building is accessible to all...

Apartheid by design: Disabled people in PMB

For fear of being accused of a little self promotion, and I would hardly call myself an "Activist", this is a brilliant article:

ONCE upon a time in South Africa, buildings had separate entrances and facilities for people of different races. The practice was outlawed as discriminatory along with the policy that created it: apartheid.

That discredited philosophy was replaced with a Constitution hailed for its commitment to human rights that is also enshrined in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000. Despite this, another kind of apartheid still operates: discrimination against people with disabilities. Inaccessible environments have been called “apartheid by design”.

Have a look at the full article, and please comment!!

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product (e.g., device, service, environment, building etc.) is accessible by as many people as possible. That is easy isn't it?

Well, no, it is not that easy. I want to explain what accessibility is all about, and why you need to think carefully about it.

I was looking to book a B & B for myself. So, like most people, in the modern world, I fired up my web browser and began to search for accommodation in the area where I want to go. It is a popular area, and I shall be travelling there out of season, so there was plenty of choice. Or at least it appeared that there was plenty of choice. As I am a wheelchair user I need to find accommodation which is accessible. Now, according to regulations, and establishment offering more than 25 beds has to be accessible…but we all know that laws like that are not enforced, and just plain forgotten about here. So once I narrowed down my choice, I had to contact each of the establishment to find out if they are accessible.

This goes back to the understanding of what is accessible.

Me: "Excuse me, I would like to come and stay with you, are you accessible to wheelchair users?"

Them: "Yes, we are, can I take your booking?"

M: "So you have an accessible room?"

T: "Yes, we do. It is a large room, with a large bathroom, with enough space for a wheelchair."

M: "Great, so the WC has grab handles, so I can transfer, and the shower is a roll in shower with a seat then?"

T: "……………..oh……..err……..no. There are no handrails, and the shower is up a step"

M: "so I guess you are not accessible then?"

T: "no, I suppose we are not."

M: "thank you for your help, but unless I am able to use the loo, and take a shower when staying with you, I shall have to take my money elsewhere. It is a shame, as looking at your website, we were looking forward to staying with you."

This basic conversation has no been repeated at 6 different locations…with basically the same outcome. And this is the problem, that many people face on a daily basis not just with accommodation, but restaurants, shops, transport, houses, etc. I am not writing this, looking for sympathy, or as a sob story, but to try to explain how accessibility may effect any of us, at any time.

• Accessibility comes down to a way of thinking, it is about giving a shit about other people.
• Accessibility is not just a tick box.
• Accessibility is a mind-shift.
• Accessibility is a personal issue.
• Accessibility is a business issue
• Accessibility is a human rights issue.

There are some excellent laws in place (such as the Equality Act) which outlaw discrimination such as this. But I would hope that people do not always have to be forced into providing accessibility. There is a clear business case. Each one of these establishments has lost my business, and the business of my family. Had one of them been able to accommodate me in comfort and safety, then I would have told others (as unfortunately, it is still unusual to find accessible facilities in South Africa).

Can I give you all a challenge? For the rest of the day, imagine that you join the 10-20% of society who live with a disability? Imagine, that you lose your sight, or the use of your legs, or your hearing, or whatever. Take a look around you. Could you continue doing what you are doing now? Could you even get to where you are now? If the answer is no, then does that loss of ability have a direct bearing on your activity, or could that activity be adapted so that you could still carry it out with a disability? If the answer is yes…then double check. Have you made the same mistake as the example above and assumed accessibility. Is there a step at the entrance to your building? Is there a toilet that a person in a wheelchair could use? And this even applies if you are at home, and not at work. Maybe a family member or a close friend becomes disabled (86% of people with disabilities were not born with the disability). Could they visit you? Do you give a shit??

The Presidency to host National Disability Summit, 28 to 29 Jul

This should be interesting...but potentially just more hot air?

The Presidency to host National Disability Summit, 28 to 29 Jul

Sad reflection on the status of people with disabilities in China

Recently I read an article in the Times which pulled apart a document produced by the Chinese to "advise" people who to treat people with disabilities in preparation for the upcoming Paralympics. It really made some sad reading, especially given that there are approx 83 million people with disabilities living in China (which is equal to the entire population of Germany).

"The guide for Chinese volunteers at the Games this summer explains that disabled people are a “special group” with “unique personalities and ways of thinking”.

The section of the manual entitled “Skills for helping the disabled” goes on to say: “Some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling . . . defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority."

So then I began to think about how people with disabilities are treated here, in South Africa. I am afraid to say that in many cases we are just as bad, and in some areas we are worse. Recently, I was asked to give a talk to a group of business people in Jo'burg on the integration of Disability. What shocked me was what the speaker before me was saying. He runs some rehabilitation centres for people with disabilities and he was speaking from his experience of running them. His main thrust was that newly disabled people have usually "lost their connection with god" and the first step to rehabilitation HAS to be making that connection. Because I was being paid to speak, it would have been inappropriate for me to shout him down (although I did correct that when it came to my own turn!!!). I really feel so sorry for all the people in his "care". Now, I will admit that I have met many newly disabled people, whose faith has helped them come to terms with their disability. I would not deny that, and I have seen that it does work for some people. However, I have also seen the complete reverse, where a person's faith or religion has really had a huge negative effect on a person's recovery. Some people (including the sad, deluded, Oprah -inspired, "the secret-loving", mindless eejuts) actually believe that a disability is a punishment from a god for some sin committed. I have been informed that I am in a wheelchair for that reason on more than one occasion. How would a person begin to come to terms with that? It is awful, and the proponents of this sick way of thinking should be ashamed with the hurt and negative impact that they may cause. Fortunately, for me, I do not believe that there is any god or supernatural being, but I can only imagine the really deep psychological issues that a believer may feel if they think that way or are told that.

In some sections of society in South Africa, a person with a disability is viewed as an embarrassment, as they really think that it is some form of punishment on either the individual or even the family. For this reason the person is often hidden away from society. I have found people who have not been out of their shack (or even their family's up market house...it is not just certain sections of society) for years. They carry a massive amount of guilt for what they think they are putting their family through.

Of course, there is sometime guilt involved with newly disabled people, depending on individual circumstances. I felt very guilty as my disability was initiated through sport (something I did not have to do), and also that I did not appear to have the same earning potential as before (this coupled with having to spend a lot of my savings, which had been put aside for children's education and the like. I also felt like less of a man. I would suggest that they are all pretty normal issues that many people have to come to terms with. But add a sick religious (or perhaps supernatural belief in the case of 'the secret" believers) dimension on top of that, and that must make that guilt feel almost unbearable for some people.

86% of people with disabilities gain their disability through their lives (only 14% were born with the disability). 10 - 20% of any population are disabled. People with disabilities are just people who live with different impairments. We are not (necessarily!) sinners, or saints! Get rid of the labels!! We are all in this together. Some people with disabilities may require your assistance at times - but either wait to be asked, or please ask before providing it. If you go to shake someone's hand and you are given a stump to shake, then bloody well shake that. If the person has problems speaking, then please don't try to finish the words or sentences for them. Don't pet their guide dogs when the dogs are in harness. Don't stare. If a child asks you why that person is in a wheelchair / blind / walks funny / looks funny / whatever, then give the child a sensible answer (dependent on their age) after all there are the disabled and those people who are temporarily able, and tomorrow it may be you or the child who is the one being asked about. If you happen to believe that your version of your god is the sort that disables people as a punishment, then please keep that to yourself, and I hope that you would find a way to live with that belief if you ever become disabled yourself...

E Molewa on priority provincial disability programme

Some more political promises - we need to monitor to see if they are actually delivered.

E Molewa on priority provincial disability programme: "'The programme includes, amongst others, commitments on economic empowerment of people with disabilities, improving the internal capacity to manage the disability programme, increasing accessibility of services to persons with disabilities and broadening their participation in decision-making processes,' Premier Edna Molewa said today at the Provincial Legislature.

Tabling the Budget Vote for the Office of the Premier, Ms Molewa said she was honoured to report to the Provincial Legislature that her office has ensured that the disability sector is represented in all working groups of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) as promised last year.

This financial year, she said, the Office of the Premier will launch the Provincial Disability Machinery that will ensure the mainstreaming of disability issues across all sectors including government, business, labour, academic Institutions, religious bodies and all civil society organisations.

'The office on the status of people with disabilities will also convene a Provincial Disability Summit to develop a medium-term provincial plan on disability. This will be succeeded by the finalisation of establishment of municipal disability forums in all municipalities,' said Ms Molewa.

Again, they will also develop a database of people with disabilities this year."

Colony Collapse Disorder : Blogging Against Disablism Day � Andrea’s Buzzing About:

This is a great post from another blog, Andrea's Buzzing About, which gets you thinking...

Colony Collapse Disorder : Blogging Against Disablism Day � Andrea’s Buzzing About:: "The honeybees are in danger.

I don’t care; I hate bugs!

Too few people with disabilities complete their education or are fully employed.

That’s not my problem; I don’t know any of Those People.

Curiously, these two things are more related than you might imagine, at least on the social level."

E Pahad on rights of people with disabilities during Imbizo Week

We have heard these sort of promises from different politicians before. But I would encourage public promises like this as it does raise awareness. So full marks to the Minister for this promise. My follow up question would be how? We do need to get more people with disabilities into employment, but in order to do that there is much ground work that needs to be done. It is not as simple as just going out to employ these people. Often many PWD have had no work and limited educational experience. There are often barriers for them to access the work place, both physical, and also attitudinal (other peoples' perceptions). What we don't want to witness is the usual stereotyping and merely employing blind telephonists which we see so often...

E Pahad on rights of people with disabilities during Imbizo Week: "Minister in the Office of the Presidency Essop Pahad has reiterated government's commitment to improving the living conditions of the disabled.

Speaking in Jane Furse, Limpopo during an Imbizo held as part of the government's Imbizo Week programme, he said government was doing all possible to meet its 2010 deadline of employing a minimum of two percent public servants with disabilities. Minister Pahad was responding to a question raised during the Imbizo about unfair treatment and less opportunities for the disabled in the workforce.

'It is the policy of this government that by 2010 we have within the public service at least two percent of our total staff being those with disabilities. This is a commitment we are working hard to achieve,' he said."

Exhibition of "Aesthetic and Disability" in Cape Town

There is an exhibition taking place in Cape Town (Civic Centre) called "Aesthetic and Disability" from 2nd to 29th February.

In a bid to change the way society looks at disabled people and to celebrate their beauty, the City of Cape Town is to launch a photo exhibition featuring French models with various forms of disability.

Now, while I applaud any effort to raise awareness around Disability, there is a potential aspect of this exhibition which I fear could become similar to the old, horrible, circus activity of inviting people to come and look at "the Freak Show" (bearded ladies, small people, etc.). But possibly I am guilty of pre-judging this, and it would seem that the photographers themselves are disabled, and so that may indicate that this issue will be addressed. I don't know, but I will be going to have a look myself.

The bit that did get my blood pressure to rise though, was a comment made by one of the photographers; I can only assume that he believed what the politicians were telling him... Deza Nguembock said, "I am thrilled that the world premiere is taking place in Africa, where people with disabilities are not set apart, but form an integral part of society." WHAT???! Maybe we have had different experiences, or maybe he needs to appease the politicians who are providing the sponsorship of this exhibition. But I would defy any person with a disability to not feel set apart, or to be able to form an integral part of society in Cape Town. The reality is the complete reverse to Mr Nguembock's statement.

If you are in Cape Town during this period, then please pay this exhibition a visit, and send me your view. I shall be going, and will put my feelings down here afterwards.

I suppose art is meant to stimulate, and it does not have to be comfortable...

Rolling Rains Report:: Steak & Shake: Where ADA Compliance has Been Taken Off the Menu!

This should make all businesses and restaurants think...

Rolling Rains Report:: Steak & Shake: Where ADA Compliance has Been Taken Off the Menu!: "Americans with disabilities spend more than $13.6 billion annually on travel. The Open Doors Organization calculated that in 2003, persons with disabilities or reduced mobility spent 35 billion dollars in restaurants. According to the same study, more than 75% of these people eat out at restaurants at least once a week."

Rolling Rains Report:: Press Release: Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention

Come on South Africa...we need ratification...and MUCH work to catch up. You tried to portray South Africa as at the forefront of this important work...they are looking like empty words as each day passes...

Rolling Rains Report:: Press Release: Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention: "Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention
RI Calls on Governments to Recognize the Human Rights of All by Ratifying the CRPD"

P Jordan on people with disabilities

This is exciting news...I really hope that it turns into action. Of course I applaud the move. Although I must admit that I smiled, when you see how a politician announces this...as though it is a huge favour, and we all need to be suitably thankful. The reality is that if access is not provided to places of culture, then they are in direct contravention of (their own) laws, and open to court action.

P Jordan on people with disabilities: "12 December 2007

The Ministry of Arts and Culture has pledged R162 million over the next three years to make cultural facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. The plan was announced by Minister Pallo Jordan as part of the government's plan to improve the plight of people with disabilities.

He said the funds earmarked for the three forthcoming years are R39 million for 2008, R43 million for 2009 and R80 million for 2010. 'We have detailed information on the provision that has been made for the upgrading of security and access for person with disabilities at the department's public entities.'

'These would include places like museums, playhouses and other institutions that bring people together to not only enjoy artistic expressions but witness and experience the heritage of our beautiful country,' said Minister Jordan. In fact, buildings and structures built since 1994 have disabled access, while older ones have had to be renovated and adapted.

At present the department is in the process of ascertaining the requirements of the public entities in terms of security and accessibility. A service provider will be appointed in the near future to report on the current status. 'The upgrade of security and accessibility for persons with disabilities is a priority to make the arts accessible to all the people of the country,' said Minister Jordan."

Airlines warned not to bar disabled | The Australian

I wonder if some local airlines are taking note of this... Perhaps it would be a good time to finally go ahead with the court action against Nationwide Airlines, before they completely disappear!?

Airlines warned not to bar disabled | The Australian: "'It's fine for low-cost or budget airlines to reduce services,' human rights commissioner Graeme Innes said yesterday. 'But not carrying passengers with disabilities can't be part of those reductions and to do so is against the law. 'As commissioner, I intend to ensure wherever I can that airlines meet their obligations to all passengers, not just passengers without disabilities.' Tiger is offering affected passengers a full refund and says the problem stems from the inability of its third-party ground handler to obtain special hydraulic devices capable of lifting wheelchairs on to planes. It did not expect the lifters to be available at all destinations until the end of February. Tiger's application comes as a report, due to be released this week by the PIAC, says an analysis of the experiences of 110 airline passengers demonstrates a systemic failure of legislation introduced in 2002 to set standards for disabled access to public transport. The report finds recent development and application of airline policy, and changes to baggage handling, have made disabled access more difficult, particularly for people with motorised or bigger wheelchairs. 'Some passengers who travelled independently for many years now find themselves barred from travel or facing the imposition of unreasonable conditions,' it says."

E Molewa: International Disability Day

Does Edna Molewa, Premier of the North West province, really believe what is being said here??! The reality is almost the complete reverse of what is being claimed here. It does make me quite frustrated when political figures try to score points by basically saying untruths(although there again...how can you tell when a politician is lying? Their lips are moving)...

E Molewa: International Disability Day: "As a nation we have a proud tradition where people with disabilities were integrated into society, viewed as part of us, and somewhat privileged members of communities as they tended to get the attention of everyone."

Stand Tall

This is nice to see (even for a Scotsman!). Here the winning SA Rugby captain John Smit is seen holding the 2 most precious things in his life right now - the William Webb Ellis Trophy, and his daughter. But there is another important feature; look at his wrist - he is wearing the green Stand Tall Wrist Band as promoted by the South Africa Quad & Para Association. Good to see...but then again, it is widely recognised that hookers are the most thoughtful of all rugby players (along with intelligent, good looking...modest, - did I mention where I played??)

India ratifies UN convention on rights of disabled

Come on South Africa, we (and the World) are waiting!! Well done India!

India ratifies UN convention on rights of disabled: "India ratifies UN convention on rights of disabled United Nations | October 02, 2007 1:05:16 AM IST India has ratified a UN convention to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of those with disabilities as also respect for their inherent dignity. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday deposited with the UN the instrument of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the UN General Assembly on Dec 13 last year. The adoption of the convention 'to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity' followed four years of intense negotiations. The convention marks a major step toward changing the perception of disability and ensures that societies recognise that all people must be provided with the opportunities to lead a life to their fullest potential, the permanent mission of India to the UN said in a press release. India is committed to the elimination of barriers that persons with disabilities face and the Constitution of India implicitly mandates an inclusive society for all, including those with disabilities, it added."

The Nth Degree Catalog: Advocacy Shirts

There are some excellent shirts here...the only problem is which one(s)!!

The Nth Degree Catalog: Advocacy Shirts: "SAME STRUGGLE CLOSER LOOKsame struggle shirt image see text description below ORDER IT DESCRIPTION: Black shirt with white handwritten message on front saying 'Same struggle, Different Difference.'"

With inclusion at its heart, London will transform lives - Times Online

This is a great article by the great athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson. I do agree with her view completely.

With inclusion at its heart, London will transform lives - Times Online: "With inclusion at its heart, London will transform lives With five years to go, our correspondent says the capital will provide a platform for disabled athletes to effect real social change Tanni Grey-Thompson So the Games are coming home. Today, exactly five years before our Paralympic Games begin, the London 2012 road show is completing its summer UK tour at Stoke Mandeville, near Aylesbury. It was here, in 1948, that a wheelchair competition involving injured Second World War veterans gave birth to the modern Paralympic movement. Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the pioneering neurosurgeon, who came up with the idea of sport as an aid to rehabilitation, was inspired as much by budget constraints as he was by social altruism. The soldiers were proving a drain on his hospital’s stretched post-war resources. A similar sense of pragmatism lay behind my advice to the Games Select Committee, shortly after the bid win. I told them that I couldn’t comment on the proposed Paralympic performance model; it would depend how many of our forces were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. The collective eyebrow-raising was priceless, but false sensitivity is a waste of time when you’re faced with a win-win situation."