[blindza] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
- From: "Tony Webb" <tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "BLINDZA" <blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:09:10 +0200
Comments from other lists pasted below.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Webb
To: AACSA List
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: [AACSA] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR"
AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Mpho,
Good question - always a problem with a topic of general interest.
Unfortunately the discussion is taking place on more than one List.
Or maybe that should be 'fortunately', as colleagues from several parts of the
disability sector give their input.
As you can see below, the topic was initiated by Magic on 18 Jan, on the
Rehab/Disability list - disability@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
and I cross posted to 7 other lists on 19 Jan.
That generated more comments but the thread is fragmented across mainly the
ACCSA, Rehab and NAP-Physical Lists.
I am still waiting for the Blind and Deaf sectors to get back from the beach
and join in...LOL
I suggest that you subscribe to some of the other lists to see what is being
said - your input would be welcomed.
See our website, May 2010 newsletter, for how to subscribe.
Regards,
Tony Webb,
The.Sponge Project, Port Elizabeth.
+27-41-368 3707, Mobile +27-82-290 3764,
tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx, http://thespongeproject.yolasite.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Mpho Ndebele
To: AACSA List ; Tony Webb ; Machuene Manamela
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 2:17 PM
Subject: RE: [AACSA] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR"
AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Well where is the discussion???? did I miss it??? Please include me on the
mailing list of the discussion.
Thanks
Mpho
----- Original Message -----
From: Michelle
To: 'Manamela Machuene' ; tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; AACSA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 5:40 PM
Subject: RE: [AACSA] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR"
AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Hi there
Speaking as a parent of a child with special needs in Johannesburg,
there is very little evidence of real inclusive education. Those that are
'allowed' into schools are usually children with ADHD or slight learning
problems. Teachers are unwilling to have facilitators in their classes and the
'special schools' are the worst.
I recently did a research project looking at the perceptions of
recruitment consultants who work in the field of disability towards employing a
person with little or no functional speech and needless to say, their attitudes
were not positive. Their definitions of people with disabilities who are
'employable' are those missing a limb, visually impaired, or suffering from a
phychiatric illness like depression.
I'm not sure where we go from here as it is a vicious circle. Families
require funds to take care of people with disabilities - they don't attend
school which prevents caregivers from working - without an education they are
unemployable - etc, etc. Maybe we need a think tank with all stakeholders
involved? I don't know ...........................................
Regards
Michelle Aronson.
-------Original Message-------
From: Jill Rose
Date: 1/26/2012 3:05:35 PM
To: 'Manamela, Machuene'; 'Tony Webb'; 'AACSA List'
Subject: RE: [AACSA] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS
"FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Hi Machuene
I understand your frustrations and it is great to see a physio with a
passion for educational issues. I wonder if you have visited Mitchell House in
Polokwane – it is really a trail blazer in terms of Inclusive Education. They
will inspire you to keep fighting for the inclusion of children with
disabilities at home, at school and in the community
Let us have your thoughts about what is going on there
Jill (also a physio)
From: Manamela, Machuene [mailto:Machuene.Manamela@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: 26 January 2012 10:28 AM
To: Tony Webb; AACSA List
Subject: RE: [AACSA] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS
"FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Greetings everyone!
I am presently a lecturer and a physiotherapist at the University of
Limpopo. I have REALLY been trying to keep my opinions to myself but I can’t
anymore. I have been following the discussions and I am comforted to see that
I’m not the only one disillusioned (I’m a firm believer in Education White
Paper 6 Policy, 2001) and presently want to do a study but my frustration grows
each day with the progress we are making and information on that is not easily
accessible.
Something as simple as getting disability statistics from Stats SA is a
nightmare. Let alone from DPSA
One really ones to make a difference, however small, in the lives of
children (my passion is for pre-scholars) but I have to admit that the passion
is waning.
Machuene
----- Original Message -----
From: Independent disAbility Analyst & Human Rights Activist
To: 'Rehabilitation / Disability Discussions'
Cc: 'NAP - Physical' ; 'Khanya Rajuili'
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 2:30 AM
Subject: Re: [disability] [Physical] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF
ORGANISATIONS"FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you Khanya for sharing your thoughts on this important matter, and
giving some advice on how this can be done.
It's my hope that the powers that might be will have a rethink and start
doing something positive for humanity.
Also to Tony for being with me and popularizing this to a wider audience.
Regards
Magic Nkhwashu
----- Original Message -----
From: Independent disAbility Analyst & Human Rights Activist
To: 'Rehabilitation / Disability Discussions'
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 2:38 AM
Subject: Re: [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OFORGANISATIONS "FOR"AND
"OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
It's always difficult to deal with and led by reactionaries, who eventually
run out of ideas and are caught on the act.
I just wonder what our options could be to get some accountability,
especially where public funds are concerned? The SAHRC whom I know are in
this list need to give us some guidance. I know the Public Protector has
been busy lately exposing a lot of corruption in government.
Surely, SADA and the so-called leadership of these organizations in and out
of SADA should be able to respond to our request with ease - i.e. if they
are genuine and exist.
Still awaiting with hope Mr Ari Serlis will give us a report.
-----Original Message-----
From: disability-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:disability-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tony Webb
Sent: 21 January 2012 07:26 PM
To: Disability List
Cc: NAP - Physical; Khanya Rajuili
Subject: Re: [disability] [Physical] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS
"FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Hi Khanya,
Thank you for your comments.
In the spirit of Magic's original email I have posted this to some of the
Lists,
Regards,
Tony Webb,
The.Sponge Project, Port Elizabeth.
+27-41-368 3707, Mobile +27-82-290 3764,
tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx, http://thespongeproject.yolasite.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Khanya Rajuili
To: tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 9:50 AM
Subject: RE: [Physical] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS
"FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
To the recipients
I uphold the transformation agenda and discussions Tony. Eco Access has
continued on the model of its founder Rob Filmer to create 'Access" for
persons with disability.
I can blow my trumpet in that our structure, our staff and volunteer team
is of persons with disability who have implemented our programmes
successfully.
I have taken a review of some of our structures (Ministry of Women and
Pwd, Human Rights, Gender, Social Services, LSEN institutions ) to check how
many in the leadership have disability. I cannot understand why a school of
the Deaf or visual impairment would not be led by a principal or HOD with
disability. The staff in the main are professional teachers who do not have
special education training. Very disappointing because when one find the
sign language or blind teachers they are called "support staff". If they
have to teach braille
They are classified "support staff".
Our advantage is that we interact with the hearing, visual and physically
impaired and this scope has afforded us an opportunity to know that there is
no meaningful transformation at all. Eco Access would love to be engaged in
the debate and action if we have to take this agenda forward.
Kind regards Khanya Rajuili CEO Eco Access
----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Watt
To: Rehabilitation / Disability Discussions
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS"FOR"AND
"OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
It is not only Tony and Magic who wants to know what SADA is doing? It
should be public knowledge so let have it here on the list!
Barbara Watt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ari Seirils" <aris@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Rehabilitation / Disability Discussions'"
<disability@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR"AND
"OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Tony & Magic, you two continue to make fools of yourselves, give me a call
and i will update you on SADA work.
Ari Seirlis
National Director
QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA)
PO Box 2368, Pinetown, 3600, South Africa
Tel: 031 7670352/48 Fax: 031 7670584 Email: info@xxxxxxxxxx
Mobile: 0829014150
www.qasa.co.za
From: Tony Webb [mailto:tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 19 January 2012 07:00 PM
To: AACSA List
Subject: [AACSA] [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS
"FOR" AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Dear List,
If you have already seen this, please forgive me for cross-posting. I
felt that the topic deserves a wide discussion.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Webb
To: Rehabilitation / Disability Discussions
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR"
AND "OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Hi Magic,
Greetings from a very hot PE, and thank you for sharing your thoughts
on this List. Here's hoping that you will stimulate some long-overdue
discussion between those who are not faint-hearted.
I agree with your sentiments and I also despair whether we will ever
see 'REAL TRANSFORMATION' in the disability sector in South Africa unless the
masses of disabled people know enough to help themselves.
My best guess is that the 'ORGANISATIONS FOR' represent less than 10%
of the total disabled people in SA.
I challenge them to publish their a) numbers of members, and b) numbers
of disabled people with whom they have regular contact, in their response to
this discussion, so that we can compare the stats with the 10% of the
population who have a disability.
Maybe LOTTO feels the same way and is thinking hard about how to get
its funds to those who need it.
My concerns with the general lack of progress with advocacy,
rehabilitation, accessibility, housing, education, skills development and
employment lead me to six months of severe depression during 2011.
I make no secret of the fact that I am an able bodied, (far from
normal), white male in his seventies, retired from a scientific and engineering
background, with a passion for sharing disability-related information.
Tim, my paraplegic partner, had to have a few months of hospital
treatment for his back and plumbing system.
Consequently, the SPONGE SMS info service was off-line and stagnated
for most of the year.
NOW Tim and I are back in action and doing our best to inform disabled
people about their rights and any other aspect of disability they might enquire
about through our free SMS service.
You mentioned the Disability Alliance. Do they ever report back to us
masses through an open newsletter or website?
From the heart,
Regards,
Tony Webb,
The.Sponge Project, Port Elizabeth.
+27-41-368 3707, Mobile +27-82-290 3764,
tony.webb@xxxxxxxxxxxx, http://thespongeproject.yolasite.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Independent disAbility Analyst & Human Rights Activist
To: 'Rehabilitation / Disability Discussions'
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 10:05 PM
Subject: [disability] REAL TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANISATIONS "FOR" AND
"OF"PEOPLE WITH disABILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Compliments for the new season!!!
I must start by warning; my writing is not meant for the faint
hearted and
those who lack objectivity, and like playing the MAN instead of the
BALL.
It's meant to spark ROBUST and GENUINE debate and is inspired by
FREEDOM OF
SPEECH - GRANTED and GUARANTEED by the South African Constitution.
This must
be read in CONTEXT, rather than CONTENT.
As we enter eighteen (18) years of democracy, I wonder what
organizations
"FOR" in particular, and "OF" (DPSA) have achieved for people with
disAbilities on the grassroots - the masses. I know I've asked this
question
before, and also in the angle of whether we need national
organizations or
not - what is their use, and what do they really do? One thing is
certain,
they are like toothless dogs who cannot even bark - but are able to
use the
status and name "people with disAbilities" for their own selfish gain.
One of the biggest challenges and problems that led to the mysterious
death
of SAFCD (South African Federal Council on Disability), and the
sudden birth
of the so called SADA (South African Disability Alliance), is the
lack of
real transformation in mainly "organizations FOR" within the
disAbility
sector. Who is in alliance (SADA) with who, for what . who's fooling
who?
The very organizations claiming to be in alliance have biggest
challenges
internally, and that mainly relate to TRANSFORMATION to conform with
the
realities of our times and the demographics of our country. Fronting
and
window dressing remains the biggest challenge, with
boards/committees/employment, etc. populated by people who are happy
just to
be in a position and once in a while an opportunity for a trip
overseas,
etc. (no offence meant). They hardly say anything in meetings except
to sign
a register and rubber stamp decisions taken - they probably don't even
understand and/or agree with many of the things.
These organizations claim there isn't enough suitable candidates
especially
those of colour that can be considered when a vacant post avail
itself -
normally when there's retirement/resignation. These have become more
like
"family institutions" where there is an inheritance system. They go
all the
way to hand-pick their own to keep the institutions that seems to be
milk
cow. They have enough opportunities to freely transform that is not
utilised. It should be expected when they are players and referees at
the
same time - they can't transform themselves, but are very good in
brandishing/using the word TRANSFORMATION.
I urge anyone reading to make your own assessment and judgment in the
organizations, some of which are as old as Muhammad Ali and others
born
towards democracy, and not to just take what I say. The organization
themselves need to consider self introspection, which I believe is
hard to
admit and take responsibility.
I believe the above (and much not mentioned) has a direct link/impact
to the
lack of proper service delivery and empowerment to people with
disAbilities.
I refuse to fully blame government and the private sector, and put
the blame
squarely on the organizations and some individuals in certain
positions of
higher authority for this mess.
It might help if "BIG SHOTS" respond directly without sending others
who
lack responsibility and/or are clueless on the issues above - no
matter how
poetic they can be.
PS. This isn't for pasting on some website, but for debate here where
it has
been posted - unless arranged otherwise.
Magic Nkhwashu
Independent Disability Analyst and Human Rights Activist
(Represents and Speaks for the Rights and Equal Treatment of All South
Africans with a disAbility)
also as an Independent Political Analyst
_______________________________________________
Disability mailing list
Disability@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.hst.org.za/mailman/listinfo/disability
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