This Blog provides a perspective on differently abled employees in the South African workplace. The issues that will be discussed will relate to the forthcoming: Historical legislative perspectives; Disability schemes; Skills initiatives; Technological perspectives in conjunction with the labour market and finally the South African paradigm in relation to the global economy.
10.09.2007
Historical Overview
Historically, people with disabilities have constituted minorities that have been the object of unfair discrimination and stigmatization. People with disabilities suffer indignity, wide spread discrimination and lack of economic independence. The vast majority of people with disabilities in South Africa have been excluded from education, housing, transport, employment, and information and community life. They have been prevented from exercising fundamental political, economic, cultural and developmental rights. The inequality between the able-bodied and the disabled was reinforced by the injustice of the apartheid system. The laws during the apartheid regime supported the cumulative isolation of people with disabilities. These injustices continue to be perpetuated by prejudices that see people with disabilities as dependent and in need of care. (SAHRC, 20002:7)[1]
Thus, with all these injustices the disability activists in South Africa emerged during the 1980s as part of the boarder liberation struggle against apartheid. The Disabled People of South Africa (DPSA) advocated for the mobilization of people with disabilities to resist oppression on the basis of race and disability. In the early 1990s DPSA negotiated with the African National Congress for the self –representation of people with disabilities. The DPSA negotiations with the ANC led to the deployment of disability rights activists in key government positions when the party came to power in 1994. The government ultimately ensured that disability was included in human rights, and development policies rather than using the welfare approach.32 Disabled activists were deployed in strategic positions in parliament, the National Council of parliament, provincial legislatures, the South African Human Rights Commission, South African Broadcasting Corporation, National Development Agency, public service commission, national economic development and the labour council. (Watermeyer, 2006:46)[2]
Since our new democratic dispensation the constitution has the obligation to protect people with disabilities. The constitution imposes the duty to amend the discriminatory legislation of the past to ensure the protection of people with disabilities. The Constitution,[3] the supreme law of the land in South Africa prohibits discrimination against disabled people. Section 9 provides that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. Through equality, the majority of people with disabilities can live independent and productive lives, particularly if they have access to opportunities, resources, environments and technical aids that allow them independence, dignity, self-sufficiency and responsibility. Since 1994 concrete steps have been taken to address the ways in which people with disabilities are excluded from mainstream society. Government policies and legislation now reflect the need to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. Laws are a vital component in broader mechanisms to redress the systemic inequalities and unfair discrimination that remain deeply embedded in social structures, practices, attitudes and environments. For this reason, we will be conducting interviews with disabled employees pertaining to the opportunities and failures of the various provisions that have been implemented by government towards their needs. A discussion will also be reviewed on the accessibility of built environments. (SAHRC, 2002:8)
The accessibility of built environments concerns how easily, safely and equally people with special needs or impairments can use buildings, facilities and constructed spaces. Physical and other barriers discriminate against some people by not allowing them to move freely and independently within their built surroundings. (SAHRC, 2002:8)
Thus, with all these injustices the disability activists in South Africa emerged during the 1980s as part of the boarder liberation struggle against apartheid. The Disabled People of South Africa (DPSA) advocated for the mobilization of people with disabilities to resist oppression on the basis of race and disability. In the early 1990s DPSA negotiated with the African National Congress for the self –representation of people with disabilities. The DPSA negotiations with the ANC led to the deployment of disability rights activists in key government positions when the party came to power in 1994. The government ultimately ensured that disability was included in human rights, and development policies rather than using the welfare approach.32 Disabled activists were deployed in strategic positions in parliament, the National Council of parliament, provincial legislatures, the South African Human Rights Commission, South African Broadcasting Corporation, National Development Agency, public service commission, national economic development and the labour council. (Watermeyer, 2006:46)[2]
Since our new democratic dispensation the constitution has the obligation to protect people with disabilities. The constitution imposes the duty to amend the discriminatory legislation of the past to ensure the protection of people with disabilities. The Constitution,[3] the supreme law of the land in South Africa prohibits discrimination against disabled people. Section 9 provides that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. Through equality, the majority of people with disabilities can live independent and productive lives, particularly if they have access to opportunities, resources, environments and technical aids that allow them independence, dignity, self-sufficiency and responsibility. Since 1994 concrete steps have been taken to address the ways in which people with disabilities are excluded from mainstream society. Government policies and legislation now reflect the need to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. Laws are a vital component in broader mechanisms to redress the systemic inequalities and unfair discrimination that remain deeply embedded in social structures, practices, attitudes and environments. For this reason, we will be conducting interviews with disabled employees pertaining to the opportunities and failures of the various provisions that have been implemented by government towards their needs. A discussion will also be reviewed on the accessibility of built environments. (SAHRC, 2002:8)
The accessibility of built environments concerns how easily, safely and equally people with special needs or impairments can use buildings, facilities and constructed spaces. Physical and other barriers discriminate against some people by not allowing them to move freely and independently within their built surroundings. (SAHRC, 2002:8)
[1] SAHRC (2002) ‘Towards a barrier –free society’ South African Human Rights Commission. Available at www.sahrc.org.za/towards_barrier-free_society, pdf accessed on the 7th of October 2007
[2] Watermeyer, B. 2006 “ Disability and social change- A South African agenda” HSRC PRESS, Cape Town
[3] Act 108 of 1996
Defining 'Disability'
A person with a disability is limited in one or more functional activities. This may be in seeing, hearing, communicating, moving, learning or other intellectual and emotional activities. The impairment may be permanent, recurring or transitory. It may be sensory, physical, cognitive or psychological. However, people who have very different impairments experience similar barriers and discrimination in society. The extent and experience of disability is, to a large extent, determined by how much the person’s environment prevents that individual from taking part in community life on an equal level with others. (SAHRC, 2002:10)
Disability is imposed by society when a person with an impairment is denied access to full economic and social participation. Society fails, physically or culturally, to accommodate the rights and needs of individuals with impairments. (SAHRC, 2002:10)
Society disables people with impairments by failing to take into account their rights and needs, as groups or individuals. (SAHRC, 2002:10)
Disability is imposed by society when a person with an impairment is denied access to full economic and social participation. Society fails, physically or culturally, to accommodate the rights and needs of individuals with impairments. (SAHRC, 2002:10)
Society disables people with impairments by failing to take into account their rights and needs, as groups or individuals. (SAHRC, 2002:10)
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