SONA 2019 – Children with Disabilities
Statement by Blind SA on SONA 7 February 2019 Blind SA, a National DPO joins the greater Disability Sector in South Africa in recording our disappointment in President Ramaphosa not mentioning disability or blindness specifically in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on 7 February 2019. Approximately 10%-15% of our population have some […]
This is a story you can be proud to have played a part in…
This is a story you can be proud to have played a part in… because Nomakaya can now say four words she’s longed to say her entire adult life… “I’m going to work.” Regardless of age, dream or circumstances, a lack of sight shouldn’t be the reason why blind folk can’t live a life they […]
Newly Blinded Folk – how to help them back towards living independently
Every week, we’re meeting more people who’ve had their lives put on hold by sight loss or impairment. For most, we are their only hope. You’ll see what a life-changing difference your friendship makes as we reach out to more newly-blinded folk – and help them back towards living independently … Blindness happens suddenly for […]
PHD GRAD SAYS: ”I DID IT FOR MY BLIND FRIENDS!”
In 2010 Matthys Odendal enrolled for a PhD at the Department of Linguistics at the University of the Western Cape with the help of the Blind SA Bursary Fund. The newly titled Dr Matthys Odendal received his PhD in Linguistics at the University of the Western Cape at the end of last year. The motivation […]
BLIND SA LAUNCHES ‘SENSITISATION WORKSHOPS’ FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
With just under 400 unemployed blind and partially sighted candidates currently on our database, we have to be both practical and innovative if we’re to see these folk successfully employed. Says BlindSA’s Employment Officer Parishna Ramluckan: “It’s not enough to have bright and brilliant potential employees who’ve been screened, completed some fairly intense job readiness […]
BLIND SA PRESENTS 5 BRAILLE COPIES OF SCHOOL SETWORK
Five braille copies of the award winning Sesotho language drama Lejwe la Kgopiso were recently presented to the Bartimea School in Thaba Nchu. An essential Grade 12 setwork, the work was produced in two volumes by our Braille Services, and handed over to the school’s Acting Principal Mrs Mothibe in November last year. Presentation of […]
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED LEARNERS READ “THE FINAL MINUTE” IN BRAILLE
Almost 850 blind and partially sighted learners from 11 Schools for the Blind in the country took part in the World Read Aloud Day on 1 February, hosted by Nal’ibali and Blind SA. An inspirational sports story, The Final Minute by Zukiswa Wanner, was commissioned for the event. Blind SA published the work, in braille, […]
Gauteng Province Premiers Award Of Excellence – Women With Disability Award
Cathy Donaldson received the Gauteng Province Premiers award of excellence – Women with Disability Award in Pretoria on the 8th of March 2018. This award honours and recognises the outstanding achievement of women with a disability who has broken the barrier of her disability and achieved success in her area. Cathy Donaldson President of Blind […]
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa
Dear Colleagues Disability Rights earlier shared our collective excitement at the approval of the Africa Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Heads of State on 31 January 2018. We promised to share the Protocol as soon as we manage to access a copy. The CEO of the Africa Disability Alliance (ADA) has […]
SAHRC releases its Final Investigative Report
SAHRC releases its Final Investigative Report into a fire that claimed the lives of three learners at North West School for the Deaf, North West Province 7 February 2018 The South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or ‘the Commission’) has finalised its investigation into a fire that killed three learners at the North West […]